Still plenty of winter apples out there....Granny Smith, Gold Rush, Braeburn and Pink Lady.
There are a few Honeycrisp out there but really those are about done.
A few Golden Delicious left if look in the older part of the orchard...right behind the shop. There are lots of Red Delicious out there still.
If you come for Pink Lady, walk down toward the end of the row. Lots left on the last 1/3 of the row.
We are open until around 5:30pm now since it gets dark so early. We will also be open this weekend.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Apple Update: Week of Nov 1st...Pink Lady Ready!
Granny Smith
Cameo
We are expecting to be open through the 2nd or 3rd week of Nov.
Normally we are about done this time of year but the winter apples became ripe later this year. Just keep coming until you read the post that we are closed! :)
Things in the orchard are pretty much the same as last week.
Three changes:
Pink Lady are FINALLY ready :) We always wait impatiently for them since they are the last apple of the season to be ready.
Jonagold and Fuji are pretty much done. There are some out there if you want to hunt but they are getting pretty rough looking. It's a shame though because the Jonagold are so darn good :)
The Melrose are all gone too if I didn't already say that last week. One thing I learned recently about Melrose is they are a cross between Red Delicious and Jonathon apples. Who knew!? It's seems like a funny combo because people seem to LOVE Jonathon apples....but then Red Delicious have a bit of a bad rap because they are usually grainy and yucky at the grocery stores. Just thought it was a bit of a strange combo but really it worked out well, because I really like Melrose.
Cameo
We are expecting to be open through the 2nd or 3rd week of Nov.
Normally we are about done this time of year but the winter apples became ripe later this year. Just keep coming until you read the post that we are closed! :)
Things in the orchard are pretty much the same as last week.
Three changes:
Pink Lady are FINALLY ready :) We always wait impatiently for them since they are the last apple of the season to be ready.
Jonagold and Fuji are pretty much done. There are some out there if you want to hunt but they are getting pretty rough looking. It's a shame though because the Jonagold are so darn good :)
The Melrose are all gone too if I didn't already say that last week. One thing I learned recently about Melrose is they are a cross between Red Delicious and Jonathon apples. Who knew!? It's seems like a funny combo because people seem to LOVE Jonathon apples....but then Red Delicious have a bit of a bad rap because they are usually grainy and yucky at the grocery stores. Just thought it was a bit of a strange combo but really it worked out well, because I really like Melrose.
Friday, October 29, 2010
What we have been up to this summer....
This is just a collage of all we have been up to this summer. All the crops are harvested now besides apples so "winter" has officially began.
In the winter, we make a winter list of everything we need to repair or improve on our equipment. We do a lot of work in the shop, go to many classes to update our spray license, or just education classes in general. I also try to do one big organization/clean up project on the farm in a certain area. With having a farm that does so many different things, we have a lot of stuff sitting around.
So anyway, enjoy the pictures!
We don't raise cauliflower but I thought the plants looked cool, so I thought I would share.
Corn Picker
Spinach Seed field dried, ready to harvest.
Wheat harvest
Spinach Seed field
Below is a cabbage seed field....Bok Choy actually. Before the seeds set, it was a beautiful bright yellow all across the field.
In the winter, we make a winter list of everything we need to repair or improve on our equipment. We do a lot of work in the shop, go to many classes to update our spray license, or just education classes in general. I also try to do one big organization/clean up project on the farm in a certain area. With having a farm that does so many different things, we have a lot of stuff sitting around.
So anyway, enjoy the pictures!
We don't raise cauliflower but I thought the plants looked cool, so I thought I would share.
Corn Picker
Spinach Seed field dried, ready to harvest.
Wheat harvest
Spinach Seed field
Below is a cabbage seed field....Bok Choy actually. Before the seeds set, it was a beautiful bright yellow all across the field.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Update, Monday Oct 25th: Gold Rush and Rome are now ready!
For those of you who are diehards, there are still plenty of apples out there. It may be rainy and a bit windy but isn't that the fun of picking apples!? Then you get to take them to your warm house and have the whole house smell like apples and cinnamon!
So here is what is going on out in the orchard:
If you're looking for golden delicious, there are lots on the older trees behind the shop. The apples trees are not organized in the older trees but it can be kind of fun because everything in that section is ready now. It's an easy way to get a good mixture of apples without a lot of effort.
Granny Smith are just now ready this last week so there is lots to choose from and they are looking very nice.
Gold Rush are just now ready. They are a smaller size apple that stores well, and I'm told if you cut into them they resist browning. They are similar looking to a Golden Delicious but a bit smaller.
Braeburns are looking good. Plenty out there. There is one new baby row that has lots and the rest are in the southwest corner of the orchard. You will see them right by the road when you drive in.
Still some Fujis out there. Driving through the older part of the orchard, I discovered a beautiful Fuji tree....ask me if you want those and I'll take you there! There are still some Fujis on the long rows too. Just be willing to walk down aways.
Still some Honeycrisp and Red Delicious out there.
Still lots of Jonagold too!
Rome are ready now too. Good for cooking. A beautiful bright red apple.
Melrose are practically almost gone but there are a few.
Most all apple rows are now getting to the point where you have to walk at least halfway down.
See you in the rain!
So here is what is going on out in the orchard:
If you're looking for golden delicious, there are lots on the older trees behind the shop. The apples trees are not organized in the older trees but it can be kind of fun because everything in that section is ready now. It's an easy way to get a good mixture of apples without a lot of effort.
Granny Smith are just now ready this last week so there is lots to choose from and they are looking very nice.
Gold Rush are just now ready. They are a smaller size apple that stores well, and I'm told if you cut into them they resist browning. They are similar looking to a Golden Delicious but a bit smaller.
Braeburns are looking good. Plenty out there. There is one new baby row that has lots and the rest are in the southwest corner of the orchard. You will see them right by the road when you drive in.
Still some Fujis out there. Driving through the older part of the orchard, I discovered a beautiful Fuji tree....ask me if you want those and I'll take you there! There are still some Fujis on the long rows too. Just be willing to walk down aways.
Still some Honeycrisp and Red Delicious out there.
Still lots of Jonagold too!
Rome are ready now too. Good for cooking. A beautiful bright red apple.
Melrose are practically almost gone but there are a few.
Most all apple rows are now getting to the point where you have to walk at least halfway down.
See you in the rain!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
She is an "official" farmer now!
Becky has been working here during apple season for the last 3 years. I'm sure you've met her if you've been her lately.
She officially graduated to "farmer status" yesterday. She now owns 2 of her very own farmer hats! I have included one of the pictures of her with her new hat! Free advertising for Wilco :) ha! She also has a bright green John Deere hat. Very exciting day for her. You guys will have to give her a hard time. I am sure I am embarrassing her right now but that is the best part! Love you Becky!
We also had 6-8th graders come out from a school in Tigard a few weeks ago. Took them on the apple orchard tour and made apple cidar.
And we had the 3rd graders from Brooks School. They all happily got their apples!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Cameos, Granny Smith and Braeburn are ready
Cameos, Granny Smith, Braeburn are ready now!
Here is what www.americancameo.com said about Cameos:
"It used to be that red apples were all the rage. In fact, growers actually got paid for color — the redder they could make the apple, the more money they made.
Trouble was, getting apples red resulted in thick, tough skin and soft, mealy flesh. People that love apples for their taste and crunch were not happy with the poor quality. And they said so loud and clear, by simply not buying red apples.
Cameo growers got the message loud and clear. So, instead of growing for color, they grew an apple specifically for taste and crunch. By toning down the red, they were able to keep the skin very thin, the flavor sweet yet tart, and the flesh very crunchy."
There is also a friendly disagreement between us if the Braeburns are ready. :) One says yes, and one says no. So I will go try them out again and report back!
Ok 15 minutes later....the verdict...The Braeburns are still pretty firm but have a good flavor underneath. I think if you were eating it by the slice they would be very tasty but biting into them I'd wait another week. So that's the best I can tell you :) It is especially a good time to pick them if you are planning on storing them though.
Gold Rush are getting close but not quite ready.
Pink Lady aren't ready yet either. They are always the last apple to be ready.
Going to be a nice week to come pick!
Here is what www.americancameo.com said about Cameos:
"It used to be that red apples were all the rage. In fact, growers actually got paid for color — the redder they could make the apple, the more money they made.
Trouble was, getting apples red resulted in thick, tough skin and soft, mealy flesh. People that love apples for their taste and crunch were not happy with the poor quality. And they said so loud and clear, by simply not buying red apples.
Cameo growers got the message loud and clear. So, instead of growing for color, they grew an apple specifically for taste and crunch. By toning down the red, they were able to keep the skin very thin, the flavor sweet yet tart, and the flesh very crunchy."
There is also a friendly disagreement between us if the Braeburns are ready. :) One says yes, and one says no. So I will go try them out again and report back!
Ok 15 minutes later....the verdict...The Braeburns are still pretty firm but have a good flavor underneath. I think if you were eating it by the slice they would be very tasty but biting into them I'd wait another week. So that's the best I can tell you :) It is especially a good time to pick them if you are planning on storing them though.
Gold Rush are getting close but not quite ready.
Pink Lady aren't ready yet either. They are always the last apple to be ready.
Going to be a nice week to come pick!
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