The Hedge: Todd Johnson and the Story of Pomifera® Oil

Iowa chemist, creator, and now author Todd Johnson earned his Chemistry PhD from Indiana University and in addition to his many scientific articles and patents has opened a new door to health and beauty with his work with a healing seed oil called Pomifera® Oil. He has recently transitioned from drug development to an Eastern medicinal approach to healing skin. He is founder of the Pomifera® Oil revolution—Where Folklore Meets Beauty. California co-author/playwright/producer/director Robert Joseph Ahola, enjoying success in each of his specialty fields, adds a new front as an author/co-author of fourteen published books including The Silent Healer, The Return of the Hummingbird Wizard, I, Dragon, Delusion is Good, and this overview of Johnson’s success – THE HEDGE.In the Author’s Note, the direction of this fascinating journey begins: ‘There is no perfect time to write a book. What I have learned in the process of putting this together is that stories that need to be told take on a life of their own. They are like seeds of truth that, once planted, cannot be denied the right to flourish. They have to be sewn and watered and given room to grow — finally revealing the truth of what they are. That is what the story of Pomifera® has been for me. In its way this strange natural phenomenon has always been a fringe player in my life. The trees were everywhere in southern Iowa where I grew up. In fact Maclura Pomifera (the Latin designation) are prolific in about 37 of the 48 contiguous United States. And up until recently, it was the tree that was believed useful and very much in demand while its strange “ugly duckling” fruit was regarded as little more than a curious kind of seasonal outgrowth and something of nuisance at that. Hedgeballs, hedge apples, horse apples, Osage oranges, “monkey balls,” bois d’arc, bodark, bodock — all these names and more were attributed to the sticky, crusty, pockmarked green fruit that adorned its branches only to fall to the ground somehow castoff by Nature, unused, undesirable and (seemingly) unacceptable. But wait a minute! I have a science background, a PhD in Chemistry. And I’m not telling you this to impress you (maybe a little bit), as much I am willing to share with you the one thing we learn in every laboratory in the world: Virtually nothing in Nature goes to waste. There does seem to be a purpose for all things under Heaven. And as Aristotle once observed: “Nature abhors a vacuum.” This certainly applies to the Osage Orange, aka Pomifera®. I admit to a bias here. I grew up surrounded by arbors and woods filled with these strange castoffs. And Native American lore about their medicinal uses were more than supported by my dear departed, larger-than-life, self-made millionaire great uncle Don Prevo who insisted until the day he died that, “There’s something ‘magical’ in those hedge balls.” Uncle Don was a man with impeccable instincts. And his insistence that these little rogue green clumps cluttering the groves of Iowa contained one of life’s great secrets stuck to me all through the course of my career in science. From legends of its uses to treat everything from eye infections to skin cancer and uterine complications in women, I held onto the healthy curiosity that any committed scientist must embrace — that there is some strain of truth in every legend, and that everything in this garden of Nature deserves a second look. So, in a way, for years my career path and Pomifera’s ran along parallel lines — finding touching points at various times — but always on the periphery of my awareness. It stayed with me through some of the major science and technology companies in the world, through a dozen plus patents and a host of science and compliance realities that only come when one learns to navigate that narrow corridor between the laboratory and the boardroom, and how to “develop the business side of science.” Finally there came that point of critical mass when enough “hedge apples” crossed my path to bring me to make that final intersection — that leap of faith to dare and uncover the treasure locked inside. The rest that followed is a miracle of discovery that has brought life-changing experiences to thousands of people, and set free a “One Drop WonderTM” whose mysteries have only begun to be explored. Along the way it has generated a cottage industry that is about to blow up along with a network marketing mega-movement beyond all our expectations. Inspired by Pomifera’s phenomenal, life-changing potentials, I knew I had to share all the remarkable experiences that have already unfolded on this journey. It has turned out to be a once-in-a-lifetime undertaking. ‘What follows is the progress of a scientist’s awareness of the miracles of nature – even as found in hedge apples – the ‘trash fruit of Iowa’ into one of the fastest growing cosmetic and health sources of the day. As the synopsis states, ‘THE HEDGE is that rare story that takes a candid personal memoir and melds it into a bold portrait of self-discovery—in this case the best that science, botany and the world of business have to offer. This is Todd Johnson’s story, taken from interviews with Dr. Johnson on how a well-orchestrated journey of research, discovery and learning to navigate the complex universe of “entrepreneurial chemistry” helped him uncover one of Nature’s modern miracles—Pomifera® Oil, and all the wonders that follow.’Fun, funny, inspiring and rewarding to read, THE HEDGE is the marriage of science and common sense and serendipity – and a fine success story from the road bushes of Iowa! Grady Harp, May 18

Before I read the book, The Hedge: Todd Johnson and the Story of Pomifera Oil, I did not know anything about Dr. Johnson or Pomifera Oil. Thankfully, the book is not merely a memoir – it is a clear guide to what Pomifera oil is and how it works. I enjoyed learning about Dr. Johnson’s background and his story of the discovery of this natural miracle product. But, what I enjoyed the most was the style of the book. Based on interviews with Dr. Johnson, the author does a great job of presenting the story to the audience without it sounding like a sales pitch. I learned a lot, but I did not feel like anything was being forced on me. It is genuinely an interesting story! For those interested in natural remedies, this is a wonderful introduction. For those who enjoy scientific memoirs, this is an excellent pick. Plus, it is a quick read, which is different from other books with scientific language.

Todd Johnson is a pioneer in his own right as he covers new ground in the health benefits of the Hedge balls, in which we all have mystical beliefs. Growing up, we gathered them to keep spiders and bugs out of attics and basements. Todd is described as a passionate man who believe in helping others and throughout his interview with Robert Joseph Hola, Todd expounds on his Rules of the Road. These are rules he applies in his business that allows everyone to work at their full potential. The respect and ethnics in which he treats his employees show what a great man he is.As I read the interview, The Hedge: Todd Johnson and the Story of Pomifera Oil; I was quite impressed with Todd's integrity and passion for others. He gave credit to his mentors for any success he achieved and humbly allowed RJH to praise his success throughout the interview. I found this book similar to a living motivational seminar, very uplifting and inspiring.

Todd Johnson has taken his time to give us the insights into his own life. In this book which contains questions and answer, we can see Todd’s determination to succeed and how he channeled this strength in making the best out of nature through research.The Hedge looks at the benefits of the Pomifera Oil as well as its rich properties. This is certainly a well-researched work. This book is very educative and certainly enriches the knowledge greatly. I’ve always known that the Pomifera oil had some benefits, reading this book provided me with the rich properties and methods of application.Todd grew up in a small not-so-rich town of Bloomfield, Iowa. His background though not so much with a silver lining did not stop him from dreaming big. He rather looked around him and tried to explore the rich properties of what he has found around him.This book serves as a motivational book based on real facts. It made me see reasons to think differently with an open mind. This book is really a source of encouragement to me. I know for sure others who will come across this book will benefit from it.

I have never heard about Todd Johnson but reading the premise and the other reviews I thought it could be a good read and I was not disappointed.The book offers a terrific insight into how he made his incredible discoveries that not only benefited his life but had a tremendous positive impact on the life of so many people. We can follow the story of his scientific breakthrough and how he turned into a successful entrepreneurial. The language is easy and accessible, even for ones who don’t have a science background. It’s a story about hard work, talent, and perseverance that ultimately turn into a success story.There are very strong and positive passages and I think it can be a wonderful read for anyone who is struggling professionally. Either feeling stuck in a job or research or that his/her breakthrough moment never arrives. It’s positive and inspirational.