Apples Here And There

While the main herd is on their daily walk around the fruit circuit to pick up any fallen plums, pears, apples and the like, we are also trying to keep things tidy in the garden.

As apples and pears fall, we grade them into categories. Misshapen, damaged or spoiled fruit goes directly into a bucket for feeding to the critters. Fruit that is small in size and will not ripen well also goes into a bucket to be fed after they ripen. Firm fruit that just needs a little time to sweeten, ripen or soften goes into the garage where it is laid in a single layer on a table to wait.

The dehydrator is running nearly non-stop to keep up with the apples, plums and pears this time of year with apples taking up the majority while the Gravenstein apples are at their prime.