Orcharding

Last year we planted two different dwarf cherry trees. We got about 10 cherries, since the deer got to them (the deterrent spray was not enough). This year we've fenced it all the way around, with an extra chicken wire wrap that brings it to 8 feet tall, and we hope to get more cherries.

Northstar Cherry

Evans Bali Cherry-closest to garage

We lost two big trees in the front yard last year, so this spring Andy planted 4 dwarf apple trees.

Honeycrisp, Haralson, Newtown Pippin (George Washington's favorite apple)

Bramley (popular cooking apple from UK)

Raspberry bushes

We got our first cherries in July, although a small quantity.

Addendum:

In August, Andy "couldn't resist" buying a Zestar tree from a local garden center, which he added to the NE corner of the front lawn, along with replanting the Bramley to the front yard as well. The Haralson has a few apples on it, but many of them have worms, despite the plastic bags Andy protected them with. An expert at the State Fair suggested a reusable mesh plastic "fruit protection" bag like this.

Zestar, Honeycrisp, Haralson, Newtown Pippin, Bramely (East to West)

May 2023:

We had a hard winter with a ton of snow, and the Honeycrisp didn't survive. Andy picked up another U of M-developed variety, a Snow Sweet.

Planting the new Snow Sweet

Fall 2024

The Zestar produced in late August, big, firm, very delicious apples. There were a few with bruised or bad spots so I cut those away and made crockpot apple butter.

Small batch crockpot apple butter

• 1.5 lbs apples, about 4-5, peeled and roughly chopped
• 1/4 c brown sugar (recipes also called for 1/4 c white sugar which I omitted)
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp grounds clove
• pinch salt
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Combine all in a slow cooker on low for 6-8 hours. Remove lid, stir, cook uncovered another hour until thickened. Bend with an immersion blender. Stir in vanilla. Source

Apple butter at start

Finished Apple Butter

The squirrels started to go after the apples in Sep, and we had to try to cover the trees with netting in addition to using the individual mesh bags. At one point, a squirrel got trapped in the netting, ultimately escaping. Andy picked the Snowsweet (30 apples), Haralson (122 apples!!!!) and Newton Pippin (7) Oct 8. We made 8 quarts of apple sauce to freeze, and still had plenty of apples to eat.

A bounty of Haralsons

Fall 2025

Andy wants to remember to use the "good" pest prevention next year, as we had a lot of apples damaged by worms/moths.

We canned 14 quarts of apple sauce.

Fall 2026

Andy used the "good" insecticide and the apples were in good shape. We started storing eating apples in an extra small fridge and instead of canning apple sauce we froze it in deli containers.

Apple Fritter Loaf Cake

Ingredients:

For the apples:

• 2–3 apples, peeled and diced

• 2 tbsp granulated sugar

• 1 tsp cinnamon

Topping:

• 1/3 cup brown sugar

• 2 tsp cinnamon

Cake Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup softened butter

• 2/3 cup granulated sugar

• 2 large eggs

• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 3/4 tsp baking powder

• 1 tsp salt

• 1/2 cup whole milk

Glaze:

• 2–3 tbsp whole milk

• 1 cup powdered sugar

How to:

Preheat oven to 350. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. In a separate bowl add peeled and diced apples, cinnamon, and granulated sugar. Mix until well combined.

In a separate bowl add softened butter and granulated sugar. Mix on high speed for 2 minutes until light and fluffy. Add in eggs and vanilla extract and mix well. Next add in all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix well. Lastly add in whole milk and mix.

Grease and line a 9 x 5 x 2.5 loaf pan with parchment paper. Add half of the cake mixture in the bottom of the pan. Top with 1/2 of the apples and 1/2 of the cinnamon brown sugar mixture. Repeat one more time. Use a butter knife to swirl it around a few times.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until a toothpick comes out clean.