Save the Paw Paw

Did you know the Paw Paw Tree is only threatened in New York State?

Did you know that next to Willows, the Paw Paw is one of the most effective shrubs/trees in controlling erosion?

Not only are the Paw Paw fruits delicious, they were a favorite desert of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, who planted a Paw Paw Grove at Monticello.

Native Americans in the Northeast, Abenaki, Iroquois, Mohawk all used the Paw Paw’s fibrous inner bark for making ropes, fishing nets and mats as well as fishing string.

Logs of the Paw Paw make excellent fencing

Paw Paw leaves have a natural insecticide, the only know insect to feed on the leaves is the Zebra swallowtail butterflies larvae.  This transfers the acetogenins to the larvae making them unpalatable to birds or other predators.

The seeds have been shown to contain the chemicals and 4-hydroxytrilobin. These chemicals seem to have selective cytotoxicity against prostate adenocarcinoma (PC-3) and colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29) cell lines, thus may become a useful chemotherapeutic chemical for these types of cancer.

The bark of pawpaw trees contains other acetogenins, including asimin, asiminacin and asiminecin, which have been shown to be potent inhibitors of mitochondrial NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase, making A. triloba a promising source of pesticide and anti-tumour compounds.

Paw Paw trees do not smell nice, similar to Ginkgo (Maidens Hair).  Just do not plant next to a window.

The seeds of the Paw Paw were often carried by colonial troops to throw into brush to distract the British when pebbles were not always available.

So how about trying to re-establish a once dominant fruit tree back in New York?

Time for fall planting

Summer is quickly going to be coming to a close as we wrap up the month of August and if you are like us you are scrambling to gather those summer vegetables to can and store away for the winter.  But the growing season is not over by a long shot, now is the time to get some of those greens and root vegetables planted.

Below is a list of what can be started from seed in our area and when to harvest.  Give yourself a plus or minus 2 weeks on the harvest time and even with some things like carrots, they can be left in the ground well into December if covered with a good amount of mulch.

What to plant from seed in Zone 5.

Siberian Kale - a cold hardy heirloom

Kale: Plant August and harvest in November.  It is even possible with the use of a low tunnel to keep harvesting Kale well into December.  Depending on the variety like Siberian Kale is frost hardy and can withstand several frost nights between 30-35 degrees.  Also with a tunnel it can protect the kale so that it is harvestable through the winter and give you a head start on year two before it flowers.








Lettuce: Plant August and harvest in October.  This is a great time to plant hardy leaf like romaine, bitter and reds.  They tolerate mild frost and will not typically bolt.  Use a tunnel to extend the harvest but by November they will typically die.

Look for cold hardy varieties like reds

Arrowhead Spinach

Spinach: Plant August and harvest in October. Spinach is unique in that depending on the variety, like arrowhead will tolerate moderate frost nights and again like kale using a tunnel can actually provide you with spinach well into January barring any deep freeze periods.





Broccoli: Plant August and harvest in November.  Now is an excellent time to start broccoli, but keep in mind they can be temperamental when starting with seeds.  Plants may be small but they typically produce and abundance of flowerettes at this time of year.  Tunnels can help protect till you can harvest but deep extended frost will kill the plant and leave rubbery harvest, but they are still great for stir-fry.

Carrot greens - not just for chickens

Beets and Carrots: Plant August and harvest in October.  Beets and carrots are well suited for colder climates.  Beauty is that you can harvest the greens for stir-fry, soups and more while the beet is still growing just leave a few greens in place.  Leaving them in the ground and cover with mulch will ensure that you can harvest them through the winter, in the even you don't have a root cellar to store them in.  Just make sure you don't allow the ground to freeze around them.  Cover with two to three inches of mulch or six to twelve inches of leaves and cover with plastic.  That will help keep the ground from freezing.




One word of warning when growing in raised beds, though they will typically start growing before the ground thaws, they are prone to freezing before the ground does.  Make sure you have a good mix of compost, and mulch in your raised beds and turn them completely before you plant your fall crops.

Next up - Start planning for the Spring, ground cover and get some seeds in before the snow flies!

Urban food revival. Protecting what is already there.

On August 6th, 2015, Troy Urban Farming Initiative and members of the city wide community began their Urban Orchard Project.  Originally with the intent to take vacant city owned lots and convert them in to public space as a park and orchard in neighborhoods all across the city of Troy, NY.

While working on the logistics, mapping out the location of these often hidden lots located where roads and railroad tracks once ran, checking on suitability to planting fruit trees and if they will remain viable for the long range as well as what to plant, the group realized that through out the city there were stands of existing fruit trees that have been long neglected, some are even remnants from the heyday of victory gardens and self sufficiency that disappeared at the close of WWII, along with the city's industry.  Not to mention the number of abandoned properties that contained fruit trees, mostly apples, that were not owned by the city, yet.

John Cubit, founder of TUFI, commented that "These trees are all over the city.  You just need to get out there and look.  From the bike trail to the river and from North Troy to South Troy, even hidden in areas of Rensselaer Poly Tech campus and the Russell Sage campus there are fruit trees just waiting for people to enjoy the food they are providing."

That is when one volunteer, Francis Magia suggested tracking these sites on-line and sharing with the residents where to go and when to harvest.

Trees after being pruned

The group decided to go ahead and get started while working on the original concept and start revitalizing the current stands of fruit trees through out the city.  Their first stop was on 1st St. and Adams, a once mixed industrial and residential area that other than those living there is a barren site of brown fields, except this little corridor with several various species of apple trees.

A mix of large crab-apples, used for preserves and desserts, to large, very sweet apples that are still ripening.  All the trees but one were filled heavily with apples.  One was completely dead and the group removed that due to the infestation of worm and carpenter ants, but the wood was taken away for use in an art project, since the main trunk was mostly undamaged, other than from the worms that girdled the tree.

Peter demonstrating correct pruning methods

After a brief class on pruning and branch removal by Peter Tarantelli, referred to as Peter the Pruner, the group went at clearing the sidewalks of low hanging branches as well as the roadway.  They removed dead and diseased branches as well.  Though the amount of branches were small they knew that what they did will have a major impact on the health of the tree and its longevity.

John commented that now we need to let people know about these trees. "Come late September, October these are going to be great apples, and they are there for everyone to enjoy."

The group is scouting out another site not to far away for their next guerrilla pruning session as well as still working on a site location for the original concept of an urban orchard, food security is one of TUFI's top priorities, not to mention it helps make Troy a better place to live.

If interested in helping out with the orchard, tree pruning or interested in learning skills to become self-sufficient or developing a urban farm join up and follow Troy Urban Farming Initiative on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TroyUFI or email at TroyUFI@gmail.com.