Yesterday on a lovely sunny September Sunday we had a walk along the river and came across this amazing apple tree. The house in which garden it stood was empty and apples were all over the floor.
As today is again a warm sunny autumn day, I decided to have a walk there with some plastic bags and apple picker to see what they were like.
I gave many away to passers by and the verdict was: 10 out of 10 for taste. Delicious, juicy eaters.
One of the passers by was Magic, he loved the apples too and as he was on his way to have a shower at Winter Comfort, he was happy to take a carrier bag of apples with him to hand out to others.
I spoke with the manager of Fort St George who told me that the house is not in permanent use and all the apples would go to waste. At least this year some of them ended up into grateful mouths!
Monday 28 September 2015
Monday 14 September 2015
Wow, what amazing pears
I walk past this garden many times when I go to Mitcham's corner opposite Staples.
Unfortunately every time I know on the apartment doors, it is to no avail. However today I struck it luck. Massimo, who lives on the ground floor was in and like last year let me in to pick these amazing pears that were scattered around the car park. Big and juicy. On the way back many people had one for their lunch, from the post lady, to some builders, a mum with her children and me. What a treat.
There were also a few figs left, but they were nearly finished. Nice to know for next year
Unfortunately every time I know on the apartment doors, it is to no avail. However today I struck it luck. Massimo, who lives on the ground floor was in and like last year let me in to pick these amazing pears that were scattered around the car park. Big and juicy. On the way back many people had one for their lunch, from the post lady, to some builders, a mum with her children and me. What a treat.
There were also a few figs left, but they were nearly finished. Nice to know for next year
Saturday 5 September 2015
First pressing of the year
After all the apple picking this week I have decided to press the apples with a few of my newly made friends.
Manon was the first to join to help set up the gazebo, tables and chairs followed swiftly by Andrea of the NVS (new comers and visiting scholars)
Silvia came with her children and mother and father,who also turned out to be great helpers.
We had a fun and productive morning we started at 9.30 and finished by 11.30 at which time Graham and Lida came to pick up the press and hopper so that they could use it for their group at the workshop. It was such a success so that next year we might combine the pressing and do this together.
Manon was the first to join to help set up the gazebo, tables and chairs followed swiftly by Andrea of the NVS (new comers and visiting scholars)
Silvia came with her children and mother and father,who also turned out to be great helpers.
We had a fun and productive morning we started at 9.30 and finished by 11.30 at which time Graham and Lida came to pick up the press and hopper so that they could use it for their group at the workshop. It was such a success so that next year we might combine the pressing and do this together.
Friday 4 September 2015
Fruit, fruit glorious fruit
Armed with my trusty fruit picker and wheel barrow, I went on a local adventure
First I followed up on a call from my neighbour, Silvia, who saw some laden apple trees near the Indian Restaurant on Victoria Road. After having spoken with the tenant, I managed to clear up all the rotten apples that were already on the ground and within 1/2 hour had a wheel barrow full of cooking and eating apples. They shone like jewels, so attracted lots of attention so a great way to hand out to passers by.
As we will be pressing these apples tomorrow with the new comers and visiting scholars, I dropped them off in the garden straight away.
On my way I noticed figs on the floor, when I looked up saw a dozen lovely ripe ones waiting to be picked. With my picker they were swiftly removed, one eaten straight away and the rest are to give away and maybe have some for breakfast.
From the back of the carpark across the road from us, I noticed a tree with beautiful red apples. I knocked on their door and Lida opened up and introduced me to her husband Graham.
It so happened that they too are going to press their apples tomorrow. As they only have eaters and I only have cookers I have suggested a swap to get a better acidity ratio.
We agreed to stay in touch as Vincent the man with the apple juicing knowledge will get back to me to arrange the best way to go about it. As I have picked all my apples for now and I don't need my picker, it will come to good use for them tomorrow.
All this in one hour! Meeting interesting and kind people, eating healthy fruit and looking forward to another lovely day tomorrow.
First I followed up on a call from my neighbour, Silvia, who saw some laden apple trees near the Indian Restaurant on Victoria Road. After having spoken with the tenant, I managed to clear up all the rotten apples that were already on the ground and within 1/2 hour had a wheel barrow full of cooking and eating apples. They shone like jewels, so attracted lots of attention so a great way to hand out to passers by.
As we will be pressing these apples tomorrow with the new comers and visiting scholars, I dropped them off in the garden straight away.
On my way I noticed figs on the floor, when I looked up saw a dozen lovely ripe ones waiting to be picked. With my picker they were swiftly removed, one eaten straight away and the rest are to give away and maybe have some for breakfast.
From the back of the carpark across the road from us, I noticed a tree with beautiful red apples. I knocked on their door and Lida opened up and introduced me to her husband Graham.
It so happened that they too are going to press their apples tomorrow. As they only have eaters and I only have cookers I have suggested a swap to get a better acidity ratio.
We agreed to stay in touch as Vincent the man with the apple juicing knowledge will get back to me to arrange the best way to go about it. As I have picked all my apples for now and I don't need my picker, it will come to good use for them tomorrow.
All this in one hour! Meeting interesting and kind people, eating healthy fruit and looking forward to another lovely day tomorrow.
Thursday 3 September 2015
House is sold - apples are falling ....
After a tip off from my neighbour that there is a tree on Stretten Ave shedding its load, I went to investigate.\
It turned out to be sold and remember from last year meeting Chris and Fiona (the owners very grown up children)who harvested the apples with their mum when they were children. When I knocked on the door, there was no answer.Tthe house is empty and apples were all over the floor (also next door where the student house's drive was dotted with rotten apples)
After picking most of the apples, I tidied up and on my way home managed to hand out 1/2 of the apples picked.
A great way to get to know your neighbours. I can recommend it to anyone!
It turned out to be sold and remember from last year meeting Chris and Fiona (the owners very grown up children)who harvested the apples with their mum when they were children. When I knocked on the door, there was no answer.Tthe house is empty and apples were all over the floor (also next door where the student house's drive was dotted with rotten apples)
After picking most of the apples, I tidied up and on my way home managed to hand out 1/2 of the apples picked.
A great way to get to know your neighbours. I can recommend it to anyone!
Wednesday 2 September 2015
Back to Panton Street
Reggie and I went back this evening to finish off the cooking apple tree.
There was not much for me to do as my apple picking had already harvest all that were in reaching height. Reggie however was a star as he climbed the tree and Kate and I emptied the bin that he lowered down to us.
After a tidy of the garden, we left with another crate of beautiful cooking apples.
They will be pressed this weekend, weather permitting and hopefully some delicious juice with go to Reggie, Kate and their neighbour Toby (who asked me to do some more harvesting of eaters for him in the near future)
I will be busy, whilst meeting some lovely people. What a treat
There was not much for me to do as my apple picking had already harvest all that were in reaching height. Reggie however was a star as he climbed the tree and Kate and I emptied the bin that he lowered down to us.
After a tidy of the garden, we left with another crate of beautiful cooking apples.
They will be pressed this weekend, weather permitting and hopefully some delicious juice with go to Reggie, Kate and their neighbour Toby (who asked me to do some more harvesting of eaters for him in the near future)
I will be busy, whilst meeting some lovely people. What a treat
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