After a wet, cool summer we have been (thus far) rewarded with a mild autumn. and no matter where you are, fall means harvest--in this case, apples. Marshall Hatch, a visiting clinician from New Hampshire, kindly extended us an invitation to pick apples and share in the hospitality of Gregg and Carla, on whose farm he has been staying just outside Otaki.
Marshall explained that the pressing method used at Totaranui to make fresh apple juices and ciders is similar to traditional small scale operations in Europe. We enjoyed a collective lunch during which we sampled some magnificently fresh juice and spot-on dry cider. While the orchard currently consists of just under 1,000 Pacific Rose and Braeburn apple trees, Gregg has been doing some grafting and may be pressing more "specialty" ciders in the future.
Picking apples is pretty hard work, but Marshall and Kristen don't seem too tired to smile for the camera. In fact, it was a lot of fun; a kind of moving meditation and nice to see the bins filling with our collective labor.
Gregg and Carla's farm (which is organic) also has chooks, pigs and couple of geese. This is doubly impressive given that he is a master carpenter who specializes in staging and installations (including Te Papa) and Carla is a busy and successful arts director.
It sure would be nice to spend more time getting to know these fascinating and accomplished folks.
We stole this last pic from Marshall's blog!
