American Legends ~ Johnny Appleseed, Authenticity in Action

...One mother's quest to find out the essence of what it means to be American...

Did you know there is a Johnny Appleseed Festival in northern Massachusetts and a Johnny Appleseed parade in Ohio? There are. They take place at the end of September every year, commemorating Johnny Appleseed's birthday and his contribution to the American landscape. 


Johnny Appleseed is a real person whose lineage and life can be traced through history. He was born in Leominster, MA in 1775 and died in Ohio in 1845. During his 70 years on this earth, he saw the land of America rise from a rabble of fledging colonies, competing with each other for trade and reparation from England, to a comprehensive, cohesive, "united" states. 


Johnny "Appleseed" Chapman was not the seed-sower that is depicted in elementary classrooms across the country. Rather, he was a businessman, albeit an unusual one. Legend states that Johnny walked around barefoot in all weather, with a tin can for a hat and tattered rags for clothes. He ate berries, slept outside, made water from snow, and refused to harm any living thing, including bugs. He spouted Bible passages and mini sermons, based on the philosophies of the Swedenborg Christians. One time, when a traveling minister asked "Where is the man who, like the primitive Christian, walks toward heaven barefoot and clad in sackcloth," Johnny Appleseed stepped forward and said, "Here is a primitive Christian." 


While sporting behaviors that could be described as a trifle eccentric, Johnny Appleseed still managed to run a prosperous orchard business. Having taken seeds from the cider mills of Pennsylvania, Johnny travelled west to plant them in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. His orchard empire spread over 100,000 square miles and several of his trees still blossom and fruit to this very day! Johnny sold saplings to his neighbors for 6 cents each but he was not adverse to bartering. He would just as quickly give a sapling away for cornmeal, old clothes, or a promissory note. His pro-active attitude stretched beyond feeding his neighbors to ensuring their safety in all matters. In 1812, he travelled through the night, warning lonely farmsteads of a possible Native retaliation, which had been incited by the British. 


Johnny "Appleseed" Chapman died of pneumonia while on the road in Ohio. He is buried in Ft. Wayne, Indiana on a 12 acre grave site that has been named the "Johnny Appleseed Memorial Park." On his grave, the following phrase has been etched: "He lived for others."

Johnny Appleseed lived an authentic life. He did not merely spout his beliefs and values, rather, he lived them. His life was completely different from the "norm," yet he prospered and, now, is long remembered. Our lesson from Johnny Appleseed is to embrace our differentness, our truth, our authentic self and ACT upon those truths. Johnny Appleseed teaches us that, as Americans, there is room for all our differing thoughts and ideas. There is no "right" way to do things. The only right way is the one we decide for ourselves. Once we have figured that out, we can live fully in our truth, in our authenticity, and be prosperous, joyous, and happy.