Adventures in the Hood River Valley Oregon

Ski Fail Turned Best Worst Day Ever

January 21, 2018 by amy

The day started with the best of intentions. Alarm set for 6:30am with plans to get an early start on our first ski day of the season at Timberline. But following a night staying up a bit too late the morning got stalled in first gear. An hour and a half later we were finally pulling out of the gate (literally, a green cattle gate). On a Saturday following six inches of fresh powder.

A few miles up the gas light went on. As we passed the turnoff to Meadows and headed into Government Camp to the gas station the line of cars in the opposite direction stretched for miles. Fifteen minutes later we were at a standstill on the road up to Timberline as cars in front of us started turning around. Lot full.

Clearly our morning get out the door and hit the mountain routine was a bit rusty. We contemplated our options: 1. Turn around and catch a shuttle in Government Camp schlepping up all our gear, 2. Wait it out in line hoping for space to open up sometime soon, or 3. Admit defeat and try again tomorrow.

We took a vote and opted for a Do Over and a change of perspective.
Clear roads down the mountain:)

Ate lunch at a new restaurant in Parkdale. Took the scenic route. Explored the indoor winter farmers’ market in Hood River (there’s an indoor farmers’ market?) and discovered my new addiction: black garlic. Caught a matinee, arriving in plenty of time to claim the best seats in the house (seriously.. a row of barcaloungers!). Headed home for a hearty pasta dinner and an early night.

Indoor farmers’ market featuring live music:

Theater to ourselves:

The next day we get our ski legs back.

Small Batch Apple Butter, Syrup & Dried Apples Now Available

November 9, 2017 by amy

For the past month these two entrepreneurs have been busy picking, washing, peeling, pressing, cooking, drying, bottling, packaging and now they’re open for business! Our Small Batch Apple Butter, Apple Cider Syrup and Dried Apples will be available at a handful of holiday art and craft shows in the Portland area as well as in our online shop while supplies last (local delivery only available in the Portland area).[su_divider top=”no” size=”1″ margin=”20″]

First Step: Picking!

The apple harvest bag we bought this year made picking much easier. After filling the bag we gently open the bottom and the apples roll into the bin minimizing bruising. The harvest took place in early October but there was still plenty of good fruit left after the pickers were finished (This photo was taken before they harvested the trees 🙂 )

Washing

Carson headed up the washing part as Hadley claimed the water was just too cold for her hands (she gets that from me).

Pressing Time:

For the syrup we start with fresh pressed cider. We cut the apples in fourths then grind them down, cores and all before pressing out the juice.

Peeling:

For the apple butter and dried apples we found this amazing apple slicer/corer/peeler we discovered on Amazon. After some initial trial and error we figured out the best technique. It slices, peels and cores the apples in seconds!

We made a few batches of apple butter on the stove but in the end we found the best (and easiest) technique was in a crockpot. After a batch is ready they sterilize the jars, carefully fill and seal with a boiling water bath. This pic was taken before we invested in an industrial-sized stock pot 🙂

Packaging:

I’ll admit I had fun helping them with this part of the process. Early on we used Ball mason jars but without a smooth glass surface the labels had trouble sticking. I did some research and found a local bottling company that offered the perfect sized containers.

The Finished Products:

Giving Back:

While Carson and Hadley are excited about making some extra money of their own, they wanted part of the proceeds to go to a charity. After discussing as a family the Veggie Rx Program seemed the obvious choice. We discovered this nonprofit last year through our Harvestfest fundraiser at the farm:

Apple Picking & Cider Pressing

October 24, 2017 by amy

Last weekend we invited a handful of families up for lunch, apple picking and good old-fashioned cider pressing! Under blue skies and just the right amount of fall chill in the air, the harvest was in full swing.

After picking and a quick how-to from Jason everyone got busy cutting, cranking and pressing the apples. Nothing tastes better on a fall day than a refreshing jar of cider fresh out of the press. We pressed enough for everyone to take some containers home along with their apples.

It was a fun and relaxing afternoon for the parents and the kids had a blast with their friends playing lawn games and orchard hide and seek.

Bald Butte Hike

September 1, 2017 by amy

The Oak Ridge Trailhead is conveniently located just down the road from the farm so we’ve hiked it a handful of times. Usually we venture about two miles up the switchbacks before turning around, never getting above the oak and fir trees. The trail eventually crosses over Surveyor’s Ridge, a popular mountain biking trail before winding up Bald Butte. We can see the top from the farm. Round trip is around 10 miles.

Earlier this week I was leafing through the Curious Gorge Guidebook and stumbled on a page about Bald Butte. I discovered there’s an alternate trailhead off a forest service road that isn’t listed many places. Best part – the trailhead is less than a mile to the summit of Bald Butte.

It was the perfect spot for a sunset picnic. We spent the day at the Hood River Farmer’s Market gathering up fresh fruit, veggies and assorted cheeses.

The climb up the face is quite steep, but short (.7 miles) and definitely worth the reward at the top.

We spied Copper Apple down below and not another soul in sight.

Peach and Cherry Picking on the Hood River Fruit Loop

August 15, 2017 by amy

We invited some friends up over the weekend and spent a morning picking cherries and peaches down the road at Draper Girls Farm. Due to this brutally cold winter everything is ripening about three weeks later than normal in the Hood River Valley. The Lambert cherries were large, dark and oh so so candy sweet!