Summer 1994 Goldenseal article on Estler's Mortgage Lifter tomato
 

I recently became interested in this tomato, and saw somewhere that there was an article written about it back in 1994, Goldenseal: West Virginia Traditional Life (Volume 20, No. 2 - Summer, 1994) called A Man and His Tomato. I contacted Goldenseal on Facebook and was very happy when they agreed to copy the article and send it to me. There are some very interesting things mentioned. Hope you enjoy it. Page 12 is an insert, and the story continues on pg 13. I'm pretty sure that William Estler's granddaughter, EdieJ, is a member of this site, and maybe she can add some insight. If you think you have seen this post on another site, you ere correct. I posted it on another site so that folks who aren't members here, can see the pictures also.

Informative and interesting. Thanks for the read.

In living color! My original source was Chuck Wyatt I think, somewhere around 1999-2002...

Estler's Mortgage Lifter almost disappeared 10 years ago. I purchased seed from Chuck Wyatt around 2002 and still had quite a few and have grown it for fresh seed several times.

I sent seed to Glenn Drowns at Sandhill Preservation earlier this year. Hopefully he will offer seed next year.

I also grew Estler's from seed sent by Chuck Wyatt in the late 1990s. For some reason I was not into seed saving in 1999 to 2002 and did not replenish my supply. I will watch Glenn's site to begin again. Thanks Darrell and Korney for the reminder.

Estler's granddaughter Edie James, sent me about 5 or 6 seeds last year. They were the last she had, and didn't know if they were still good. She said that she had obtained them from her uncle Robert, Estler's son. I saved them for this year. I planted 3 seeds, and they germinated, but only one was viable. It's doing very well at this point. Am hoping for some decent tomatoes to save seed. Sorry for the sideways pic.

EML Tomato
 

I live about ten miles from Barboursville and grew the Estler tomato many times. Bob was one of my supervisors at International Nickel. I bought plants at Joyces Nursery on Hughs Branch Road curtesy of Bob up until a few yrs ago. I have been raising big pinks from seed for about ten yrs but dont really know for sure what they are but likely the EML. I weighed one on Paula Deen scales that was over 40 oz. They taste great also. I have about 20 plants every yr but only get 4 or 5 fruit from each plant. I sucker to two stems and early blight is a terrible problem here. I like the red/yellow bi colored tomatoes too but big pinks are irresistable to me.

Thanks for your comments. Fun to hear about your connection to Bob, and the nursery where the EML were sold. I received EML from Edie and from another source. Am growing one of each this year, and it's very interesting that the lower leaves on both plants have early season issues. None of my other plants are affected. We have Septoria big time here in the hot weather, but usually not until May.

Just gave this a bump.

Well I will grow a different Mortgage Lifter next year called this :Estler's Mortgage Lifter". Maybe I will be inspired to continue my Legal Studies on Today Mortgage Laws for one more Court Battle to place my Husband on my Mortgage. The Court Clerk stated that Our Old Mortgage Company filed my Mortgage and I cannot change add anyone. Even If I tried to file my Mortgage again. I feel Congress should deal with these types "Gray Laws" that could have Erased my Great Granddaddy People of over 6,000.00 people in front of Fort Monroe. Learning from Dr. Carolyn about Redator Charlie inspired me to pay off my Mortgage early with Tomato Sales. Maybe the Lord is calling me to study again.

Here is some fast research and possible Facts on the 2 Mortgage Lifters; [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortgage_Lifter[/url]