empty picking apron

my picking apron is empty…

there are no more apples left to pick and we are closed for the season. 

thank you for coming to the farm! 

we have so enjoyed our harvest with you. 

it is such a pleasure to meet so many wonderful families!

sweet job we have! 

it’s always sad to close the farm gate, 

but we will see you next year...

be well, and enjoy your apples!

warm farm hugs,

laura

carl laidlaw orchards

the last harvest

yes we still have apples!

    it looks like saturday will be our last day to be open for picking...

cortlands, empire, red delicious,

 smoothies, mutsus and ida reds.

it is a perfect opportunity to fill up your fridge 

 or cold room for the colder months ahead.

i so love to bake when its cold outside!

and it’s much more fun than doing housework. 

we have an extra fridge full of apples, mostly ida reds.

hello apple cake, apple crisp, apple pies and apple tartes!

oh what a wonderful harvest we have shared with you!

warm farm hugs,

laura

carl laidlaw orchards 

thankful

another perfect weekend to join us in the orchard…

we will also be open this thanksgiving monday. 

we will start picking 

mutsu, ida red, red delicious,
 golden delicious, and ambrosia apples.

we are still picking 
cortland, jonagold, spartan, empire, rhode island greening,
 and a handful of other varieties if you are patient enough to look!
(there is always one left!)

mutsu

these are worth the wait!
 a crunchy, tart, large juicy apple that turns sweeter the longer it ripens
 on the tree. excellent for tarts and pies. 

it is also known as a crispin. these will store til after christmas. 

do you remember our dog mutsu? she lived to be 17! 

ida red

my second favourite apple for baking pies and cakes…
so similar to a cortland with a hint of lemon.

 these are the best apples for storing…
they will easily last until the spring in your fridge. 

red delicious

as a kid i thought there were only 2 kinds apples…these and macs! 

sweet and mild with the cute little bumps on the bottom. 

fresh picked they are nothing like the store variety…you have to try them!

did you know the red delicious are one of the empire’s parents?

golden delicious

appropriately named! sweet and rich……excellent for everything…
sauce, pies, tarts, cakes, and of course fresh eating out of hand.
their thin skin melts into the apple sauce..no need to peel!
you cant go wrong with a bushel full of golden delicious. 

ambrosia 

from a chance seedling in british columbia, its parents are a mystery,
 but thought to be jona gold and golden delicious. 

they are sweet, crisp and juicy with creamy flesh.
 their low acidity makes them slow to brown…great in salads!

excellent too for pies, tarts and baking. 

did you know we carry blossom bakery’s

famous flat breads and petal crackers? 

one look at the flatbreads and you can tell my friend and owner jackie is an artist! 

her seasonal flavour combinations are exquisite. 
jackie has made a divine pear cranberry chutney that you will love ...
 available this weekend. 

a perfect hostess gift to bring to dinner!

giving thanks to all our fabulous customers!

we are fortunate that we can be a part of your family’s  traditions 

warm farm hugs,

laura

carl laidlaw orchards 

hello october

welcome october!
  a brilliant selection of apples are plentiful and perfect for picking this month!

  
 something for every apple lover...
this weekend we will start picking the 

smoothies, russet and rhode island greening apples.
also available are

macintosh, jona gold, cortland, empire, royal gala, 
silken, and spartan apples. 

smoothie

love the name… 

these are a wonderful, juicy, sweet, mellow, early variety of golden delicious.

 fabulous to eat fresh and equally fabulous for cooking. 

smoothies store well…a good one to tuck away in an extra fridge or coldroom.

russet

they will never win a beauty pageant…their skin is quite dull 

with rough brown patches known as russeting.

 shakespeare referred to them as leathercoates. 

often described as nutty, they have a delicate,

 sweet flavour and flesh that is similar to a pear. 

often pressed for cider, 

they also work well in salads or with cheeses.

rhode island greening

an heirloom apple, it is visually similar to a granny smith. 
while very tart when eaten fresh, it is mainly used for pies,
 where cooking brings out it’s full flavours. 
if you have a loose tooth, this very hard apple will change that…

hello tooth fairy!

i forgot how much i love home made apple sauce!

it reminds me of being a kid again.
my mom used to serve it warm over vanilla ice cream. 

we combine many varieties of apples to make our apple sauce.

we have never been disappointed...although it does taste different every time. 

its an easy way to use up extra apples…

 and after making a batch today our home smells amazing!

just peel, slice and core as many apples as you have…

add a little water and simmer until the texture is desirable. 

i used about 20 apples and 1 cup of water…

simmered with the lid on for a half an hour or so. 

it gave me 4 mason jars plus a couple of small bowls that we ate while warm. 

i substitute apple sauce for oil in muffin recipes.

 one of our customers shared that she adds vanilla to her sauce.

 it adds an extra layer of flavour. 
thank you margot!

last autumn we were gifted home made apple sauce made with 

strawberries…an unexpected and amazing combination!

 thank you samuel and nathan!

apple sauce will turn into thick rich apple butter

 when simmered for hours and reduced.

 we were given a jar with an opulent velvet ribbon years ago. 
thanks again carleen!

there are so many wonderful jars to use or reuse for sauce or apple butter.
and there is such a terrific choice available of cute of twines, ribbons and labels to add...

who doesn't love apple sauce?

it really makes a thoughtful sweet gift!

you will need your rain boots this weekend. 

we can loan you a pair if you forget yours.

welcome october!

warm hugs,

laura

carl laidlaw orchards

hello autumn

our first weekend of autumn and the last weekend of september…

nature’s costume change is pretty spectacular 

hasn't it been a lovely, warm september? 

yet we welcome the cooler weather…

i always look forward to wearing my vintage sweaters again. 

yes i do have a thing for cardigans. 

and the apples really benefit from the cool nights. 

 a stellar selection of apples are ready for picking this weekend…

cortland, mcgowen, fuji, jona gold,
 empire, spartan and silken.

 we are still picking some of our earlier varieties too...

macintosh, royal gala, and honey gold.

cortland

sprightly, with complex flavours, they are juicy and crisp and resistant to browning.  

fabulous to eat fresh and a perfect choice for baking…

cortlands hold their shape well in a pie, tart, gallette, or cake.

still my favourite!

they grow in clusters of twos…

you will need a partner in crime to pick, or use two hands. 

mcgowen

also known as macoun, they are a cross between 
a macintosh and a jersey black.

mcgowns are a lovely smaller apple… 

crisp, sweet, juicy, and aromatic.

you have to try them! 

they are best eaten fresh, but make a sweet sauce. 

fuji

this is another “new” apple available on our farm. 

the orchard is only 4 years old!

they are quite sweet, extremely juicy and wonderfully crisp

 with a beautiful white coloured flesh.  

their sweetness makes them ideal for baking, roasting, saucing and enjoying fresh.

jona gold

with golden delicious and jonathan as parents,
 they are sweet with a hint of tartness…

a beautiful balance!

wonderful for baking, pies and sauce. 

empire

an intense, juicy blend of sweet and tart…

they are the best of both parents macintosh and red delicious.

so versatile and excellent in any apple recipe. 

empires are perfect for lunch boxes and brief cases as they aren't easily bruised. 

their colour changes to an opulent deep rich, dark red the

 longer they ripen on the tree. they look like velvet!

spartan 

a sweet, delicate flavour, crisp, and so juicy… everyone loves a fresh spartan!

they are a cross of a macintosh and a newton. 

spartans are brilliant for juicing and cider.

they are great for sautéing, pies, baking, and sauce. 

silken

the texture and flavour are wonderful…firm, sweet, crisp and juicy. 

the flesh is a little like a pear or russet apple. 

aromatic with a hint of honey, they are a very refreshing favourite. 

mornings on the farm are so dreamy…

often the fog caresses the entire valley and follows the river.

it is quite a luxury to wander around the farm this time of year! 

we are lucky that so many guests feel the same!

welcome autumn!

warm hugs,

laura

carl laidlaw orchards