Friends of Pipers Orchard

Our third annual festival was a great success, with over 220 attendees and over 20 volunteers. The sun peeked through the clouds at times, and the periodic drizzles didn’t dampen our spirits. The festival took place simultaneously at the Environmental Learning Center, the Lower Meadow and the Orchard.

At the ELC we had informative presentations on viticulture, organic pest management, tree pruning and espalier, and apple varieties, old and new. We also had booths featuring Puget Sound Beekeepers Association, City Fruit, pruning, non-toxic pest management, and orchard management, as well as a kids craft area, apple cider pressing, the pie tasting contest, and Tillie’s Cafe, selling baked treats (apple pies featured), hot dogs, coffee and cider.

In the Lower Meadow, people were able to taste orchard apple varieties, operate the mechanical apple press, and enjoy the tunes from our wandering minstrel.

Up at the Orchard, more apple variety tasting took place, and at the end of the festival, Dr. Bob Norton took attendees on a tour, discussing the varieties.

We really want to thank all the volunteers and folks who attended. We encourage you to get involved in our upcoming orchard work parties.

Celebrate the 3^rd annual Piper’s Orchard Festival of Fruit by joining activities including:

• apple variety tasting
• cider pressing and tasting
• apple pie contest (at noon)
• apple pies and other treats for sale
• presentations on tree selection, pruning, viti-culture, pest management, bee keeping, etc.
• booths from other Western Washington fruit organizations
• fun for children
• visit the orchard

We’re honored to have Dr. Bob Norton, who started a western Washington tree fruit research facility in Mt. Vernon (still active) through WSU many years ago, as one of our presenters.  He will also lead a walk to the orchard. The festival will be held at the Carkeek Park Environmental Learning Center, as well as the Lower Meadow and the orchard. Parking is available at the Lower Meadow, where some activities will be held.

Date and time: Saturday 9/19, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

The schedule for the various locations is as follows:

Environmental Learning Center

• 11:00               Doors open
• 11:10               Welcome
• 11:30 – 12:00  “Growing Good Grapes” – Andy Zebrowski
• 12:00               Pie judging contest
• 12:30               Winners announced
• 12:30 – 1:00    “Non-toxic Fruit Tree Pest Control” – Don Ricks
• 1:00 – 2:00      “Summer Fruit Tree Pruning & Espalier” – David Conners
• 2:00 – 3:00      “Fruit Varieties, Old & New” – Dr. Bob Norton
• Cider pressing
• Children’s crafts 11:00 – 2:00
• Booths and information on orchard history, viti-culture, grafting, beekeeping, pest control, pruning, apple variety identification
• Café opens 11:10 – coffee, pies, hot dogs for sale, cider for sale starting at noon

Lower Meadow

• Cider pressing
• Apple variety tasting
• Music
• Parking available, with shuttle continuously running between meadow and ELC

Orchard

• Friends of Piper’s Orchard will be in the orchard to answer any questions 11:00 – 3:00
• Apple tree variety information
• Apple variety tasting
• 3:00 – Walk to orchard led by Dr. Bob Norton

For more information,  call (206) 684-0877.

Catch the Metro #28 to NW 100^th Place behind QFC and walk a mile to the Carkeek Park Environmental Learning Center from the McAbee entrance.

All ages welcome.

No charge.

Setting Up

Pie Station and Tilley’s Cafe

Fruits of the Orchard

Sampled

Classroom in Action

Tilley’s Cafe

Pressing Apples into Juice

Will Murray ran the press, donated to him by neighbor The Cellar Homebrew, and this was a tasty success

Fun at the kid’s table brought by Cool Moms!

Minstrel

Direction