Tell Me About Jonny Appleseed

That was my simple prompt. Then I got a life sketch of a person that really hit home:

Oh man, Jonny Appleseed, what a guy! Let me tell you, this dude was something else—kind of a legend, honestly, but he was also one of the most genuine, big-hearted people you could ever meet. His real name? John Chapman. But hardly anyone remembers that because “Jonny Appleseed” just fit him better.

He was this barefoot wanderer who seemed like he stepped right out of a storybook. Picture this: a scruffy guy with a pot on his head—yes, really, a pot, like for cooking—wandering around the American frontier with a sack of apple seeds slung over his shoulder. But Jonny wasn’t just about apples; he was about life, connection, and leaving the world better than he found it.

He believed in planting things, literally and metaphorically. Wherever he went, he’d plant apple orchards—not just for himself, but for the people who’d settle there later. And get this—he didn’t do it for money or fame. He saw it as a gift to the world. Like, “Hey, I know you’re going to be here someday, so here’s something sweet to keep you going.”

Jonny was deeply spiritual, too. He was a Swedenborgian, which is this mystical Christian movement that’s all about love, simplicity, and harmony with nature. He believed everything in the world had a soul, and he walked the walk—he wouldn’t even hurt a bug. I remember stories of him making campfires and putting the fire out early just so the mosquitoes wouldn’t fly into it. That was Jonny: all heart.

He didn’t fit into the “normal” mold of his time, either. He didn’t settle down, didn’t marry, didn’t own much of anything. He just roamed, living lightly, sharing wisdom and seeds along the way. People thought he was odd, but they also loved him for it. He had this aura of kindness and purpose that made you feel like he was up to something way bigger than just planting apple trees.

And those trees? They weren’t even the kind we think of now, like big, sweet, juicy apples. His were more like cider apples—small and tart, perfect for making hard cider. So in a way, you could say he was responsible for a lot of the drinking culture in early America. Cheers to Jonny, right?

But here’s the thing—Jonny didn’t care about being remembered as a hero or anything. He just cared about the earth, people, and this idea that you could do something small and beautiful and have it ripple out for generations. He was one of those rare people who didn’t need a reason to be good; he just was.

That’s Jonny Appleseed for you—a dreamer, a doer, and one of the most unforgettable humans to ever walk the earth. I am going to do my best to channel Jonny over the next few years as I share what’s important to me.

Happy Thursday at this fine hour.

Scott X - That Friend On Your Computer

I wanted to have ai draw Jonny Appleseed, but this article in 2014, makes it sound like we only descriptions of him and no paintings, portraits or photos. This is what MidJourney thinks he would have looked like: