“… It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.” — Nora Ephron
What says fall like a trip to the local apple orchard to pick apples? I remember taking school field trips back in elementary school to the Windy Hill Apple Orchard, and a few weekends ago we decided to drive just 30+ minutes to York, South Carolina to pick apples. It was the first time I’d ever gone apple picking, and I had the perfect dress (Korsis Women’s Summer Casual T Sheet Swing Dress in Wine Red, and under $30 on Amazon) to go apple picking in and I picked up the pair of white tennis shoes on the way.
We knew in advance that the weather would be on the chilly side, but we weren’t expecting it to be quite so cold… or so windy! (Thankfully I brought along this Classic Denim Jacket in Resin Rinse from J. Crew that is currently 25% off and my favorite Fedora from Loft, similar here, that kept the chill at bay as we walked through the orchards to pick our apples.
Mask on and ready to start picking apples…
We arrived at the orchard just in time for our reservations (most apple orchards require reservations so be sure to call your local orchard in advance of your trip to make sure you can get a scheduled time to pick your apples!)
When picking apples it’s definitely a good idea to wear comfortable shoes. If it’s not raining a pair of tennis shoes are ideal (I can thank my mom for that suggestion!) and if it’s raining your favorite pair of rainboots (Hunters or Joules) are the perfect option.
Before we started picking we were given bags for our apples and a bucket for any apples that were damaged (or ones that still looked good on the ground) to feed the pigs, as well as instructions on which apples to pick and which ones to leave on the trees… Our apples were a combination of green and red, and trees with apples that weren’t ripe yet were clearly marketed with warning tape.
The apples at Windy Hill are what are known as Stayman Winesap apples. They are a heirloom southern variety that his sweet, aromatic with a slight hint of tartness. They are good for both cooking, eating and they retain their flavor and texture when baked. I loved the fact that they aren’t a grainy apple, one of several facts you’ll learn before you head into the orchard. If you’re looking for a delicious recipe to try out with the apples you’ve just ‘harvested’ try out these Spiced Apple Muffins from the Sweet & Simple Kitchen. My favorite Vancouver based food blogger who recently visited her local apple orchard as well.
Searching for the last few apples to fill our bags…
If you’re planning a visit to the Windy Hill Orchard, be sure to keep you eye on the website. New times for reservations go up on Mondays by noon.
Glad we could get together and do it! Fun times