Biophilliac Mommy: Apple Cider Making Class (25 months)

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Apple Cider Making Class (25 months)

Today I brought Meo to an Apple Cider making class at Pineland Farms with our friends Stella, Braden, and Robbie (and their wonderful mamas of course). It was a 75 degree, gorgeous autumn day on the farm; perfect weather to be outside playing in the sunshine. Meo made up a song in which the only lyrics were "I love you" the whole car ride over, and by the time we got to the farm I was basically a puddle because Meo melted my heart.

Pineland Farms; Education Barn

Meo, Stella and Braden heading into the education barn

Stella giving Meo her admission sticker (photo by Sarah)

Munching on a pear (photo by Sarah)

Class began in the education barn where the kids heard a story about how apples grow.

Stella and Meo in the education barn

Stella, Sarah and Meo

Then we took a long walk down to the apple trees to pick some apples.

Stella waiting for Meo

Running in the field

Meo was really excited to pick apples, but he couldn't reach any. This meant that I would have to pick him up so he could reach. But the apples were so high, that even I couldn't reach them. So I had to lift Meo over my head, which was very challenging at 33 weeks pregnant. He was so sad when I told him I couldn't reach that I had to at least try though, and it made him so happy when he was able to grasp onto one wee apple and yank it down so he could contribute to the apple basket.

Apple tree

Meo and the apple he picked

Adding his apple to the basket

(photo by Sarah)

Once the apples were collected, the teachers allowed the children to help them make apple cider. They plopped apples into the basket on top of the cider press, then turned a crank to grind the apples up. A bucket on the ground caught any juice that was released in the process. Finally, once all the apples were ground up, the kids pushed around a big board which caused the apple bits to be pressed down, squeezing all the remaining juice into the bucket. Here are some photos of the process...my friend Sarah took a couple of these (she is an excellent photographer!).

Meo being shown how to turn the crank

Turning the crank to make cider

Stella turning the crank

Smashed up apples

Spinning the lever

Cider spilling into the bucket (photo by Sarah)

Then the best part was sampling the cider we made. Meo loved his and had seconds!

(photo by Sharon)

While we were down by the apple trees, we took advantage of the beautiful weather and laid around in the field.

(photo by Sarah)

(photo by Sharon)

We also went to visit the dairy barn that was right next to the orchard. Meo and Braden had been talking about how the wanted to go see the cows ever since we got to the farm, but once we entered the barn, neither of them actually wanted to go near the cows. They just wanted to be held by their mamas and look at the cows instead. Stella, on the other hand, was fearless around the cows, and buisily went around patting them and tried to feed them sawdust. One of the cows liked my arm and hand, which Meo thought was hilarious. But Sarah went a step further and got a big ol' kiss right on the lips!