the Apple Works - Indiana Nut Growers Association

THE HOOSIER KERNEL
Publication of the
INDIANA NUT & FRUIT GROWERS ASSOCIATION
J.R. McKenna, Editor
Volume 60, No. 4
December, 2013
WINTER MEETING
DECEMBER 1
Johnson County Extension Office
Lunch 11:30
Speaker 12:30 Meeting/Elections 1:30 Auction
2:30 Board Meeting 3:00—5:00
Speaker: Sarah Brown - the Apple Works ”Maintenance of Apple Trees Season by Season”
Articles
Page
Articles
Page
Winter Meeting Directions …….……….. 2
Johnson Co. Orchard Update……………..8
The Apple Works History.…...……...…....3
New Projects / Harvest Photos……..…9-10
On the Stump……….………………….….4
TCD Confirmed in Ohio….…………...…..11
Sept Meeting Minutes/Attendees……...5-6
NIKITSKY BOTANICAL GARDENS …………...12
Mari’s Page………..…………………...…...7
Officers / Directors / Experts...……..…13-14
INFGA’s mission is to promote the growing of nut and fruit trees in Indiana
for individuals, families, and small-scale producers through educational
meetings and field days regarding nut and fruit tree culture and to promote
the development of quality nut and fruit cultivars for Indiana.
For more information visit us at www.nutgrowers.org
VOLUME 60, NO. 4
THE HOOSIER KERNEL - December, 2013
Directions to the Johnson County Fair Grounds
Purdue Extension Building
Franklin, IN
We will be meeting at the Purdue Extension Office on the Johnson County Fair Grounds site. The Building
is easy to find. It is in the town of Franklin 1 block north and 1 block west of the intersection of US 31 and
SR 144. Signs will be posted. Members bring dishes to share for a pitch-in-potluck lunch. At this meeting, Kathy Harrell will be bringing fried chicken for all. Consider volunteering your time and talent to hold
an office, serve as a Board Member, or to volunteer on one of our committees. Plan to bring bulbs and
seeds, nuts, honey, and other items for exchange, auction and/or sale.
SPEAKER: Sarah Brown
Our speaker for the Winter Meeting is Sarah Brown, owner and operator of the Apple Works Orchard
south of the city of Trafalgar in Johnson Co., IN. Sarah and her husband Rick have operated this orchard
for more than 20 years and have over 50 varieties of apples (along with a U Pick Strawberry Farm and a U
Pick Pumpkin Farm). She is extremely knowledgeable on apple culture and pest control (she uses a lake
irrigation system and integrated pest management systems). Read the history and mission of the Apple Works on the
following page. Dave Richards, Program Chair
The Apple Works Orchards
2013 INGA Meeting Dates & Places
Mar 24
Scion Swap at Farm Bureau Insurance, Indy
May 19
Grafting at the IN-DNR Division of Forestry Vallonia Nursery
Sept 15
Mark Hildebrand, near Terre Haute
Dec 01
Winter Meeting, Johnson Co. Purdue Extension Office, Franklin
2
VOLUME 60, NO. 4
THE HOOSIER KERNEL - December, 2013
3
grown commercially because of its rusty appearance.
However, folks are quickly won over by its rich, cidery
flavor and they learn to see the beauty in its warm
The Apple Works is foremost dedicated to growing and bronze patina. These days, even at small orchards it is
providing high quality apples as well as other fruit su- rare to find over 60 varieties growing. However, with an
perior in taste and texture to that available in the grocery appreciative audience, we are able to add new ones each
store. Attending to details overlooked by others in their year.
orchards and picking at peak flavor, rather than allowing The Brown County area has a long history of apple orapples to ripen in storage, allows us to provide you the chards. From the late1870s, orchards were abundant
best tasting apple possible. We strive to provide our cus- here as the hilly terrain offered protection against spring
tomers with quality and service they can find nowhere
frosts and the climate made for a colorful, richly flaelse by offering samples, recipes and suggestions as
vored apple. Orchard owners like William Walden (who
well as our Pick the Perfect Apple system and our Apple had an orchard that stretched along the ridge of today's
Works Top 10, which you can view on our Apples Page SR 135 from Nashville to Bean Blossom)and Benjamin
on our website: http://www.apple-works.com/.
Douglas were prominent members of society. Mr.
Apple Works Mission Statement and
History
The Apple Works began in 1989 when Rick and Sarah
Brown began planting trees on what is now the Southern quarter of the orchard. Just as today, each tree was
planted by hand with
a shovel. In 1991 the
trees bore their first
crop. Rick and Sarah put two refrigerators in the middle of
the field and their
daughters, Alison
and Maggie, would
run from a picnic
table by the road to
fill orders from passing cars. Two years later they added the first half of the
barn. The Apple Works was officially a business.
Douglas wrote for the Saturday Evening Post and
shipped his preserves across the country and even to
England. In those days, popular varieties included King
David, Walden, and
Maiden Blush. In 1929,
Dale Bessire, one of the
top artists of the Nashville Artists Colony and
an apple grower himself,
held the first blossom
parade. While today the
parade features Redbuds
and Dogwoods, in 1929 it
featured Apple blossoms.
The event lasted a week
and was advertised on radio stations as far away as Chicago.
The Apple Works was founded with the goal of raising
the absolute best apples possible. Selling directly from
our barn allows us to grow finicky varieties that are either too fragile or too difficult to be grown by larger
orchards. Most people never get to experience the fresh
zing of a summer apple like Pristine, which comes off
the tree in July. Swiss Gourmet, one of Europe’s top
apples, is almost never found in America because it requires extra care in our climate. Stellar, a tall, elegant
apple that lives up to its name, is easily bruised and
must be handled delicately. Golden Russet, which
dates back to the early days of West Virginia, isn’t
Today the Apple Works continues this tradition, taking
advantage of the climate and soil of Southern Indiana,
as well as the long history of families who have made
apples and apple orchards part of their lives. We offer a
remote, very rural location near the border of Johnson
and Brown Counties. Nestled on gently rolling hills dotted with ponds and pockets of woods, our farm is a destination away from the fast pace of today and will hopefully prove to be a relaxing, country experience for all.
No matter what the occasion, from field trips to birthday
parties or just stopping by on the way home, we hope to
make a worthy memory for you at our farm.