Apple Picking
Stone Soup Farm in Oak Glen
Hello, lovely beings! I was so happy to find a quick outside activity for the autumn season. I knew Oak Glen had apple picking farms. I researched which ones I wanted to support after finding out about Riley’s Farm’s controversial past. I wanted to find a small business I could put my support into!
I came across Stone Soup Farm & Heritage Orchard and was in love. Something about this place really called to me. I adored the name-which actually came from an old folk tale-and I just felt good vibes.
We decided to go on Friday for their Family Farm day event-their usual hours are Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.- and they are having another Family Farm Day event on October 9th and you can get tickets here.
We left early to beat the heat. It was a 2-hour drive, and there was hardly any traffic. We arrived at 11 and were greeted at the front and started to walk around. The orchards had tours every half hour of the farm and orchard. I would definitely recommend doing a tour. Tim, the owner, shared so much knowledge and history on the orchard. We love to hear people speak passionately about what they work on. What intrigued me the most was the Glenn Seedling apples, which are native to Oak Glenn and have been here since 1887. They are perfectly tart with a little hint of sweetness.
Apple picking rules:
Cost: $3.50/lb. You touch it you buy it.
Another activity we really enjoyed learning about and seeing was cider pressing! It was really cool to see how they made cider! I don’t know how I thought cider pressing went but seeing it now is pretty cool. I loved how the instructor told us small stories about times he’s worked and seen deer nearby who love to coexist on the farm. As he put it, “it’s a win-win for them eating apples here.” The apple juice was absolutely perfect. You can purchase your own on Saturdays and Sundays for $23 a gallon. We did a tasting, and it was the best cider I’ve ever tasted. Even Kevin thought it was perfect. Definitely would recommend getting yourself some homemade cider from here. You can also purchase from other farms nearby.
I also loved the little farmhouse! At the farm, they explained a little about how people used to live in the past. As a lover of all things vintage, I thought it was incredibly interesting! Instead of a mattress, they had twine/rope-like things that made the support. If you wanted to get a nice “mattress,” you could stuff something with corn husks, or-as the farmer said- if you’re going to be fancy, you could stuff it with goose feathers! She also shared how farmers stored food, washed clothes, fed chickens, and even candle making! I saw how they were making candles but chose not to participate really.
What to expect:
Weather: double-check the weather; today wasn’t so bad! However, always be prepared with sunscreen and sun protection.
Clothes: I wore a cottagecore/vintage-inspired outfits and was fine. Closed-toe shoes are definitely a must! Dress for the weather, the blouse I wore was thin enough to feel fresh but gave me some sun protection.
COVID PROCEDURES: They did an incredible job with social distancing and having things in order. We had our own hand sanitizer and wipes. When it comes to the outdoors, everyone has their own responsibility to social distancing and doing what they can to help others. We did our part, and everything went well. There weren’t that many people. However, we did leave at 1 p.m. before the crowds started coming in.
Oak Glen has been affected by the most recent fires that happened this month. Thankfully, the fires never reached the orchard. Still, it burned the surrounding area, which makes it prone to mudslides in the rainy season, unfortunately. If you want to help people/communities affected by the fire please, please check out Stone Soup Farm & Heritage Orchard and support their farm.
I hope you enjoyed this blog post. Here’s me with a chicken, fun fact I want a chicken as a pet, so I’m waiting! I hope you all stay well and safe! Blessed be!
