Workin' the Press. From left: Marta Branch, Michelle Reed (hidden), Edith Thomsen, Phil Branch, Cameron Krein (twisting the press) and Rollie Sauer.
By Madie Murray
For the second year, Goldeneye Farm offered fruit from its century-old apple trees to provide fresh pressed cider for the Orcas Island Food Bank and apples for the public school cafeteria. Though the trees weren’t as abundant with the fresh round fruit of a tree of the rose family as last year, about 15 volunteers spent a couple of hours on a chilly but sunny, clear Saturday to scale the trees and “man” the press.
Last year when the trees were more laden than normal, volunteers were able to pick and press enough apples to provide more than 90 gallons of delicious cider that was shared between the Food Bank and cafeteria.
In contrast, this year about 18 gallons in total was pressed and given to the Food Bank. Five boxes of whole apples are headed for the school cafeteria.
A great big thanks to Goldeneye Farm for this generous gift and a fun October afternoon.
