Seeds of Transformation
In 1826, a handful of apple seeds traveled from London to the fertile banks of the Columbia River. Of them, only one survived. That tree—later known as the Old Apple Tree—stood for nearly two centuries and came to be regarded as the matriarch of Washington's apple industry, a living symbol of endurance and growth.
Yet the story begins earlier. The Columbia River Tribal Peoples were not only stewards of this land long before Washington's apple industry took shape—they were instrumental in cultivating the first orchards grown from the Old Apple Tree and in establishing the very first commercial apple orchard. Their knowledge, care, and relationship to this place formed the living foundation from which Washington's apple legacy would grow.
From the sunlit orchards of the Wenatchee Valley to the engineered waterways of the Columbia Basin, The Art of the Washington State Apple traces a profound transformation of land and labor across generations. Blending rare archival photographs, irrigation history, and intimate family narrative, this richly illustrated volume honors the communities and enduring spirit that continue to define Washington's apple country.
Perfect for anyone who loves Washington State history, Indigenous culture, agricultural heritage, or the simple beauty of a freshly picked apple.
Lisa Tracy is a historian, genealogist, natural health educator, musician, and lifelong researcher with a deep focus on Washington State history and cultural studies.
Her roots in the Pacific Northwest trace back to 1845, when her family journeyed west along the Oregon Trail, with her great-grandmother born along the way. Lisa has spent her life immersed in the region's history and culture.
She studied at Seattle Pacific University (1986) and completed a comprehensive herbalist certification program (1995), furthering her expertise in plant medicine. Lisa also attended the International School of Herbal Arts and Sciences (2011) and the School of Evolutionary Herbalism (2013), deepening her understanding of ethnobotany and the vital connections between plants and people.
Lisa gave lectures on natural health at the Seattle Body, Mind, and Spirit Exposition from 1995-1998 and was invited to be a guest on Stairway to Health, a radio show hosted by Dr. Constance Tracy Tayler, in 1995. She later authored Nature's Wisdom: A Comprehensive Guide to the Healing Art of Herbal Medicine (2000) and contributed articles on natural health to Orato First Person News (2009).
A mother of two adult children, Lisa spent years homesteading with her family on a small farm, tending apple orchards, raising goats, and cultivating gardens.
She actively supports causes close to her heart, including the Washington State Historical Society, the Temperate Orchard Conservancy, the Society for Ethnobotany, and the Global Crop Diversity Trust.
"Part lyrical memoir and part richly textured historical narrative, The Art of the Washington State Apple is a meticulously researched exploration of the state's most iconic fruit. Lisa Tracy follows the apple's journey through generations of change in Washington—from early homesteads to sprawling commercial orchards—while grounding the narrative in her own family's history. With the soul of a poet and the precision of a historian, Tracy brings to life the growers, communities, and landscapes that shaped the apple's enduring legacy. A feast for the senses and the mind, this is regional history at its most intimate and illuminating." — Dr. Jessica K. Sklar, Professor of Mathematics, Pacific Lutheran University
"This book reads very well and connects the author's ancestry to the apple world. It is engaging, highlights Indigenous Peoples, and explores the history of the apple industry in Washington State and the Northwest. It also points to the importance of the communities mutually impacted by apples. All in all, I think every household should read this book; it is much needed for this region." — Dr. Warren W. Buck III, Chancellor Emeritus, University of Washington Bothell
