In one sense, every gardener who came before us played a role in this book, for the knowledge passed down through time from person to person is the core of every garden book ever written. We acknowledge, with respect, our debt to them all.
Three specific individuals are owed profound thanks for their help in this project. Jim Gilbert, owner of both Northwoods Nursery (wholesale) and One Green World (retail mail order), is a mine of knowledge about fruit trees; it is our good fortune that he is also generous in sharing what he knows. Two experienced gardeners and garden writers—Teri Dunn, who lives near Boston, and Carolyn Clark, of Portland, Oregon—pitched in with valuable and much-appreciated assistance. Thanks to all for your good information and good cheer.
Thanks, too, to the creative cooks who kindly shared their recipes: Walter Chandoha, Rosalind Creasy, Thomas DeBaggio, Peter Kopcinski, Jan Roberts-Dominguez, Bruce Naftaly, Carole Saville, and Renée Shepherd. And to Barbara Blossom Ashmun of Portland, Oregon, author and garden designer, for her rosy suggestions.