Visit Apple Hill to celebrate fall harvest in Northern California

October 15, 1:59 PMSF Gardening ExaminerChris McLaughlin

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A country store at an Apple Hill farm. Photo by Mr Mitch

October is the perfect month to take the family to Apple Hill for an old-fashioned outdoor family playday. Apple Hill is located in Camino California, just above historical Placerville, also known as Old Hangtown. Apple Hill is a cooperative community of 56 apple ranchers that combined grow 17 apple varieties plus many other fruit trees and vegetables. 

Among the other fresh food grown are cherries, pears, persimmons, pumpkins, plums, grapes, berries, kiwi, nectarines, nuts, and Indian corn. That's just the beginning of the wholesome goodness nestled in the Sierra foothills. Each ranch offers it's own flavor of family entertainment, which makes the Apple Hill experience enjoyable for people of all ages and interests.  

For bakers and food lovers there are crates of apples, handmade frozen pie crusts, and apple sauce to purchase. Some ranches offer pick-your-own apples which is sure to give the kids some appreciation about how food is grown and the work that goes into fresh food preparation.

Fanciful scarecrows live at Apple Hill. By Mr. Mitch

Bring home the straight-from-the-tree freshness and bake up the tastiest apple pies around. For those of us who just can't wait, Apple Hill ranches have pre-made apple pies.

There's apple butter, chutneys and homemade fudge to bring back home. The baked goods sold at Apple Hill ranches are extremely fresh and usually baked the same day you purchase them. Keep your eyes open for the Apple Hill Grower's cookbook which was originally published in 1967 and is filled with 48 pages of apple recipes.  

Stay and have lunch and pure apple cider while listening to live music at your favorite ranch. Then take a stroll over to the micro-brewery at Jack Russell ranch or at the fishing pond at High Hill Ranch. Apple Hill hasn't forgotten the wine connoisseurs and  there are several ranches that have wine tasting.   

For the kids there's pumpkin patches and original scarecrows galore. There are pony rides, petting zoos, hay mazes, horse-drawn wagon rides, and  crafts. There's nature hikes and face painting. By appointment kids can even attend a cooking class. Anyone who appreciates handmade crafts will enjoy the variety of gifts available from local crafters. Even the family dog is welcomed as long as there's a leash involved.   

Because of the fall excitement, it's easy to forget that there's also Christmas trees available at Apple Hill. The town of Camino is at a high enough elevation to grow noble firs and silver tip trees, too. If you don't make it there for the autumn season, think about making a trip in the colder months and make it a Yuletide event.  

Head on over to the Apple Hill Growers website and print out the informational maps and locations. The festivities begin on Labor Day and continue through Christmas. You may also call (530) 644-7692 for more information. 

For more gardening articles by Chris McLaughlin visit Vegetable Gardener.com or her website A Suburban Farmer. Chris' book The Complete Idiot's Guide to Composting will be in bookstores in April 2010.