Sometimes an experience can become routine and loose the joy it once brought. I was in a rut of visiting the same orchard, grabbing a bag of donuts, looking around quickly and leaving.
Yesterday, I stopped at Shelburne Orchards an orchard I had never been to before and loved it 馃檪
The little things really matter. First I was greeted by this pile of pumpkins with some child size chairs in front. It immediately put a smile on my face.
Everything here was well done and fun.
Of course there was an orchard. The kind I like. Old trees. Pruned low for self-picking. Very traditional.
Inside, crates of apples. Wooden crates. Mix and match for one price. Wide selection including Liberty and Zestar! that I grow. I have lots of Liberty this year but my Zestar! tree is only 2 years old so hasn't cropped yet. I got a Zestar! to try 馃檪 very nice apple. (Yes they trademark apple varieties and yes Zestar! has an exclamation point 馃檮)
Did I mention it was raining? this old wood stove was burning and keeping the small market warm plus heating up some cider. How cool is that!
Next to the old stove was an old cider press! Two wood tubs one for the mill and one for the press. Maybe still operational but I think probably just for decor.
Not sure about this display and I didn't ask. Maybe they sometimes have cider making classes or sell DIY kits or just give out how-to-guides?
We had some donuts and cider plus brought home some apples. They covered everything you expect like these small decorative pumpkins and gourds plus some pie pumpkins outside.
Plus a few nice surprises like some braided garlic with dried flowers mixed in. Looks like they also had some hen of the woods mushrooms for sale but were sold out. Because of the rain, the band that was scheduled didn't come out and the food trucks also took the weekend off. We will be back next weekend for the full experience 馃憤