Apples…one of the easiest fruits to grow.
These Apple Trees were planted seven years ago and have fruited every year.
They has never been sprayed.
There have never been any chemicals sprayed on or around them.
These trees are the perfect plants in the perfect place…a permaculture success.
The fruit is used as a base for a whole range of jellies, chutneys and jams.
Some of it is stored in the freezer.
Much is stored in a cool, dark, dry area where it can be accessed for use.
Apples are made into Toffee Apples at Samhain and for floating in barrels for dunking games.
Apple slices are dried as rings…simply hooped onto lengths of homegrown Bamboo and hung in the oven of the wood stove.
I use some of the Apples at the moment in home made Apple yoghurt, yummy stuff!
Of course, where would civilisation be without the seasonal Apple Pie?
I mulch around these trees every couple of years with sheeps wool left over from my spinning…there are parts of the fleece which are not used in the spinning process.
This is filled with goodness which is washed, through rainfall, into the soil.
During the summer as I mow the paths, I heap the cuttings around the base of each apple tree to mulch out weeds and feed the roots.
Grass is, after all, great fertilizer.
At the end of each growing season, I cut by all new growth by two-thirds.
All branches that grow towards the middle of the tree are cut out.
Most important of all…I plant lots of bee attracting plants and bushes around the orchards, especially the early Spring flowering bush, Ribes.
The Bees must be looked after!
Bealtaine Cottage is also on YouTube…with over 85 videos about Permaculture, planting, growing and living.
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