Hi
I have been making cider in Dorset for the last 3 years - small amounts - 20-30 gallons from windfalls, roadside trees and donations. Pressing equipment is home made and a garden shredder makes a great scratter. There are very few cider apple trees left that are accessible in the Dorchester area so its been eaters/cookers/crabs etc -a real mix but the results have been good. I have met each year more and more people like me - making small amounts plus a few operating on a bigger scale and next year there will be more on board. There are one or two informal cider gatherings and more planned.
Hoping this makes for an optimistic post - I've seen some wonderful varieties this year - no idea what they are!
Dorset small producers
(3 posts) (3 voices)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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We do something very similar in Cambridge Cambridge Apple Day as well as making cyder over in Herefordshire. These events are becoming popular and so they should. There are various Pomona's or books on apples published to help with the identification of varieties, such as http://devon-apples.co.uk/index.php?page=1729-pomona. Or you can attend events like The Big Apple where there are experts on hand to identify all types of apple whether cyder fruit or not. In Herefordshire we are luck to have these people. Some old varieties may never be identified but we can do our best.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Hi Dave!
I'm in North Dorset and planted a few Kingston blacks last winter. I have no scratting and pressing kit yet and am on the look-out for something reasonably priced as I have masses of unused cookers and eaters whilst waiting for my cider orchard to come of age.
I would be interested in any Dorset cider gatherings.
I can be contacted at eggbanjo@rocketmail.comPosted 6 months ago #
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