The Apple Pressing festivities back in October were a wonderful success with the children running the smaller press for the juice and the adults the larger press for the cider.
Children pressing for juice
Adults making the ‘cheese’ for cider
We pressed four barrels of cider, and 400 litres of apple juice, of which we kept 100 for ourselves and the rest was given to the helpers from the weekend.
Tasting of last years cider was participated in from the youngest to the oldest
Amongst the apples we used, were our own for the first time from our orchard which was planted 10 – 11 years ago. We thank the local estates who let us pick from their orchards the apples that would otherwise have been wasted.
Apple picking from our orchard
Apples waiting for mulching after picking
The first ‘cheese’ of the year being prepared early 1800 cider press
Our juice for the first cider of the year is now fermenting ready for testing and tasting next Spring.
Thanks goes to all the locals who attended and helped us, and to all our family and friends who travelled down for the day and weekend, who helped to make this weekend a success.
Cultural music, was to be heard wafting in the background of the countryside.
Also from the weekend:
We are eagerly awaiting James Crowden’s (radio journalist presenter/producer and author of the book Ciderland) sound recordings from the weekend.
Awaiting Photos of Chaya playing her bagpipes.