SMALL GREEN APPLES

The  month since my last post has been a good one for the orchard and for us.   Overall the weather has been way too hot –  we are glad to now be getting a little more rain,  but no hail or tornadoes.

The crop this year looks like a moderate one, but not our biggest.  24 degree temperature in late April thinned quite a lot of fruit, but there still are plenty  of apples – many more than last year.

The renovation project for the red farmhouse is winding down – exterior painting and site work still to be completed.  All our kids and most of our grandkids were here at various times over the last two weeks and helped move the furniture that has been in our basement for two years back over.  One grandson did have COVID, but he pretty much isolated and no one else got it.  It was a BUSY two weeks – Sylvia (with help from our daughters) has put on numerous meals for 12 to 15 extra people.

So we continue to celebrate our 25’th year back in Vermont and look forward to seeing you in September.

The photos show some Honeycrisp and Zestars with apples that have now grown to one inch size or more.

 

 

 

 

FULL BLOOM

2024 season is off to a good start.  The pictures of some of the 84 year old Macintosh and newer Zestars tell the story and show a very good bloom.   Our bumblebees went out in the orchard on May 8 and they have been busy even when it was cold and wet.   Yesterday with full sun all day and temperatures close to 60 was perfect for good pollination.

Jilly passed away last year in February at age 15.  Janey our new Shih Tzu enjoys running in the orchard and trying to catch any passing cars.

We are celebrating our 25’th year back in Vermont.  The renovation work on the red farmhouse is almost complete.  Current weather forecasts do not show freezing temperatures.  I will post periodically as the season progresses.  Looking for a much improved crop over last year.

 

THANKS – SEE YOU NEXT YEAR

We closed out our freeze -abbreviated weekends – only season today.  Still a small crop, but sales  were better than we expected by a factor of two.  Lots of people made the extra effort to look inside the trees for fruit that was not frost damaged.  Many people made the walk to find good Macintosh on the 83 year old trees in the upper corner of the orchard.

We had a lot of help from our family for the donut making and to  make the sales go smoothly in the barn.

The Vermont Foodbank will glean some of the few remaining apples this week.   The photo shows Sylvia at closing today with time to knit on the sweater I am supposed to get for Christmas.

Thanks for helping us make a shortened harvest better. We appreciate all the great customer support. We hope to have a full crop next year and see you all again.  Tom & Sylvia.

LAST WEEKEND – September 30 & October 1

This weekend will finish our season.  There will be limited amounts of Northern Spy and Golden Delicious which will probably be picked out by Saturday noon.  There are still some Galas and a surprising number of Macintosh on the 83 year old trees – minimal drops.  Picking poles will be on a pallet out in the old orchard to help reach the higher fruit.

There is more Havoc Hill maple syrup plus another 180 1/2 gallons of Dutton’s cider AND more donuts – the donut crew made 2500 donuts last weekend and are set up to do it again this weekend.

The weekend weather looks excellent – come help us windup this year’s better than expected harvest.

OPEN FOR CRIMSON CRISP THIS WEEKEND

Really good turn out last weekend.  Honeycrisps were pretty much picked out on Saturday.

Picking will start for Crimson Crisps – one of our favorite late season apples – sweet tart flavor improves in storage – keeps until March or April in your refrigerator.  Because of the freeze, only a moderate number of Crimson Crisps are out there.

Still good Macintosh on the 83 year old trees uphill near the fence.  Some Galas near the barn and Macouns in the last three rows at the bottom of the hill.

We have resupplied our cider from Dutton’s and syrup from Havoc Hill Sugarhouse. Plus the donut crew will be cranking out more donuts.  Come help us celebrate our next to last weekend.

Photo shows some of those bright red Crimson Crisps

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