So, last weekend, I decided to go apple picking. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while, and the weather was just perfect. I looked up a few orchards near me, picked one that seemed nice, and off I went.
First off, getting there was a bit of an adventure. I missed a turn, ended up on some back roads, but hey, that’s part of the fun, right? When I finally arrived, the place was bustling. Families everywhere, kids running around—it was a lively scene.
I grabbed one of those bags they give you and started walking through the rows of trees. Now, I’ve read a bit about apple picking before, so I had a rough idea of what to do. The first thing I noticed was that you gotta look for the firm ones. I mean, you don’t want to pick an apple that’s all soft and mushy. So, I gave each apple a gentle squeeze. If it felt solid and had a nice resistance, it was a go.
But here’s where it got a bit tricky. I didn’t want to just yank the apples off the branches. I remembered reading somewhere that you can damage the tree that way, and you might knock off other apples by mistake. So, I tried this technique I saw in a video once. You hold the apple in your hand, put your index finger on the stem, and then gently roll the apple upwards. It’s like you’re trying to make the bottom of the apple point towards the top of the tree.
- Hold the apple in your palm.
- Place your index finger on the stem.
- Gently roll the apple upwards.
And guess what? It worked! Most of the time, the apple just popped right off without much effort. I felt like a pro, not gonna lie. I spent a good couple of hours there, just wandering around, enjoying the sun, and picking apples. There’s something really satisfying about doing it yourself, you know? You pick it, you know its fresh and best.
By the time I was done, my bag was full of these beautiful, firm apples. I ended up making a pie that evening, and it was probably the best apple pie I’ve ever had. Maybe it was the fresh apples, or maybe it was just the satisfaction of having picked them myself.
Anyway, if you’re thinking about going apple picking, I’d say definitely do it. Just remember to be gentle with the trees, and try that rolling technique. It really makes a difference. And most importantly, have fun with it! It’s a great way to spend an afternoon.
