Monday 19 October 2009

An Abundance of Apples

At Apple Day on Saturday I found out about Abundance Edinburgh. This is a very interesting project that collects surplus fruit in Edinburgh and puts it to good use.

Abundance Edinburgh has an apple identification chart here. We think that Crafty Green Boyfriend's parents' wonderfully delicious apples are either James Grieve or Laxtons Fortune (scroll down the chart to see these varieties!).

It's great to see a resurgance of interest in old apple varieties, they generally have much more taste than the bland supermarket varieties.....

I've just been asked to link to this article about local food in the Boston Globe. I've also been asked to advertise the Bioneers by the Bay event, October 22-25, in New Bedford, MA, USA, which looks like it might be worth going to if you're in the area.

14 comments:

Jasmine said...

That apple chart is amazing.

Golden West said...

Not only are they beautiful to look at (and tasty, too), but their names are wonderful - Monarch, Lass O Gowrie, Royal Russet - surely a story worth knowing behind each!

Julie said...

Hi, Juliet. Your blog always inspires me. I just had to say how much I enjoy visiting here.

Now for today's post. You are so right. Orchard or wild apples are way better than supermarket apples. Last year, a friend of mine from the city visited me, and we picked wild apples. She couldn't believe how good they tasted. I felt sort of sorry for her, because she was 35 and had never experienced it before.

It's a shame that the Royal Edinburgh Hospital stopped letting patients work the orchard, but I'm glad it is getting revived. It looks so beautiful.

Michael said...

Must show those apples to my sister. She loves that sort of thing.

The Weaver of Grass said...

That apple chart brought back so many memories Juliet. We had trees when I was small - James Grieve, Laxton's Superb, Ellison's Orange, Beauty of Kent, Russet and Bramley - now apart from russets and bramleys you never see the others - very sad. Instead we get quite tasteless (in both senses) supermarket ones.

poefusion said...

That's a great chart. Now you're closer to knowing what your boyfriend's apples are. Hope all is well. Have a great day.

The Meerkat film you mentioned below sounds neat.

Ellie said...

I eat apple a day now in October. I crave them when it is their season. When I grew up the fruits were only available during their season. I still crave watermelons in August and strawberries in May, green salads in March. Funny thing - it was long ago.

Deb Cushman said...

Wow! We've never seen so many apples! (and we live in a very appley part of the U.S.)

Unknown said...

Unfortunately the lack-lustre apples keep better. I always get excited when I see russet apples for sale. They are to die for!

mansuetude said...

hey, apples and old apple orchards are my top top autumn thing.

i am going to look at those links. you're stepping on the toes of my childhood here.

Susan Richardson said...

Abundance Edinburgh sounds great and I love the apple chart.

Anonymous said...

I love apples...and congrats on the new 2010 publication!

Ascender Rises Above said...

oh that is a great idea to use surplus fruit. My daughter always talks about how she is tempted to take fruit off neighbors fruit trees. That is the way it should be.

RG said...

We picked our 3 small trees and put three nice boxes in the garage for keeping .... you should smell our garage!!!!