Apple Pickin' Fieldtrip

There was a really cool cottage bathroom near the apple orchard. I guess it's where they bathe after a hard day of work on the farm!

Anna and Colton helping Mommy pick Rome Beauty apples.

We went to Gabriel Farm to pick apples for a fun fall fieldtrip. Gabriel Farm grows certified organic apples, persimmons, and asian pears. The owner, Torrey, gave us a little tour and a lesson on proper apple picking technique so we wouldn't damage the trees. We picked about 15lbs of apples to use for pies, cobbler, applesauce, and of course lunch! They grow quite a few varieties but we picked mostly Gilbert Golden Delicious which have a very different flavor than the ones I've bought from the grocer.

Torrey said his Golden Delicious trees are from the 1920's (before growers tried to "improve" the apple for shipping). Torrey encourage us to visit again during persimmon picking season. I've never tried persimmons so maybe we'll go back again later this fall. We'll certainly be making apple picking a fall family tradition. Some fun facts that we learned is that apples can get sunburned which can give the flesh under the skin a "woody" flavor. Also, we learned that the proper way to pick an apple is by turning it until it falls from the tree so as not to remove any of the tree itself. Torrey said that would be like cutting off the tree's finger or toe- ouch!!! Gabriel Farm's website is http://gabrielfarm.com/