Apple-Picking Trip

Our community garden has about 200 apple trees (and maybe 25 plum trees and 25 pear trees) and the produce is free for all. Last year I wasn’t so ambitious, and did not anticipate the sheer tonnage of apple/plum/pears that come out of this place. We collected maybe 50 pounds of apples last year, made mostly applesauce and pies. This year, I had a plan! Apple cider was my plan. This required 125 pounds of apples, so we had quite a few trips to collect and haul them all home. I think there were 5 or 6 trips total with all or part of the family. Besides cider, I’ve also made applesauce and prepared some pie filling to freeze for later. I feel like I could have done more, now that the apples are over. But, it was plenty. Trust me. The apples are all processed and waiting in the freezer until we get some more equipment to make the cider.

Awesome hats, no? Hats and mittens are from my year of The Knitter’s Almanac.

Again, hats from The Knitter’s Almanac. I think I had not previously photographed the little blue and white Maltese Fisherman’s Hat.

I love this photo.

A veritable cornucopia! Except that “cornucopia” implies variety, and I’m just talking about a ton of apples.