Apple picking is one of our favorite things to do in the fall, especially in Maine. There are so many orchards to choose from that have tons of different apples, pumpkin patches, hayrides, and many other fall like activities.
We chose Sewall orchards located in Lincolnville. In addition to the apples to pick, there is a blueberry field that rises high above the orchard and looks out over the
Camden Hills State Park and parts of Penobscot Bay to the southeast, and
Acadia National Park hard to the east. Their orchard is the oldest organically certified orchard in the state of Maine. And it happens to be about 30 minutes away!
We arrive and the orchard is beautiful. We walk around, carefully selecting the right apples, perfect for the picking. It feels like a wonderland in there, surrounded by carefully planted trees.
They even have specific tools for picking the best apple on the tree, which is at the top, of course. It's a genius design that grabs the apple without disrupting any other part of the tree. The device carefully plucks the apple off the tree into a little attached basket right underneath. You can then safely bring the stick down and collect the apple.
This apple is striped!
I found this apple laying on the ground like this. It looks like the shiny red apple that the evil witch gave snow white. It looked tasty and wonderfully contrasty on the fallen leaves.
We walked to the top of the blueberry hill which was 500 feet above sea level and very steep. We decided not to look back at the view until we got to the top. Blueberry fields have the greatest purple like color, which with the rock makes it look like prehistoric land. Add fluffy white and grey clouds and you have a pretty amazing image.
We got to the top of the very steep hill, turned around and marveled at the magnificent view of everything! Lakes and mountains as far as the eye can see, not to mention a nice birds eye view of the orchard.
The fall foliage is progressing nicely and it's always nice to have a different perspective of the leaf change, like from above.
On our way out we stopped to speak to the owners and make purchases of local, organic apple cider vinegar and cider. The owners Bob Sewall and Mia Mantello are hard working farmers that care about their product. They are busy pressing the apples and making the delicious cider as we walk towards them. Mia pours me a cup to taste and I know I've found something great when that sweet goodness hits my lips.
Bob and Mia let us know that because of federal regulations they can't sell their product wholesale anymore because it's not pasteurized. They are keeping it natural which is the way it should be. People should buy at their own risk and decide what is best for them, not listen to a bunch of people that feed us GMO's on a daily basis. Poison we can eat, but all natural stuff no? That is just crazy.
We choose the natural stuff.
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