21 October 2009

I joined my son on an apple picking field trip with his kindergarten class this week.   It dawned on me that I had never been apple picking before.  I was in for a delightful day.

We couldn't of asked for better day.  The weather was perfect, cool and sunny with blue skies and a smattering of clouds.  Picturesque.  The trip had been planned a few weeks earlier but had been cancelled due to rain.

The field trip included all the usual apple farm delights like a hayride, a corn maze and apple cider doughnuts.  But my favorite was the apple picking.  The kids were to pick 6 apples and they could eat one of the apples.  I must say eating an apple while we walked through the orchard on a beautiful fall day is something I will remember and I hope he will too. 

The farm we visited was called Cider Hill Farm.  It's located in Amesbury Massachusetts, which was only about twenty minutes from the school.  The kids loved the bus ride especially because they could sit anywhere on the bus and not their usual assignments while riding to and from school. 

When we arrived the kids split into two groups.  One group went on their hayride to the apple picking orchard and the other group visited the hay and arbor mazes.  Then the groups swapped.

The mazes were simple enough for the kids so they enjoyed the adventure.  There were two mazes.  There was a hay maze, which was undercover and had been made from hay bails.  There was a second maze, which they called the arbor maze, which seemed to be made from vines of some sort.  Both were fun to travel through with enough difficulty to make them a challenge for a kindergartener.  In fact they had some extra time before the hayride so they traversed the mazes a few extra times.  Oh yes and there was plenty of mud!  Yeah it was so good that my son had worn his new sneakers.  Yup, oh well.  He had a great time powering through the mazes.

The orchards were on a rolling hillside.  The sun was shining and we rode the hay truck up into the orchard.  The kids loved picking the apples.  They had discussed the best way to pick an apple in school.  Lift, twist and pull.  This way you wouldn't pull off the branch and harm the tree.  You never take the apples, which have fallen on the ground.  These are not good for eating, but the farmers do use them for cider.  So the kids were very careful not to step and squish the apples on the ground. 

I must say I was surprised at how much the kids enjoyed eating their apples.  Most of them munched down on an apple while we were in the orchard.  It was a very simple and humbling experience; an experience I am happy my son had an opportunity to have and that I was able to join. 

When we returned to the farm on the hay truck we were greeted by Farmer Bob who had a tray of apple cider donuts for the kids, this I know was one of the favorite events of the trip for the kids. We enjoyed the doughnuts on the grass and then also took a break to eat our lunches.

After lunches there was a barn with goats and chicken and the kids had a chance to feed them.  I know my son enjoyed this part.  He was very interested in both the goat and chickens taking time to visit and feed both.

After a fun filled morning at the farm we loaded back on the buses for the ride home to the school.  I must say the bus ride home was s surprise for me.  I thought the kids would all be tired and to my surprise it was the opposite.  The kids were raring to GO!  Needless to say I was happy to get home and at least have a few more hours before he would arrive home on the bus.  Yes I headed for the couch for a nap and thought about how much I appreciated the Kindergarten teachers.  Thank you Mrs. O'Brien and Mrs. Jordan for all the energy and compassion you show our kids everyday. 

The apples we brought home will hopefully be made into an apple pie if not eaten first.  My favorite apple pie recipe is my mother in law's.  It is easy and delicious.  Give it a try. 

I know that apple picking will be on our fall family plans next year and for years to come!!