Apple Picking at the Farm

This weekend we headed out to the farm for what will probably be our last visit before spring. The apple trees and berry bushes were loaded with fruit and the surrounding woods were a stunning display of orange, yellow, and red.

 

We arrived in the early evening just in time to get to the top of the hill to watch the sun set. The thistles had dried up into soft fluffy bushes that made everything look a little bit whimsical and fairy-like with bits of fluff floating around in the air.

This is one of the best spots on the farm to watch the sun set with the rolling wild prairie and little clusters of birch and pin cherry trees.

 

Once the sun set completely the stars came out and we could clearly see the milky way, satellites moving from north to south, and a whole whack a shooting stars. We kept the fire really low so that we could pick out the constellations with the help of a compass and a star gazing iPhone app. We also played around in the dark with our flash lights and my camera taking pictures of our faces lit up in the darkness. This one came out with my face plus a ghost of my face right beside it.

 

Bright and early the next morning we got to work picking apples.

Well.. not actually bright and early. We're only weekend farmers (aka pretend farmers) which meant that we slept in until 9:30 or so. It was bright, but not necessarily early.

 

We picked bags and bag of these white-ish apples which are called Rescue. They are so sweet that you don't need to add any sugar when baking with them.

 

Then we moved over and picked these bright red crab apples for making jelly with. I also have plans to make a sorbet or ice cream with the juice. September is so hot this year that all the fall flavors are appearing but it still feels like summer. I've got a couple of autumn ice cream flavors in mind for this Indian summer that we're having.

 

We also picked a big grocery bag full of choke cherries which taste pretty terrible straight from the bush but are supposed to make a delicious syrup which I plan on canning.

 

After all of our (not so hard) work we headed over to the birch ridge to go for a hike and check out the fall colours.

 

The entire forest was lit up all golden from the leaves and offered some nice shade from the surprisingly hot weather.

 

I was hoping that we would find enough of these high bush cranberries for me to make some wild cranberry jelly. As you walk along the birch ridge you can smell the cranberry bushes before you can see them. Then you notice a bright red bush amongst the yellow leaves. The bushes were always tough to get to and we had to make our way through a patch of rose bushes to get to this one. Sadly there was no way that I'd be able to pick enough for jelly without spending all day searching for the different bushes and picking them one by one.

 

We were sad to say good bye to the farm for the winter but now I have to get busy baking, juicing, and canning all the apples and berries that came home with us. I'm thinking pies, apple slices in cinnamon, ice creams, syrups, and jelly. It's really starting to feel like fall despite the warm weather.

 

*If you haven't entered the Layer Cake Shop online gift card giveaway yet you still can until Sept 30!!***

Comments

[Kait]

I am so excited to hear about everything you do with your farm pickings this fall. In the summer, slaving over the stove is too much work for me but I am definitely getting super inspired for things to get making this fall!

[kristin]

This is funny to me cuz it's almost the exact same thing we did last week. Same trees and everything. I was like, whoa these pictures are eerily familiar looking! (We do not have a cranberry bush, so our fourth fruit was plum.) I made some apple-pie like jam, chokecherry jam, and I just chopped the crabapples up and froze them. I found a nice bread recipe for them and I don't think we need any more jellies in the fridge!

[Jessica @ bake me away!]

Lovely photos! I hadn't ever heard of the Rescue apples, but they sound good. Looking forward to the things you make with your haul!

[Eliza]

These photos are lovely! They really capture the beauty of this autumn.

[Les]

Envyyyyy. Lucky you!

[Rigel_p]

Beautiful! Looks like you made the very most of your getaway to the farm. Really lovely photos. I especially enjoy the spooky flashlight one.

[Chelsey Van]

Chokecherry syrup is so. good. on pancakes. Can't wait to see how you make it!

[Darina]

Nice shots. I love apples. I'm so glad it's autumn and I can bake and cook with apples galore.

[freelance writer]

thanks for this blog, now I have information that I need. keep it up!

[Thegonzogourmet]

Gorgeous photos, look at those magenta leaves! That's one thing we don't really have in San Diego, fall colors (or colours ;).

My kiddo is learning about apples in school, your post inspired me to take a trip out to our local orchard.

[renee@sweetsugarbean]

Gorgeous photos! I got the link to your blog via Food Bloggers of Canada...awesome stuff! Looks like you had a great weekend at the farm - love the flashlight photo, too.

[Elina (Russian Bites)]

Looks like so much fun. I really need to go apple picking asap. It's the perfect fall activity :)
Love the cranberry pics too and that one with the lights swirling around. Awesome!

[Dan @ Dan's Good Side]

I'm all about hands-on foodie adventures! Currently, I'm trying to find a pumpkin farmer to help harvest pumpkins with...a bit heavier than apples, but fun nonetheless! ;)

[Rylan - Art and Appetite]

Stephanie, my gosh! Girllllllll, we should hang out! This is my kind of thing! We have a small orchard here in Las Vegas and I still haven't had the chance to visit. Uuuh! Now that the season is almost over.

[Christian Louboutin]

Very cool idea. I think I will have to try this one. I just love the "It's the Little Things" line. Thanks!