He then finds work with William Lobb who is a plant collector and discovers that working with him allows him to reminisce about his past and the apple orchards he left behind. It’s Robert however who has escaped to a better life and who is now working his way across America as a miner and logger amongst other things. Sadie is not often at home for as well as the cider, she likes to ‘mingle’ with other men at the revivalist meetings nearby Five of their children have died and those who did survive are a rather mixed bag – life as a pioneer family didn’t leave much room for family unity or development. Swamp Fever is rife and James heartbreakingly describes how he has to dig the graves before the undergrowth becomes too dense. Life in the swamp settlement is harsh in other ways. The various kinds of trees in the order, the process of apple cultivation and the daily strains of working in an orchard of this size is evoked with detail right down to the mud, the smell of the apples and the taste. Sadie prefers the applejack which is strong cider made from spitter apples which you cab’t eat. Apple CultivationĪpple cultivation is evoked with every last drop tasted on your tongue as you read. They are pioneers after all and James is devoted to his sweet apples. The land is damp and mosquito-ridden but the Goodenoughs (apt name?) make do as best they can. Prices subject to change without notice.19th century Ohio is a dark and damp place – home to the settlement they call Black Swamp and the place the Goodenough family hopes to create some roots. Weekend activities that charge a fee are as follows: wagon rides to the orchard ($3 per person, ages 4 & under ride free), corn box play ($3), jumping pillow ($3), apple cannon & slingshot ($3), pony rides ($4), corn maze ($6) and an extensive menu of apple treats and lunch items available in the barn. Prices: Admission to the orchard to enjoy the live music, kids play area and petting farm is free. Fall raspberries are also ripening, always call for conditions – 76. Always check the website or call ahead before coming to pick! A bag is purchased ahead of time.
Picking: PYO apples are available on fall weekends only and availability depends on what’s currently ripe. Live music is scheduled each weekend through the fall find the complete lineup here.
#APPLEJACK ORCHARD FREE#
Free carts were available for toting small children and loads of apples!). (I should also mention that it’s do-able to walk to the orchard portion of the farm instead buying a ride on the tractor wagon. You could skip the a la carte activities and easily make an afternoon of hunting for that perfect peck of Honeycrisp.
#APPLEJACK ORCHARD PLUS#
Take heart Apple Jack has a nice little play area with slides and hay bales, a barnyard of animals and a small maze – all free, plus there is no admission charged to enter the orchard. We made sure to take stock of the available activities and set limits ahead of time. This was all before the four little harvesters were set loose in the apple orchard and the raspberry patch. Much of this has to do with the size of our family: four riders on the kiddie cow train, four little sets of legs wanting to bounce skyward on the jumping pillow, four launches of the apple cannon. One note of caution: it was easier to empty our wallet at this orchard than at any of the others we’ve visited over the past few years.
Or, if slipping away from the hubbub and wandering among the apple trees sounds more up your alley, we’ve had that experience there, too.
And perhaps that’s what you’re looking for – an orchard packed with activities to appeal to every age in your family. Apple Jack Orchards in Delano, Minnesota, could be one of those day-long fall destinations.
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