Harvest season is here with apple orchards busy
04.10.11
Gardeners also visage some of the same problems that farmers do, but are usually not dependant on their garden for their livelihood. Apple orchards pan more risks than many other crops. Late spring frosts can destruction blossoms, strong winds can break branches or make a mess of down apples, and worst of all, hail. Even a small amount of hail can do larger damage, and hail-damaged fruit has very little value.
Comprehensive, the year has been pretty good for our orchard. We do not have nearly as many apples as last year, and the several weeks of dry bear up against probably caused some apples to be smaller than normal. We also did have some volley very early in the season, which is now apparent on some of the apples as they are being picked. We do, however, have a lot of warm-hearted apples picked and in our cooler.
We still have not picked all the later varieties, such as fireside, prairie spy and remembrance; and still have some honeycrisp and haralson on the trees. I am a firm believer that apples impecuniousness to be ripe to get the best flavor, and because everything this year ran about two weeks later than standard, we are picking some varieties later than normal. And all the apples on a tree do not season at the same time, so we try to pick them as they ripen. We have 115 apple trees, and 35 varieties, but of practice some of these varieties ripened much earlier and we are now into the later fall varieties.
Source: Albert Lea Tribune
It's Fest time: Reedsburg, go forth and ferment
05.10.11
Fermentation Fest is tightly approaching, and for those who have
already examined the 37 events and classes, it could be a call into doubt
to decide which ones to attend.
"The Secret Life of Chocolate" consequence? Yes, please. But wait,
isn't that at the same time as the guided Farm/Art DTour? And the
"In a Pickle or a Jam" taste? Unfortunately, the answer is yes.
To help make those tough decisions, three Reedsburg close
organizers and supporters told the Times-Press about the events
they're most looking pert to between Friday, when the festival
opens, and the final day Oct. 16.
Friday
Kristine Koenecke, chairman of the board director for the Reedsburg Chamber
of Commerce, said one of her favorite kickoff events is the
Reedsburg Uncorked Wine Shanks' mare, which runs from 6 to 9 p.m.
Friday.
Tickets are $15 and available from diverse local businesses and
the Chamber.
"I love seeing all the people downtown on a Friday gloaming,"
Koenecke said. "It's always so exciting, and a great way for out of
town people and locals way to get to know the town a little
better."
Source: Reedsburg Times Press
