People of all ages took part in the fourth annual Apple Picking Festival at Orchard Park in Huntsville’s west end on August 24, taking home baskets full of a variety of heirloom apples, munching while they picked. The public orchard off Airport Road is more than a century old and for a time became overgrown. It has been carefully restored and is now a Town of Huntsville park.<\/p>\n
Lori and Peeter Sild are the organizers of the Huntsville Orchard Project which began maintaining the historic apple trees and planting new fruit trees and berry bushes in 2014.<\/p>\n
“There\u2019s a lot of interest in the festival,” said Lori. “Some years the apples are better than other years \u2013 this year\u2019s a pretty good year. The apples are juicy and sweet from lots of rain.”<\/p>\n
She said that reaction is mostly positive, with people appreciating the chance to bring their children and grandchildren to spend time outside. Others need just a bit of education about the orchard.<\/p>\n
“Some people are disappointed at the size of the apples but they don\u2019t understand that these are trees that were planted by a farmer 120 years ago,” said Lori. “Just the fact that these trees are still alive and producing is really quite miraculous.”<\/p>\n
Volunteers prune the trees in the early winter and lay hardwood mulch at their bases to keep apple scab – a fungus that infects both the fruit and its leaves – at bay. Each year, volunteers have also planted a variety of apple and pear trees and berry bushes including haskap berries.<\/p>\n
On festival day, they planted a Zone 3 filbert (hazelnut) tree. “They are growing well at our farm so we thought we\u2019d bring one over here too,” said Lori. “We\u2019re trying to continue the edible forest.”<\/p>\n
They appreciate volunteer help for orchard maintenance and planting tasks. Email Lori at lor35ain@hotmail.com if you’re interested in helping in the future.<\/p>\n\n\t\t