Apples to apples

In the fall of 2018, Toby Cain ’12 mailed packages of rare apples to alumni across the United States for only the cost of shipping. She sent 21 different varieties, and everyone received 10 apples. The apples came from the organic orchard at Seed Savers Exchange near Decorah, Iowa, which has a collection of more than 1,100 different apples. Freeda Brook ‘07 helped Cain pick the 500-plus apples.

Cain connected with her fellow apple geeks on Plans, a sort of minimalist message board that predates Facebook. “I didn’t expect 50 people to geek out about the same things I geek out about!” she says. 

Mairead Ernst Saleh ’06 alerted The Grinnell Magazine to this mini story because, she writes, “I think this is such a great whimsical example of alumni connection post-Grinnell and also such an inspiring example of other ways we can support and give, teaching each other about our work and interests at the same time.”