{"id":15622,"date":"2026-10-08T07:37:55","date_gmt":"2026-10-08T14:37:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gemtactics.net\/wordpress\/?p=15622"},"modified":"2026-10-08T07:43:11","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T14:43:11","slug":"so-many-apples","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gemtactics.net\/wordpress\/2026\/10\/so-many-apples\/","title":{"rendered":"So Many Apples"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

My remaining two fair posts got sidetracked – by life, I guess. There was a frenetic day in there where we had to harvest a lot of things before a predicted frost. Winter squash, mostly. We picked up all the fallen tomato and composted the vines so that mess is taken care of for another year. Sam did all the canning and has, I think, 33 quarts! That’s 99 pounds of tomatoes, not counting the ones still on the counter and that we’ve eaten! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I really wanted to post about apples at the fair, because it is such a prominent element for me. The Maine Heritage Orchard<\/a> is adjacent to the fairgrounds. They are actively working to preserve many older varieties of apples. Besides lectures and a display of over 400 varieties (!), they had “Wanted” posters for historical varieties that appeared in old records but were missing from the heritage orchard collection. They were possibly still growing unnoticed in some old farmstead. There are fruit hunters going out at this time of year throughout the state looking for special apples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of which is shown in the display below. The label says Drap d’or de Bretagne, although it’s too blurry to read. It’s in the third row from the top, fifth apple from the left. It’s yellow-green, with a patch of red blush on its left side. I really wanted to take a bite out of this apple! Maybe some year there will be enough to sample. The story of finding this apple tree on Verona Island is amazing to me. The article is here: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Pomologist\u2019s 50-Year Mission to Revive Maine\u2019s Heritage-Apple Varieties Is Bearing Fruit<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Some of the apples on display<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

And here’s John Bunker, the pomologist himself, at the fair. He’s a celebrity in my eyes! People were crowding around the front of the table, bringing apples from their trees so he could render an opinion on the type. For the most part, ordinary apples like Red or Yellow Delicious. But if they wanted to, they could submit their apples for definitive investigation and get an analysis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
John Bunker, the apple guru<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of apples, it’s time to go forage some from the very productive trees nearby. And make some applesauce. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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