Is it selfish that I want to force a school field trip to the apple orchard? As the kids head back to school, I find myself thinking of yellow school bus trips with packed lunches, scrumptious apple cider and a delicious fresh picked apple at the end. My child's school doesn't have an apple trip on the schedule, but with so many farms in the area, apple lovers can easily recreate their own school day memories - minus the yellow bus.
Before you head out to pick Red Delicious or Granny Smiths, be sure to call ahead and arrange a tour of the farm. It's important to know where your food comes from and learning about the farm, its processes and the history of trees in Ohio - think Johnny Appleseed - is a fun way to spend the afternoon. Other things to remember:
- Dress for the weather. Temperatures can vary throughout the day, so be sure to dress in layers.
- Plan repeat trips. Many farms have special days with festivals, hay rides and other attractions. Also, different types of apples ripen at different times so your favorite variety for eating and cooking may not be ready when you arrive.
- Get those recipes ready! Apple tarts, apple pies, dried apple candy...the options are endless.
How often do you go to "pick your own" farms?
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