"Gypsy gold does not chink and glitter. It gleams in the sun and neighs in the dark."

~ Saying of the Gladdagh Gypsies of Galway


Thursday, September 22, 2011

Drowning...in fruit!


I am drowning in fruit. Picking until my fingers bleed.
Maybe not literally, but none the less!


120 fruit trees and most of them are all harvesting NOW.
I know it sounds 'romantic' to live on an orchard and farm apples & pears and have more than you know what to do with at your disposal. But, it ain't so romantic when you are living it!!

Don't get me wrong. It is great, but it is a lot of work for a barely there pay. A lot of HARD, laboring work. That all takes place after you have already been at work for 8 hours. A lot of cranky husbands, and cranky me's. And sore joints, numb finger tips and more polishing apples than I ever though possible.

Our garage is filled to the brim with bushel baskets full of fruit. And we have MORE empty baskets waiting to be filled. I have beyond ripe pears waiting to be made into pear butter. And I am try to peddle out this fruit like no ones business! Cider anyone?

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Do you invite local families to pick fruit for a fee? I know we just paid $30 to pick a bushel of organic peaches at a local peach orchard. Good for the families and easier on the orchard too. =0)

Susan said...

One of my dearest friends (we known each other since 1st grade) planted fruit trees when they built their first home. And, I mean, planted fruit trees! "Ideally," she said, "we're going to have our land pay for itself." Well, in a few years, when the trees started producing, and she had 3 children in tow, all I heard was, "what was I thinking!" However, I still wish I lived nearby and could harvest with you, make butter, pies, and cider! XOXO

Rae of Sunshine said...

If I lived closer, I would definitely take some off your hands. Can you ship them to Manitoba?

Nancy said...

To be honest, I was somewhat glad not to have bushels of apples to contend with since it's just me and my husband -- but I would have liked a few more than just the 8 I got from our tree. :)

Nancy said...

Not sure my comment posted. I don't think it did.

Anyway -- just saying I would have liked more than just 8 apples that I got from our one tree. :)

Debi said...

120 trees, oh goodness. I bet the orchard is just beautiful. Get some rest, honey. It does sound like an awfully lot of work.

Alicia@ eco friendly homemaking said...

I agree if we lived closer I sure would love to take some of that fruit off your hands!!. I have been checking our Farmers Markets for pears and apples so that I can make apple and pear butter. I also like to freeze apples to take out later and make pies and apple crisp!! I know it is such hard work and I hope that you get some rest soon!!

katiegirl said...

Oh man, I wish I was closer so I could buy fruit from you. Wait, where is your orchard? I don't remember where you are. LOL

Unknown said...

Hi Katie

We are in OH :)

meemsnyc said...

120 trees! Oh wow!