Kevin Bacon might be better known for his acting than his gardening, but that might all change thanks to the Footloose star’s latest Instagram photo.
When it comes to growing our own food, many of us tend to eschew the not-so-humble apple tree in favor of raised beds and a vegetable garden. Kevin, however, has an enviable orchard’s worth of fruit at his disposal, and the actor shared a picture of himself balanced atop a teetering ladder as he harvested it.
And, while I was initially distracted by the sheer abundance of apples hanging from those branches (it’s enough to make you rush off and buy a Honeycrisp Apple Tree from Nature Hills of your very own, right?), it was the message accompanying the photo that really caught my attention.
Why Kevin Bacon’s Apple Tree Is So Inspiring
“I love September,” read the caption beneath Kevin Bacon‘s carousel of photos, which also included shots of the apples in his wheelbarrow, and then bagged and ready to go in the trunk of his car.
“Always good to remember no matter where you live , you probably have neighbors who are hungry.”
His advice was simple: support your local food banks.
“Oh my goodness just when I think I couldn’t love you anymore!! what an amazing human being! The world needs more of that,” read one comment beneath the picture.
“You’re good souls,” added another amid the flurry of positive feedback from Kevin Bacon fans everywhere. “Nothing like fresh apples right in season, people will be grateful.”
They’re not wrong; the picture has served as a reminder of something I think we gardeners sometimes forget when we’re busy admiring our tomatoes, filling baskets with courgettes or wondering what on earth we’re going to do with yet another bowl of apples: a productive garden can give us much more than food for our own kitchens.
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Yes, growing your own food is often talked about as a wonderfully self-sufficient hobby, and it absolutely can be. But there’s another side to growing that I find just as satisfying: having enough to share.
Fall is a brilliant time for this; fruit trees can be laden with apples and pears, blackberry bushes are still offering up handfuls of berries, and vegetable plots can suddenly produce considerably more food than one household can reasonably eat.
And fruit trees are an appealing addition to a garden because, unlike an annual vegetable that gives you one season of produce, they can become a long-term part of the garden, providing blossom in spring and fruit later in the year.
Unlike an annual vegetable that gives you one season of produce, a healthy apple tree can become a long-term part of the garden, providing blossom in spring and fruit later in the year. There are varieties to suit different garden sizes, too, including more compact trees that make fruit growing possible without needing a huge backyard.
Mind you, it’s important to remember that not every food bank can accept homegrown produce, and their rules vary considerably, so try contacting your local organization first to find out what they accept and how they would like donations handled. (And remember, there are plenty of other ways to share with neighbors, friends, community groups and local food-sharing schemes).
I don’t think Kevin Bacon intended to deliver a profound lesson in horticulture when he posted his apple harvest. But, without really trying all that hard, he’s reminded us that perhaps one of the nicest things you can grow is… well, a little more than you need.
