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The sales at the community orchard. Photos courtesy of Caroline Dry
An apple a day keeps the doctor away; that’s the old saying. So, for folks who take some stock in that axiom and like apples because they are also healthy and delicious, the 4th Annual Apple Festival held last weekend in Grand Marais was a highlight fall event.
Through her Johnny Appleseed Project, Carolyn Dry organized the festival. This year apple picking stops were at three orchards, Ray Blocks, Stan Bautch’s and the Grand Marais Community Orchard at the Law Enforcement Center. All three orchards are the handy work of Ray Block, albeit he had some help from volunteers to plant the apple trees.
Dry said that more than 600 people attended the weekend events.
When folks tired of picking apples, they retreated to the Cook County Community Center to hear live music by Pete Kavanaugh and sample some apple pie made by Crosby Bakery and drink some apple cider. Or, folks went to North House Folk School to watch and learn apple pressing.
Others participated in the apple pie baking contest to see who made the best pie. Finally, some listened to live presentations by Annie Klodd (fruit & fruit trees) and Mark Dittmanson (pollinators and beekeeping) on Saturday at the community center.
Champion apple-pie bakers Jesse Derschied and Moss Rhyess.
Still, the stars of the show were the apples. The hardy young apple trees Ray Block planted at the Law Enforcement Center are cold weather resistant and came from Block’s ever-expanding apple orchard, located about two miles west of Grand Marais on the shore of Lake Superior. Some varieties he grows along the shore include Honeycrisp, Gala, Golden Delicious, McIntosh, Fuji, Mutsu or tip-bearing Rome, and Gingergold. Many of those now grow at the Law Enforcement Center.
As the festival has blossomed, Dry continues adding events and new elements. So what will take place next year? Stay tuned to find out. And make sure to eat an apple a day to keep the….well, you know.
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