pick your own Archives - I am a Honey Bee

I’ve been looking forward to going apple picking for a while. It’s one of my favorite fall things to do. The leaves underfoot are crunchy and colorful, I love the smell in the air, and snagging an apple off the tree is one of the best things ever. Of course, after hot Apple cider donuts.

This year Price, Autumn, and I headed up to Hampton Falls in New Hampeshire to meet his sister and mom to go apple picking. We picked Applecrest Farm Orchards because it was local to his sister’s house and it had great reviews.

The 101 year old Applecrest has acres and acres of Pick-Your-Own apple and peach trees, raspberry bushes, and pumpkins. As well, fields of produce ranging from tomatoes to onions, brussel sprouts to green beans, and squash to lettuces that they sell in their on site store and CSA.

Autumn was quite smitten with the big pumpkins.

We milled around the Farm Market for a bit before meeting Catherine and Elaine to go apple picking. The overflowing bins of fresh produce were so enticing but we held our horses and decided to get it later so it wouldn’t just be sitting in the hot car on the bizzarely warm fall day.

It did feel super weird to go apple picking in shorts and a tank top!!

I mean, these caulifowers… come on! So cool!!

To get to the orchards where you are able to pick apples you have to take a short ride on a tractor pulled trolley/train system. The ride was great because you are able to view all the different fields where they grow their produce that they sell.

We were greeted by super friendly staff that went over the rules of apple picking (no damaging trees, no climbing on trees, etc) and how to pick (twist, twist, pull!).

It is there where you are provided with a peck or a 1/2 bussel bag that you use for the apples. Since we were dividing this up among the 3 of us we went with a 1/2 bushel for $30. Thankfully, they accept cash and debit cards there.

Yep, she bit right into an apple as it hung on the tree.

I held her up so everyone could take a picture of her reaching and grabbing an apple, but she took it a step further and pulled it right down to her mouth. Ha! She loves apples so it was so surprise but so dang cute.

I think Autumn did a great job apple picking her 1 apple. She ate it for the rest of the time that we were there in the orchard and even on the train ride back to the main farm.

Oh damn, I love her so much.

Price dropped the apples off at the car and then we did some shopping at the Farm Market to get some produce. We picked up some purple cauliflower, carrots (with tops that we fed to Bunny!!!!!!), 3 types of squash, bussel sprouts, and a few tother things. And of course, a gallon of fresh pressed cider. All for less than $30. Not too bad!!!

Applecrest is currently under construction as they are building a restuarant, which I can’t wait to visit. I image they would serve produce from their farm and local meats and seafood from the same sellers that they sell in their Farm Market. OMG, I’m drooling just thinking about it.

The only really bummer about Applecrest is that the apple cider donuts are sold in a seperate shop from the main farm that only takes cash. As someone who doesn’t carry cash ever (really, really) I was heartbroken that I couldn’t get an inapporiate amount of donuts to binge on. Thankfully, Price’s mom, Elaine, had some cash so we did get donuts but that cash only situtaion was a killer for me.

They offer their donuts in 3 versions: plain, sugar, and cinnamon and sugar coated. Obvioiusly, you skip the plain. We got the cinnamon and sugar coated donuts which were mesy and delightful.

Considering that we hadn’t yet had lunch we passed up enjoying local ice cream from the creamery, but we did check out the flavors, which all sounds amazing. They had a apple cider donut sundae… be still my heart. Plus, they make their own waffle cones. I tell you, that smell is intoxicating.

Catherine did get a lemonade and Price got an Arnold Palmer. I skipped stealing a sip from Price since I think lemonade is ew.

It was such a wonderful time. I am going to enjoy making a pie tonight and some some crisps and breads this week from the apples we picked. I can’t wait!

And these babies were across the road from the parking lot. Beauties.

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Applecrest Farm Orchards

133 Exeter Road (Rt.88)

Hampton Falls, NH 03844

603.926.3721

Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Farm Market is Open Daily, May through December.

Two weeknds ago I went apple picking with some coworkers and had a fantastic time together getting bags full of apples. We went up to Russell Orchards in Ispwich as it is one of the closest places to go apple picking around Boston. It was my first time going there for apple picking (Price and I had been there for berry picking years ago). The day was beautiful and we had so much fun picking bags of varieties of apples.

Prior to my friends’ arrival I took part in a wine & cider tasting in their general store from their own winery. For $5 I sampled 2 hard ciders, 2 fruit wines, and received a branded glass. They sample different ciders and wines (11% alcohol)every week. This week they sampled their Apple Cider, Perry, Jostaberry, and Dry Blueberry.

Apple Cider- “A very sweet and fruity dessert cider, great with apple pie” … This was very enjoyable. I liked the sweet subtle flavor.

Perry- “A slightly sweet hard pear drink” … I wouldn’t have even guessed this was pear. It was lovely but was not very fruity, esp pear like.

Jostaberry- “The berry is a cross between the gooseberry and the black currant. This wine has a tart, fruity taste.” … I loved this red fruit wine. It was tart but not pucker inducing. I liked the flavors, specifically the currant flavor,

Dry Blueberry- “Similar to the Blueberry, except this wine is aged in French oak. Bold like a Cabernet with a subtle berry flavor” … I didn’t finish my sample of this, neither did the 2 women next to me. They must not have been a fan of the smokey flavor. Had it been described as smokey I would have not had it as I for like smokey flavors, esp wine. If you like very dry and smokey then this is a great wine for you.

I’m glad my coworker picked Russell Orchard as it was convenient to get to, packed full of apples, and was a beautiful place.

Beautiful, beautiful apples.

It’s hard to go wrong with acres of apples, but they organize their PYO (pick your own) fields well. Everything was labeled with clear signs on each end of the row. Having gone to other orchards that just use flags as boundaries I found that Russell’s fields were very easy to navigate.

The fields are a short walk from the entrance so they offer hayrides to get to and from the fields. We deicded not to do this as the lines was l-o-n-g but it looked like a lot of fun. Personally, I think you should walk to the fields and take the hayride back after you (and your kids) are tired from walking around and carring a bag of apples.

For $15 you get a peck sized bag, which holds about 10-12 lbs of apples. I wanted a wheel barrel full but that was not an option nor, I assume, in my budget. I stuck with only picking apples that were good for baking, which were Cortland, Empire, Jonagold, and Honeycrisp. Their chart was helpful for picking which apples were best for baking, sauce, dessert (eating??), and juice. Their site says that it is cash only for weekends and Monday holidays but they did accept debit cards by the general store. You just need to buy your bag there at the store instead of getting it at the orchards

Before we left I got a loaf of cinnamon bread that we enjoyed for breakfast the following week. While there were long lines for their cider donuts I did not get any. I much prefer cider donuts that are coated in cinnamon and sugar while they are fresh from the fryer. Russell makes a plain donut and I just can’t justify the calories on something I don’t love.

I think this is great orchard to visit in the summer for berry picking and in the fall for apple picking. Don’t miss out on picking local fruit at the peak of season!