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JennGM
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| Posted: Oct 09 2008 at 8:41am | IP Logged
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Here's where I fail miserably as a mother. I just am not up to speed on wonderful orchards and farms for fresh vegetable and fruit picking. And I'm clueless about the picking seasons, too!
This year we had a great time picking blueberries with a few 4Real moms. And I thought maybe we'd try apples, as we do use these.
Any recommendations for this Northern Virginia suburban girl? What kinds of apples do they have (that's kind of key, too)? Easy for kids, or are they all high up?
See, I'm really clueless. Hoping for some hand-holding....
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Mary G
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Jenn -- don't feel clueless! I mentioned how much I love apples to a knitting friend (who lives in Kentucky!) and she told me about this web site which keeps up with all "you pick" sites in every state (the link above will link you right to NoVA farms).
THis should at least give you an idea ... some of the farms are open during the week for picking (which is a bit easier for us so we don't have to fuss with crowds)
Hope that helps!
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rm4mrfrus
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Hi Jenn!
I'm not sure how close you are to Winchester, but if it's not too far, we like Rinker Orchards in Stephens City.
They have nice short trees so you can reach all the apples and they sell Red Delicious, Golden, Ida Reds (which are crisp apples kind of like Granny Smiths). Dogs are welcome.
The phone number is 540.869.1499 and their address is
1156 Marlboro Rd. Stephens City Va
Their brochure says they are located on Rt. 631, 2.5 miles west of Stephens City.
Coming from 66 you would take 81 North and get off the Stephens City exit (I think it is 307) and take a left at the light at the top of the exit ramp (there will be a Sheetz and Dunkin Donuts to the left of the light..head towards them.) Stay on that road about 2.5 miles and the orchard is to your right. We bought 4 bags which equalled to 2 bushels and paid about $50.
Our children had loads of fun there! Hope you do too.
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JennGM
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Mary, I had looked at the web site before I posted. It's helpful, but not too specific to apples. But I have it bookmarked and using it.
Hollee, thanks for the recommendation. We love Ida Red. I admit the most apple picking (and sometimes pumpkin) we usually do is stopping at the Virginia Farm Market which features the VA local applies. It happens to be on the route we normally take to PA. 
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Jennifer G. Miller
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JennGM
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| Posted: Oct 09 2008 at 9:38am | IP Logged
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Oh, I found this Guide to PYO Virginia Apples.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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JennGM
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| Posted: Oct 09 2008 at 9:39am | IP Logged
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Serial posting, but another question: Are there any Honeycrisps locally?
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Jennifer G. Miller
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insegnante
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http://www.striblingorchard.com
We went there in 2006 and really enjoyed it. My husband says our then 4-year-old (and not tall) son was able to reach some of the apples. I can't remember what kinds of apples there were, but the Web site has a chart with times varieties are usually available and says to call ahead to find out if a specific kind is available.
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rm4mrfrus
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| Posted: Oct 09 2008 at 9:45am | IP Logged
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Jenn,
I was just coming back on here because my son reminded me that they also had Honeycrisps (his absolute favorites) at Rinkers. But those were an earlier variety and already picked so we just picked some out of an apple crate they had near the information/sales booth. We bought a 1/2 bushel of those and he was eating 5-6 a day!
Ida Reds are my favorites too! But those Honeycrisps were quite tasty too!
(edited for spelling )
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insegnante
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And the chart on the orchard site I just mentioned says availability for Honey Crisps is early September.
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Theresa
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Wendy
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We haven't been yet, but I wanted to second the recommendation for Stribing Orchard -- our new homeschooling group sent out an email about it a few weeks ago, and several of the ladies said their families loved it.
I *can* personally recommend the Virginia Farm Market. It's about 15 minutes away from our old house, and we got our pumpkins there every year. They do have wonderful apples, and pies, and local honey, and herbs... Now I'm homesick. 
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LisaR
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our honeycrisps are already all picked and sold here in IL.
We were able to buy 1/2 Bu of firsts, and 1 and 1/2 bushels of 2nds!!
my kids will eat two-three apples per day. I discovered this year that the seconds around here still look better than apples in the stores!!
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Mary G
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LisaR wrote:
| the seconds around here still look better than apples in the stores!! |
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and tastes TONS better too 
Thanks for starting this post Jenn ... it's got me motivated to head out on Sunday and do some picking!
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teachingmyown
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We go to Hartland Orchard in Markham. Last year we even ran into Irene (teachingmom) there. We went last weekend.
You are a little late. The trees were pretty empty. We usually go in mid-September. We did manage to fill several bags, but the little kids had a harder time. There were still a lot of granny smith which I like for baking.
There is a hayride on weekends but we don't do it.
A couple of places recommended to me that I haven't tried but that have more to do are Graves Mountain in Madison and Carter's Mountain in Charlottesville.
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Mary Chris
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I was also going to add that you might want to call before you go. We have not been yet, but I have heard some orchards are pretty picked over.
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sarahb
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Does anyone want the stribling orchard apple cake recipe?
Its harder to find than it used to be. maybe they are trying to suppress it. LOL Its so good. we couldnt live without it.
from Stribling's Apple House in Hume VA
2 C sugar
1 C oil
2 eggs
3 T milk or apple juice
3 C flour
1 t soda
1 t baking powder
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t salt
2-3 c sliced peeled apples
Mix the sugar, eggs and oil. Stir in the milk/ juice. Add in the dry ingredients. Last, stir in the sliced apples and thin the batter if it cant be spread. It will be horribly thick.
Spread in a 9x 13 cake pan and bake for 30-45 mins at 350. Check for doneness and bake longer if necessary.
Metal pans cook faster. If you want a fancy look it can be done in a 10 in tube pan (angel cake pan, not bundt.) Beware, it will take an hour plus to bake.
I can make this in my sleep. It requires no special technique and can not be messed up. Jason once made it and didnt peel the apples. It was still good.
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Jen L.
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Is it really too late in No VA?
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msclavel
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I don't know about Stribling, but Hartland is probably done. We went on Monday and had a hard time. That said, I have been to Stribling around this time other years and was able to pick, so give them a call.
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Mary G
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| Posted: Oct 13 2008 at 4:33am | IP Logged
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We called Hartland on Saturday and they said they were pretty much done ... just had "tops and drops" or pre-picked. Stribling on the otherhand still has TONS of apples. We went out there yesterday and had a great time. They have an apple for almost every taste it seems and the setting/weather couldn't have been better.
We're probably going out again next Sunday as it's just an hour door-to-door for us -- so Jenn it'd be even closer for you guys!
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MaryG
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JennGM
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Mary G wrote:
We called Hartland on Saturday and they said they were pretty much done ... just had "tops and drops" or pre-picked. Stribling on the otherhand still has TONS of apples. We went out there yesterday and had a great time. They have an apple for almost every taste it seems and the setting/weather couldn't have been better.
We're probably going out again next Sunday as it's just an hour door-to-door for us -- so Jenn it'd be even closer for you guys! |
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I read your great post, Mary! Sounds like a lot of fun. We enjoyed the gorgeous weather in the mountains yesterday, too.
We went Pumpkin picking ourselves a little further out from you yesterday. We like to pick our pumpkins at http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/sky.shtml">Sky Meadows State Park and we also stopped at the nearby Hollins Farms. Both places are serene, peaceful, just gorgeous nestled in the mountains. We tend to dislike crowds and the somewhat forced/false entertaining pumpkin patches with the high price tag and are attracted to more working farms with real U pick patches.
As for apples, we picked Ida Red and Fuji from bins at Hollins. 
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Topic: Apple Picking in Northern VA Recommend?
