Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexander Silber.
Alexander, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
The nursery began approximately 32 years ago as a small family run business offering uncommon organically grown tropical, subtropical, and temperate fruiting species. My parents, David and Tina Silber started the nursery and I have continued to grow the business in much the same style for the last 16 years. I introduce to people the idea that exotic fruiting species can indeed grow in various climate zones throughout S. California. I offer suggestions for choosing the proper fruit tree selections for your particular micro climate so that you have the best chance of being successful. The ultimate goal here is to be able to harvest a wonderful diversity of delicious high-quality and healthy fruit every month of the year to share with family, friends and neighbors. We show you how to do that.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
To be sure, many mistakes were made along the way. Trial and error were the norm in the beginning and to a certain extent, the same applies even today. I am mainly referring to the cultural requirements of the various fruiting species offered such as Babaco (BTW, that is what the nursery was named after), Jaboticaba, Pitanga, Cherimoya, Mango, Acerola, Grumichama, Pitomba, Miraclefruit as back then there were not many resources available to help answer the troubling questions regarding their care and propagation. The hidden blessing of all those obstacles was being forced to learn how to eventually solve them. That learning process enabled us to be successful the result of which was a rewarding experience. For example, last year I harvested six different varieties of home grown mangos!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Well at the retail nursery only edible fruiting species are offered. If you are looking for roses, ivy or sod sorry, I will not be able to help. Simply, we specialize in helping you achieve an edible landscape. Over the years folks have thanked us for helping them achieve that goal. It is my intention to eventually put up a “Success Stories” webpage on the Papaya Tree Nursery site so that more folks can view what is possible. One advantage of being a small business is having the time to devote toward introducing potentially new products. My business savvy is somewhat lacking as I am not very comfortable tooting my horn regarding the promotion of new products. For example, a new paw paw that is self-fruitful has yet to be promoted as well as a dwarf mango, a unique sweet star fruit, an amazing quality semi-dwarf papaya from S. Africa and a very special lucuma that my father introduced to this state from Peru. I suppose that is something which may set us apart from others.
What were you like growing up?
At first, I was not interested in the nursery and being somewhat stubborn, wanted to do my own thing as it were. Later in life I realized just how special the opportunity was that my folks offered me. The nursery was not simply given to me. Fortunately, I was raised to never be spoiled. It took a few years as I would show up after work and on the weekends going through the training of learning about how to care for a few species at a time. Once I proved that I could do that, I purchased one group of the inventory at a time. I learned to appreciate what it took to do what my parents had done for years prior. I witnessed firsthand how much people praised them for their efforts in achieving this “Garden of Eden” as the nursery has been called in the past. I will always consider myself very lucky to have been given the chance to be involved with this life style.
Pricing:
- Tropicals – $45-$625 depending on size/age/rarity
- Subtropicals – $25-$425 depending on size/age/rarity
- Temperates – $45 – $125 depending on size
Contact Info:
- Address: 12422 El Oro Way
Granada Hills, California 91344 - Website: www.papayatreenursery.com
- Phone: 818 363-3680
- Email: [email protected]
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
