This is the sad part of Florida every day a new peice of land is bulldozed and gentrified. They are paving paradise. If i were rich i would purchase the property.
Toppy died today. We sure will miss him. Thanks for making this video to capture his spirit and wisdom. I live just 2000ft east of his magnificent farm, and it was a privilege that we were friends.
If that's not possible, perhaps other gardeners can get starts and seeds from his trees. At least there would be other generations of the trees living on.
@Martin Luther Amein totally to that. You are quite right that it did please the Father WHO created ask these precious life sustaining, flavorful foods. Satan wafts to rob, kill and destroy all His creations.
That's my Uncle Toppy! One of a kind! One of the smartest genuine influencers of my and my 3 brother's lives and also many other's. Intense wisdom, awesome work ethic, family man, joker, early Indian Motorcycle racer and a great dancer! A true gentle genius. I never met a person that didn't like him or learn something from him. I have the privilege of knowing him from when I was born and now my son also shares that privilidge and life experiences of this great man. I always thought and still do think he has the best nickname "Toppy" He is Definitely tops in my and many others book. God bless you Uncle Toppy... here's to another 94 years young!
Thanks awesome Peter! Toppy is quite the legend. I feel honored to capture his amazing work and story. I’ve had an overwhelming response to save the grove from the developers. Do you think you could help us preserve Toppy’s farm? Please email me to discuss. GreenDreamsfl@yahoo.com Thank you
97 years old my ass. That guy act WAY younger. No nursing home for him. This has to be one of my favorites now out of all your videos. What that man has done and continues to do is more inspirational than words can say. Brings tears to my eyes.
One way to save some of his legacy would be for other gardeners to get starts and seeds from his trees. Thanks for preserving and sharing some of his knowledge.
Please don't think I am weird but I started to cry a couple times over this video. First, it kills me to see his farm potentially going to zero-lot lines construction. I don't know his exact location but Merritt Island is essentially in my backyard (I'm in Port St John.). They don't need more homes and traffic, etc. Our rivers are filled with sewage and fertilizer run-off. Secondly, I nearly cried because of the healing that gardening provided for him. I started gardening for a hobby but as it grew, I noticed my auto-immune disease decreased. Fibromyalgia pain is worsened by inflammation and sweating in the garden is a benefit. (Not to mention the healthy food I am feeding my body with.) Anyhow, I absolutely want to help. I want to visit him too. Thank you for sharing his story.
I did too! And not while filming it but after we posted it. I completely zone out while filming and normally miss most of what people are saying. I’ve had some really promising emails and hopefully we can save this place.
I couldn't finish watching, even though I love this type of farming. In the end, the developers will pay under the table to get their way. I live in San Diego, where tropical fruit and flowers abound! I see this happening all the time. The kids can't wait sell off and grab the cash☹️ This gentleman should at least sell off the trees. Nurseries love to buy mature trees. There is a big profit margin, at least here in California. That way, they won't be bulldozed. I cried watching. Anyway, it must have all been razed by now...
@@todaysrules6730 Maybe could give us an update on this. I live a handful of miles away. So far, the trees are all still there when I wrnt by in the spring.
Toppy could will this property to anyone he chooses and they could continue his work. Just make sure the will has no wiggle room for his family to exploit, A persons dream should not die with him. If I were younger (I am 57) I would be happy to find something like this to live and work on for a lifetime. His persistence is awe-inspiring!
Hey Shelly! Im really hoping this video gives him a change of heart ❤️. I’d like to see a land trust created and this becoming a botanical collection named after Toppy🙏
@@PeteKanarisGreenDreamsFL You could contact orgs like Land Trust Alliance or even Ducks Unlimited, (they both have a Florida branch), or similar land trust orgs. They could definitely point you in the right direction, especially since you still have plenty of time to set it up.
What an awesome person Toppy is, and you for making this video. My grandparents died while I was an unapreciative teenager who thought old people were rediculous, missed opportunities I can never get back and will likely regret till the day I die. Thank you for this film and preserving this knowledge and Toppy's memory.
I can't believe it! I grew up in the neighborhood behind his farm and never knew this story!! We drove by this place daily and stopped all the time to buy star fruit and mango and frequently saw somebody (guessing it was Toppy) riding around on their mower. It's sad to imagine that this area would ever be anything besides a quaint little fruit stand by the side of the road! North Merritt island is really getting built up and places like this need to be preserved.
Wow, that’s crazy Justin! Talk about a small world. I’m really hoping with the amazing response this video has received we can help to save Toppy’s place.
I could watch videos like this for ever! Hats off to Topy. I hope and pray his children could consider the work their dad has done and the value this has to society.
Would be nice to be that old man Grandson, I'd look after his farm and keep it goin with future generations! Thats always been my dream having big land and grow fruits and vegetables! Bless his heart and thanks for sharing Pete🙏
I could listen to his stories all day. Love this video, love Toppy. What a remarkable life and testimony to the healing people get from working the land. Edit. After reading comments, a seed fundraiser would be awesome if possible.
It’s a big farm. It requires a lot of passion, devotion, and will power to keep it going. Not for a hobby gardeners. Your heart, mind and soul have to be completely in it. 🙏🙏🙏🥱 blessed who ever continue this great gift 💝 the owner had left ❤️
Thank you Pete Toppy is a very special guy . I met him about 20 + years ago. He has a tone of knowledge I wish the young people would learn all they can from the older folks. Thank you for interviewing him.
No the state does not need to be in that or anything else. It needs to stay in the hands of private individuals and not some corporation or foundation.
@@BushImports We need land in Florida to stay pristine landscape. We need land for birds and other small animals to inhabit. Florida is turning from Swamp to City everywhere. We will lose Floridas "jungles" at this rate. The Earth loses 139 Acres of Forest every Minute.
B Grum They are all crooks. Go to a local town meeting and see for yourself. The gov't already owns most of the land in the US and this is not a good thing.
Yes Pete it brings tears to my eyes thinking about the awesome legacy of Toppy and all of his awesome wisdom and knowledge. I hate to see this land developed and all this beautiful fruit forest destroyed. 😭....I honor Toppy and his legacy !!!! Ty4sharing Wolf🐺 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
It’s heartbreaking to think of all this being lost to more housing. Keeping special gardens and orchards like this are far more precious to us if we only recognize that! Save these trees, somebody! I will be 80 soon, and don’t have the kind of money it would require to buy it, but I hope someone does, and will. Thank you for documenting these wonderful, inspiring people and the things they grow. 🥭🥭🥭
I was listening to Flying Fox Fruits livestream yesterday. He mentioned Toppy. He said all of the old tropical fruit guys will not return his emails and phone calls. He said he thinks they might be pissed off over something he said. He hesitated a lot, but it looks like now none of the old guys want to deal with the younger fruit growers.
@@tonymontana5732 I like Flying Fox Fruits, but to be honest. From what I understand they didn't like his antics. Mugging for the camera, putting tree stems on his head like a Greek god, and the last straw was when started chopping away at Toppy's Jaboticaba without asking Toppy if it was ok first.
@@khydo I like Adam, but he's really immature and just wants to be famous. After his BMX carreer went down the toilet. He needed a new gimmick to be "famous." That's youtube.
Great video! I could listen to Toppy talk about his fruit trees all day! I saw him on another video recently and it never gets old. He has some really great tried and true tips for growing fruit trees. ❤👍
Thanks for traveling to share this story. What a beautiful healing story of friends, resilience, life and gardening wisdom. As a gardener it is my life dream for my knowledge and legency to live on. I pray that Toppy's land is preserved and grow on. ♡
Who are the five malcontents that thumbs down this video? The realtors, or the kids that want to get rich. All realtors want is a fast buck. Thank you for sharing the old man's wisdom.
Respect for the seasoned farmer from India. Glad you filmed his experiences. We all should do this to pass on the knowledge to younger generations. Hope he is doing well 👍
David I lost it myself watching the video! I think we’ve all been touched by Toppy’s amazing story. What legend he is! I feel honored to have captured his story.
Living a lifetime in Central Florida, I've seen this over and over again. While many commenter's hearts are in the right place, their easy solutions are seldom practical or even possible. If Pete is correct, and it would take $10 or 20 million to buy this property, the fact is that amount of money could save any number of vulnerable tracks in Florida of thousands of Acres each, rather than this little 18 acres. For this to be plausible, I think the family has to be on board and driven to preserve their patriarch's legacy, and willing to sacrifice a substantial part of their monetary inheritance. I would love to see (many, many years from now, when this fine gentleman has been called to his heavenly home) this become the Norman "Toppy" Feil/Merritt Island Tropical Fruit Research and Educational Station, or some such. In a perfect world, I suppose it would be so.
What a joy Toppy is to listen too. His storytelling is so great and his sense of humor at 94! For this man's story and his connections and memories with all of these beloved trees and land, we have to preserve his property. Think about if every community had Grove's like this one. It could feed neighborhoods. Encourage gardens and community gatherings to exchange food. Let Toppy be an example for humanity to never give up. Get him on Ellen. It's just an amount of money to buy the property I'm sure a go fund me promoted by the right person could even raise the money needed to buy it from the city? or whoever was buying it. Anyways what a wonderful spirit and some great tips for fruit trees hidden in there. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing this. I go the the rare fruit club and love listening to Toppy talk! I have always wanted to visit his property. Such an awesome guy.
Ya he is a Miracle man, managed to survived his sickness. And keep n grow such a big fruits forest. Certainly God's favor is on Toby who look like a nice n humble man. God bless n keep u Toby.
i can’t believe i’m just seeing this now. this is an amazing video. and believe it or not it’s actually my grandmas uncle! she talks about him all the time. we were just talking about him today when we came across this video
Toppy toppy are a real deal miracle. I hope when you sell you can find a buyer who will want toppy awesome food forest! You look great! Would never guess you're 94! Thanks Pete for making the trek to bring us Toppy! 🌳🌴👊
Ok, this place DESERVES to be protected. How could anybody with a shred of decency left in them bulldoze this place? If nobody takes it, it should be made into a park. I'm also jealous because my first trees are only starting. Maybe someday I will make something like his place. I'd be very proud if I could make anything close.
Thank you for sharing Toppie with us. My heart breaks at the thought of his family discarding this land/orchard and the labor of love and LIFE that Toppie created. Bless you Toppie and yes NEVER GIVE UP❣️
Pete, I really love your videos...the right back ground music and you meet so really great people. You should have 2M subscribers. It does sadden me that this property may be used for housing. It really sickens me what people do to the land.
What a gorgeous and peaceful property. I really enjoyed hearing toppy's story of overcoming a traumatic brain injury. He's a living miracle and his story is something I will always remember. Gardening has been a saving grace for me while coping with autoimmune disease and I truly understand his joy and passion. Thank you for this.
Well done Toppy, so much hands on knowledge and overcoming your injuries earlier on in life. 'Preserving Prosperity Pete' -awesome vid again, with excellent information for us all. Could some of your wealthier clients band together cooperative style to save this valuable property? Thank you. Enjoyed this 🌸
We have benefitted from knowing and loving Toppy and Clare for more than twenty years, and both are miraculous role models for the “work ethic,” generosity, and indeed, longevity. To say that Toppy should not be able to get around, much less to work in the orchards on a daily basis is a colossal understatement! To understand the motivations of these two lovely people is to understand what the love of people and the love of the land really is. We have seen some “recommendations” from well-meaning others here, some not bad and others definitely not too good. Please do not be overly critical of their offspring in their lack of motivation for taking over and hopefully preserving the property, because the mere expense of caring for the grove would be almost overwhelming. Without the desire to do so, the grove would go the way of most of the old Merritt Island groves; either overgrown and useless or sold off for yet another development. The most alarming suggestion, as well-meaning as it may have been, was to “turn the property over to the state!!!” Considering the on-going “ethics” and “creativity” of our contemporary politicians, that would be tantamount to to turning over the keys of Fort Knox to the Mexican cartels! No, Toppy and Clare have dedicated their lives to the care and feeding of a magically healthy and productive property and any decision to the future disposition of same should be left to them. What a lovely legacy it is to reflect on what they have done there for so many years, and we have been truly blessed by their selfless presence in our lives. Dr. & Mrs. Briggs
I can very much appreciate this and glad you spoke up on behalf of this family. I was born in 1967 and raised in Merritt Island. Life there was so different back in the 70s. On my next trip back to see family still there, I will stop by and poke around, and hopefully the roadside stand will be open. Remarkable to recover from such a horrible accident. Much respect for not Giving up Toppy, as well as your wife!!!
I love this story its so inspiring, I've watched it many times. I have a 2 acre fruit orchard sub tropical and love this mans passion. I hope even if his trees haven't survived that his story inspires people to plant fruit orchards. good on you Toppy
Toppy has been through so much and his comment “just keep going” resonated with me. So sad that it may all be bulldozed. Hopefully a group can step in and preserve his legacy. What a great video, thanks for making and sharing it with us.
Mr Toppy , what a man ! My father was also like this . He was also a farmer in India . I remember my father when I see this video. God bless you Toppy !
Thank you Topy, it’s a privilege to listen and learn those tips you can’t find even in books but in real life experience. And thank you Pete your doin a great service to agriculture. Blessings from Puerto Rico.
LOVE this Man!! GREAT knowledge!! Someone REALLY needs to preserve his property and take care of those beautiful trees🙏🙏🙏🙏 Thanks for sharing THIS story! TOPPY!!! LIVES threw YOUR beautiful VIDEO BLESS YOU! For DOING THiS VIDEO 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
For anyone interested in saving Toppy’s farm from the bulldozers please email me and I’ll connect you with his family.
GreenDreamsfl@yahoo.com
T-shirt fundraiser. U got the followers.
This is the sad part of Florida every day a new peice of land is bulldozed and gentrified. They are paving paradise. If i were rich i would purchase the property.
I would go in on a group purchase! 🌴💕
give me a job in this farm, nice !
So sad , I live in central Florida and I see daily the horrible consequences of gentrification .
Toppy died today.
We sure will miss him. Thanks for making this video to capture his spirit and wisdom.
I live just 2000ft east of his magnificent farm, and it was a privilege that we were friends.
Ah man
So sad 😔 Do you know what happend to his farm?
sad ,RIP
Please don't let this become a development Father God!! What we need is food, not more buildings! GOD BLESS TOPPY! What a miracle man!
I’m with you! I’d love to see this site preserved and protected.
If that's not possible, perhaps other gardeners can get starts and seeds from his trees. At least there would be other generations of the trees living on.
@Martin Luther Amein totally to that. You are quite right that it did please the Father WHO created ask these precious life sustaining, flavorful foods. Satan wafts to rob, kill and destroy all His creations.
Yes!
real estates are criminal man money money money
That's my Uncle Toppy! One of a kind! One of the smartest genuine influencers of my and my 3 brother's lives and also many other's. Intense wisdom, awesome work ethic, family man, joker, early Indian Motorcycle racer and a great dancer! A true gentle genius. I never met a person that didn't like him or learn something from him. I have the privilege of knowing him from when I was born and now my son also shares that privilidge and life experiences of this great man. I always thought and still do think he has the best nickname "Toppy" He is Definitely tops in my and many others book. God bless you Uncle Toppy... here's to another 94 years young!
Thanks awesome Peter! Toppy is quite the legend. I feel honored to capture his amazing work and story.
I’ve had an overwhelming response to save the grove from the developers. Do you think you could help us preserve Toppy’s farm? Please email me to discuss.
GreenDreamsfl@yahoo.com
Thank you
He is truly amazing!
Peter Tommasetti - You and all your siblings and cousins and aunts and uncles and nieces and nephews- you need to save this place!
do you know what happened to the trees? any updates 2024?
Very nice. He definitely defined the Greatest Generation!
Did yhe county preserve the land or the family?
I can listen to him talk about his trees for ever lol.
Me too! I kept rewinding the video and took notes. haha! Love GreenDreams!!
97 years old my ass. That guy act WAY younger. No nursing home for him. This has to be one of my favorites now out of all your videos. What that man has done and continues to do is more inspirational than words can say. Brings tears to my eyes.
One way to save some of his legacy would be for other gardeners to get starts and seeds from his trees. Thanks for preserving and sharing some of his knowledge.
Great Idea!!
Please don't think I am weird but I started to cry a couple times over this video. First, it kills me to see his farm potentially going to zero-lot lines construction. I don't know his exact location but Merritt Island is essentially in my backyard (I'm in Port St John.). They don't need more homes and traffic, etc. Our rivers are filled with sewage and fertilizer run-off. Secondly, I nearly cried because of the healing that gardening provided for him. I started gardening for a hobby but as it grew, I noticed my auto-immune disease decreased. Fibromyalgia pain is worsened by inflammation and sweating in the garden is a benefit. (Not to mention the healthy food I am feeding my body with.) Anyhow, I absolutely want to help. I want to visit him too. Thank you for sharing his story.
I did too! And not while filming it but after we posted it. I completely zone out while filming and normally miss most of what people are saying. I’ve had some really promising emails and hopefully we can save this place.
@@PeteKanarisGreenDreamsFL thank you Pete we need more Greenland save am from england iwish i had money to buy the land
I cried to and they were big elephant tears. 😞 Pete’s words just really hit home for me.
I couldn't finish watching, even though I love this type of farming. In the end, the developers will pay under the table to get their way. I live in San Diego, where tropical fruit and flowers abound! I see this happening all the time. The kids can't wait sell off and grab the cash☹️
This gentleman should at least sell off the trees. Nurseries love to buy mature trees. There is a big profit margin, at least here in California. That way, they won't be bulldozed. I cried watching. Anyway, it must have all been razed by now...
@@todaysrules6730 Maybe could give us an update on this. I live a handful of miles away. So far, the trees are all still there when I wrnt by in the spring.
This brought tears in my eyes. I hate myself don't have enough money to save this land. I wish someone loves trees as much as I do and buying it!
I love gardening and fresh organic tropical fruits. I would love to be intern and become part of his legacy.
Toppy could will this property to anyone he chooses and they could continue his work. Just make sure the will has no wiggle room for his family to exploit, A persons dream should not die with him. If I were younger (I am 57) I would be happy to find something like this to live and work on for a lifetime. His persistence is awe-inspiring!
Hey Shelly! Im really hoping this video gives him a change of heart ❤️. I’d like to see a land trust created and this becoming a botanical collection named after Toppy🙏
@@PeteKanarisGreenDreamsFL i sure hope that he does make it into a trust..
@@PeteKanarisGreenDreamsFL You could contact orgs like Land Trust Alliance or even Ducks Unlimited, (they both have a Florida branch), or similar land trust orgs. They could definitely point you in the right direction, especially since you still have plenty of time to set it up.
I could listen to Mr.Toppy all day long. Such sweet wisdom.
Me too! His knowledge is music to my ears
One of my favorite videos so far - such knowledge and 94?!! Thanks for sharing!
Wow! Thanks Celeste 🙌❤️
Toppy is a treat and his farm is wonderful, I hope the farm is saved from the hungry developers.
Me too🙏
What a great guy! Always remember to listen to your
elders and those that have experience and knowledge in their field.
What an awesome person Toppy is, and you for making this video. My grandparents died while I was an unapreciative teenager who thought old people were rediculous, missed opportunities I can never get back and will likely regret till the day I die. Thank you for this film and preserving this knowledge and Toppy's memory.
I can't believe it! I grew up in the neighborhood behind his farm and never knew this story!! We drove by this place daily and stopped all the time to buy star fruit and mango and frequently saw somebody (guessing it was Toppy) riding around on their mower. It's sad to imagine that this area would ever be anything besides a quaint little fruit stand by the side of the road! North Merritt island is really getting built up and places like this need to be preserved.
Wow, that’s crazy Justin! Talk about a small world. I’m really hoping with the amazing response this video has received we can help to save Toppy’s place.
I could watch videos like this for ever! Hats off to Topy. I hope and pray his children could consider the work their dad has done and the value this has to society.
Thank you this video. Couldnt imagine letting my fathers lifeswork be destroyed. What a wonderful job with your farm toppy.
Awww....Pete, this is so sweet. A special part of Florida history. Thanks for capturing this. As a Florida native, this means a lot to many people.
Thanks Haley! Toppy is a really special man ❤️
Bless this old mans heart
Would be nice to be that old man Grandson, I'd look after his farm and keep it goin with future generations! Thats always been my dream having big land and grow fruits and vegetables! Bless his heart and thanks for sharing Pete🙏
I could listen to his stories all day. Love this video, love Toppy. What a remarkable life and testimony to the healing people get from working the land.
Edit. After reading comments, a seed fundraiser would be awesome if possible.
Glad you enjoyed! I just don’t think fundraiser would help enough. I’m willing to try anything if it sounds feasible.
Wow. What an amazing man. Only 94 years old! Champion. I really hope that place gets preserved. How special. What a story! Thanks for sharing it Pete!
Thanks Lisa!
It’s a big farm. It requires a lot of passion, devotion, and will power to keep it going. Not for a hobby gardeners. Your heart, mind and soul have to be completely in it. 🙏🙏🙏🥱 blessed who ever continue this great gift 💝 the owner had left ❤️
Thank you Pete Toppy is a very special guy . I met him about 20 + years ago. He has a tone of knowledge I wish the young people would learn all they can from the older folks. Thank you for interviewing him.
Awww that’s awesome! Toppy is such a legend.
I hope this amazing fruit heaven will be preserved.
Me too! 🙏
You need to talk to your state rep. They may be able to assist you in acquiring the property under the Florida forever program.
No the state does not need to be in that or anything else. It needs to stay in the hands of private individuals and not some corporation or foundation.
@@BushImports We need land in Florida to stay pristine landscape. We need land for birds and other small animals to inhabit. Florida is turning from Swamp to City everywhere. We will lose Floridas "jungles" at this rate. The Earth loses 139 Acres of Forest every Minute.
B Grum They are all crooks. Go to a local town meeting and see for yourself. The gov't already owns most of the land in the US and this is not a good thing.
Haha yeah right republicans don't care about florida thats why they went to israel to sell us out
@@thehurricane218 What does that even mean? Doofus.
Yes Pete it brings tears to my eyes thinking about the awesome legacy of Toppy and all of his awesome wisdom and knowledge. I hate to see this land developed and all this beautiful fruit forest destroyed.
😭....I honor Toppy and his legacy !!!! Ty4sharing
Wolf🐺 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Thanks wolf! 👊
@@PeteKanarisGreenDreamsFL 👊
It’s heartbreaking to think of all this being lost to more housing. Keeping special gardens and orchards like this are far more precious to us if we only recognize that! Save these trees, somebody! I will be 80 soon, and don’t have the kind of money it would require to buy it, but I hope someone does, and will. Thank you for documenting these wonderful, inspiring people and the things they grow. 🥭🥭🥭
Awww. I want to give Mr. Toffee a hug. He's adorable💞
Toffee, that's a new one, i like it...my favorite name i heard someone call him though was "Papi". It's actually Toppy.
th-cam.com/video/nxbaQ6dNQo0/w-d-xo.html&feature=share
@@FlyingFoxFruits lol. Thanks for the correction.
I was listening to Flying Fox Fruits livestream yesterday. He mentioned Toppy. He said all of the old tropical fruit guys will not return his emails and phone calls. He said he thinks they might be pissed off over something he said. He hesitated a lot, but it looks like now none of the old guys want to deal with the younger fruit growers.
It's 32:04 in of his last livestream where it's mentioned.
Wow! Interesting!
@@tonymontana5732 I like Flying Fox Fruits, but to be honest. From what I understand they didn't like his antics. Mugging for the camera, putting tree stems on his head like a Greek god, and the last straw was when started chopping away at Toppy's Jaboticaba without asking Toppy if it was ok first.
@@fabulousfreebirdflyingfoxf6163 you have flying Fox fruit in your name is this his burner account lol
@@khydo I like Adam, but he's really immature and just wants to be famous. After his BMX carreer went down the toilet. He needed a new gimmick to be "famous." That's youtube.
Great video! I could listen to Toppy talk about his fruit trees all day! I saw him on another video recently and it never gets old. He has some really great tried and true tips for growing fruit trees. ❤👍
Agreed!
Toppy is movin and a groovin. He's thumpin and bumpin for you!
Toppy is an OG and he'll always be my homie!
For real! 👊
Thanks for traveling to share this story. What a beautiful healing story of friends, resilience, life and gardening wisdom.
As a gardener it is my life dream for my knowledge and legency to live on.
I pray that Toppy's land is preserved and grow on. ♡
🙌
Who are the five malcontents that thumbs down this video? The realtors, or the kids that want to get rich. All realtors want is a fast buck. Thank you for sharing the old man's wisdom.
Thanks Michael! I’m guessing the haters are family and developers waiting for that pay day.
I could listen to toppy talk all day!!!!
Me too!
Respect for the seasoned farmer from India. Glad you filmed his experiences. We all should do this to pass on the knowledge to younger generations. Hope he is doing well 👍
He, and his plant collection, are living treasures.
YES! 🙌
Found myself crying 5minutes into this video, powerful inspiration and determination even on the lowest terms.
David I lost it myself watching the video! I think we’ve all been touched by Toppy’s amazing story. What legend he is! I feel honored to have captured his story.
This place is a treasure that shouldn’t be lost , Toppy is so strong and inspiring, amazing man :)
I couldn’t agree more!
Living a lifetime in Central Florida, I've seen this over and over again. While many commenter's hearts are in the right place, their easy solutions are seldom practical or even possible. If Pete is correct, and it would take $10 or 20 million to buy this property, the fact is that amount of money could save any number of vulnerable tracks in Florida of thousands of Acres each, rather than this little 18 acres. For this to be plausible, I think the family has to be on board and driven to preserve their patriarch's legacy, and willing to sacrifice a substantial part of their monetary inheritance. I would love to see (many, many years from now, when this fine gentleman has been called to his heavenly home) this become the Norman "Toppy" Feil/Merritt Island Tropical Fruit Research and Educational Station, or some such. In a perfect world, I suppose it would be so.
In a perfect world, it would just be normal
Keep on keeping on Toppy, thanks for the wisdom. Love and respect.
Thanks Paul!
WOW, what an inspiration Toppy is! Thanks for helping preserve what he's doing, Pete.
Thanks 🙏
What an amazing opportunity to see all those exotic varieties in one place! Was great to watch and hear his words of advice!
Thanks Clay!
Love your video presentations Toppy is a good hearted man., Amazing insight.
The old guy is an legend!
For real!
What a joy Toppy is to listen too. His storytelling is so great and his sense of humor at 94! For this man's story and his connections and memories with all of these beloved trees and land, we have to preserve his property. Think about if every community had Grove's like this one. It could feed neighborhoods. Encourage gardens and community gatherings to exchange food. Let Toppy be an example for humanity to never give up. Get him on Ellen. It's just an amount of money to buy the property I'm sure a go fund me promoted by the right person could even raise the money needed to buy it from the city? or whoever was buying it.
Anyways what a wonderful spirit and some great tips for fruit trees hidden in there. Thank you!
He reminds me of my father who also loved his trees. He had so many anecdotes about each of his trees.
I absolutely love hearing the wisdom from our elders 🙌
Sure do appreciate the work you do. Its very nice to virtually visit these amazing places and people. Cheers
Thanks Rickey! 🙏
Thanks for sharing this. I go the the rare fruit club and love listening to Toppy talk! I have always wanted to visit his property. Such an awesome guy.
That’s awesome! I’ve been invited to speak at the club, you might see me in the next few months.
This is a real jewel. The stories are awesome.
Pete, the care, honor, and awe you convey in interviewing and exploring someone else's garden is so touching. Beautiful job!
I appreciate you noticing, thank you!! ❤️
You guys are the curators of very important information. Beautiful work and thank you for sharing this story.
Thanks Micheal! 🙏
Gotta love toppy. Wealth of knowledge. This episode has to be one of your top 5 videos.
Wow! Thank you 🙏
Ya he is a Miracle man, managed to survived his sickness. And keep n grow such a big fruits forest.
Certainly God's favor is on Toby who look like a nice n humble man. God bless n keep u Toby.
well done, this is your best video so far imo,
Wow, thanks! 🙏
Watching this video at 4:am is a treat.Sage advice from your host.I love him.What I learned from his mango panicle tip blew me away.Thanks Pete.
i can’t believe i’m just seeing this now. this is an amazing video. and believe it or not it’s actually my grandmas uncle! she talks about him all the time. we were just talking about him today when we came across this video
We love your videos, Pete. Thanks
Thanks Scott!👊
Toppy toppy are a real deal miracle. I hope when you sell you can find a buyer who will want toppy awesome food forest! You look great! Would never guess you're 94! Thanks Pete for making the trek to bring us Toppy! 🌳🌴👊
I love his comment about getting 20yrs younger! Toppy is a legend 🙌
I hoping this video might attract the right buyer.
A special gentleman, a wealth of knowledge! Tks for interviewing him & showcasing his orchard!
Ok, this place DESERVES to be protected. How could anybody with a shred of decency left in them bulldoze this place? If nobody takes it, it should be made into a park. I'm also jealous because my first trees are only starting. Maybe someday I will make something like his place. I'd be very proud if I could make anything close.
Wealth of knowledge, much appreciated.
Serious wisdom here!
He shared some good Info.
Thank you Pete for sharing this gentle story
Inspiring, Mr.Toppy is a hero.
Best video I've seen so far, (really liked the Jim kovaleski scythe video too)
Thanks man!
Thank YOU, this is the kind of stuff you can't learn from a book.
Thank you for sharing Toppie with us. My heart breaks at the thought of his family discarding this land/orchard and the labor of love and LIFE that Toppie created. Bless you Toppie and yes NEVER GIVE UP❣️
Thanks Tracie!
Pete, I really love your videos...the right back ground music and you meet so really great people. You should have 2M subscribers. It does sadden me that this property may be used for housing. It really sickens me what people do to the land.
Thank you! I bet with 2 million subscribers we could actually save this property 😉🙏👊
I’m so grateful finding ur channel
Me too! 🙌
What a gorgeous and peaceful property. I really enjoyed hearing toppy's story of overcoming a traumatic brain injury. He's a living miracle and his story is something I will always remember. Gardening has been a saving grace for me while coping with autoimmune disease and I truly understand his joy and passion. Thank you for this.
That’s awesome to hear Hillary! It’s amazing what gardening can do for people
This man is an inspiration!
Toppy 's stories were great , thank you 😁
One of my favorites until this day
Beautiful,inspiring, sweet, a remarkable deep passion for Plants. #Inspirational.
Well done Toppy, so much hands on knowledge and overcoming your injuries earlier on in life. 'Preserving Prosperity Pete' -awesome vid again, with excellent information for us all. Could some of your wealthier clients band together cooperative style to save this valuable property? Thank you. Enjoyed this 🌸
Thanks Trish! Very possibly. I’ve received many promising emails to help. I’m working on it 🙏
Huge thank you Toppy and Pete, much inspirational!!🙌🙌🙌
Thanks!🙏
We have benefitted from knowing and loving Toppy and Clare for more than twenty years, and both are miraculous role models for the “work ethic,” generosity, and indeed, longevity. To say that Toppy should not be able to get around, much less to work in the orchards on a daily basis is a colossal understatement! To understand the motivations of these two lovely people is to understand what the love of people and the love of the land really is. We have seen some “recommendations” from well-meaning others here, some not bad and others definitely not too good. Please do not be overly critical of their offspring in their lack of motivation for taking over and hopefully preserving the property, because the mere expense of caring for the grove would be almost overwhelming. Without the desire to do so, the grove would go the way of most of the old Merritt Island groves; either overgrown and useless or sold off for yet another development. The most alarming suggestion, as well-meaning as it may have been, was to “turn the property over to the state!!!” Considering the on-going “ethics” and “creativity” of our contemporary politicians, that would be tantamount to to turning over the keys of Fort Knox to the Mexican cartels! No, Toppy and Clare have dedicated their lives to the care and feeding of a magically healthy and productive property and any decision to the future disposition of same should be left to them. What a lovely legacy it is to reflect on what they have done there for so many years, and we have been truly blessed by their selfless presence in our lives.
Dr. & Mrs. Briggs
I can very much appreciate this and glad you spoke up on behalf of this family. I was born in 1967 and raised in Merritt Island. Life there was so different back in the 70s. On my next trip back to see family still there, I will stop by and poke around, and hopefully the roadside stand will be open. Remarkable to recover from such a horrible accident. Much respect for not Giving up Toppy, as well as your wife!!!
Amazing video. Thanks for shooting and posting it!
Pete this has to be one of your Best Videos. I’m a Newbie with tropical fruit trees. Toppy is so inspirational. Great job...
Thanks man! This is still a favor for me to
You're doing Epic Work Sir
Thank you 🙌
Love this, there's so much for us to learn from the older generations. So sad if the land gets developed 😪
I’m hoping we can help to save this farm 🙏
Toppy, you are an inspiration and wealth of information. I hope we cross paths.
This is my kind of healing: getting in nature, moving the body, eating fruit. Living proof that health is the cure for all illnesses. 🌳🌈🌞🍑🥥
YES! 🙌
Toppy was President of the RFC so cool. Enjoyed the tour with Toppy.
I love this story its so inspiring, I've watched it many times. I have a 2 acre fruit orchard sub tropical and love this mans passion. I hope even if his trees haven't survived that his story inspires people to plant fruit orchards. good on you Toppy
Best therapy in the world wish I could help him
Toppy has been through so much and his comment “just keep going” resonated with me. So sad that it may all be bulldozed. Hopefully a group can step in and preserve his legacy. What a great video, thanks for making and sharing it with us.
Thank you! Toppy is truly a legend
Simply wow!
This video makes me so happy!
Seems like he really loved getting to geek out with serious tree nerds.
We definitely geeked out together! 🤓
nice to wake up to this relaxing video
🙌
The information we can get from our elders is amazing. Great video.
Thanks!
Amazing collection
Mr Toppy , what a man ! My father was also like this . He was also a farmer in India . I remember my father when I see this video. God bless you Toppy !
Pete out here doing the good work!
God Bless
Thank you! 🙌
Thank you Topy, it’s a privilege to listen and learn those tips you can’t find even in books but in real life experience. And thank you Pete your doin a great service to agriculture. Blessings from Puerto Rico.
Much love Puerto Rico! 🙏
DEAR TOPPIE - PUT YOUR LAND IN A LIVING TRUST SO THAT NOBODY CAN SELL IT! SENDING OUT ALOHA FROM MEXICO!
I could watch this guy forever!!!
This guy is so awesome - reminds me of my grandpa, God rest his soul.
Really really hoping somebody comes along to love and take care of this land when Toppy can’t anymore!💕💕🙌🙌
Me too!! 🙏🙏🙏
LOVE this Man!! GREAT knowledge!!
Someone REALLY needs to preserve his property and take care of those beautiful trees🙏🙏🙏🙏
Thanks for sharing THIS story!
TOPPY!!! LIVES threw YOUR beautiful VIDEO
BLESS YOU!
For DOING THiS VIDEO 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Thanks Tina!! ❤️