Yesterday we made the apple cider. This year has been an astronomical year for apples. I have been collecting apples from a number of different trees over the last few weeks. We love to have a mixture of apple flavours in the cider.
I went to a tree down the road near a wee farmhouse that is being renovated. They also want to try and reclaim this old barn. I do hope they can, it is small but beautiful.
Before we started the apples we needed to move the wine out of the plastic bucket barrels, so we could use them for the cider. So we racked the wine into the big glass demi-johns.
Now, here is a strange thing. You will remember that we halved the grapes at the last crush and I am fermenting my half with its own wild yeast and John is doing his the conventional way with the introduced yeast. Well, my ladybird wine, which is being fermented using the wild yeasts, is a notably different colour to the wine with the introduced commercial yeast. Mine also looked most disgusting when we took the lid off. But it did not smell bad. Have a look. The first jar is Johns and the second is mine. This is from the same grapes picked a few weeks ago.
Hmm, this could be interesting. While we had everything out we racked the honey mead. I had a little taste, it is VERY good.
Honey Mead benefits from a long aging and will sit a while longer – so back to the cider.
John made a smashing machine a few years ago just for the cider making. It is a spikey little barrel that rolls around inside a converted beer keg barrel.
Once the lid is on, it is powered by the tractor and I throw the apples into this little hatch on the side and all the mashed up apple comes out a hole in the base.
Then the apples are pressed in the ancient sausage maker that he turned into a press.
And there you are- 6 gallons of apple juice for cider.
And now due to popular demand – Nanny Boo and his brood. The Marmalade Kitten is doing very well. The Middle Kitten is holding his own. But the Tiny Puss is still not drinking properly. He is being force fed which is pretty miserable. I make him get up and I make him drink. They have been on kitten replacement milk the last few days, just to be sure, but still no change. 
There they are, off for walkies with their NannyBoo.
This morning the Broiler Chickens are off on their final road trip. I am looking forward to good chicken in the freezer and once again that will mean more time in my day. Today I will very, very slowly drag the ark from one side of the property to the other and around to the vegetable garden where it will exchange its tarpaulin for a big plastic sheet and magically turn into a fall green house. Once John gets home he will help me put it over the tomatoes. Exciting stuff.
love your friend, celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
56 responses to “Making apple cider with just a hint of cuteness: due to popular demand.”
How precious are Nanny Boo and the kittens!!!! Makes me want to give them a BIG hug!! 😀
Big Man would love a taste of that cider! It’s good when you have a freezer fully of happy chickens and bless Nanny Boo – he’s like Nanna in Peter Pan!
So much excitement, Celi, but I love Boo and the kittens the best of all! Such a caring dog.
You guys sure are busy these days! Not having to move the chickens 4 time a day will be a blessing. I’ve no idea what’s going on with your wine but it sure will be interesting to see how they turn out. I’ve been sending pics of Boo to friends. He’s developing quite a following and the little guy has plenty of people rooting for him. )
I love the feeling of getting finished with one harvest and moving on to another. Your chickens will be delicious! And the cider making paraphernalia is ingenious! Keep the photos of Boo and his little charges coming. Nothing like it.
Hi C! Looks like I have missed a lot at the farmy!!! Those kittens are just adorable. Your wine is looking good too. We should catch up soon. I’ve been swamped on not online much (at least not for fun). I hope all is well. Miss A will love the pictures of Boo. 🙂
Nanny Boo and his kittens are just TOO cute. Good wishes for the littlest one. He looks scrappy and so wanting a chance at life. Your pictures are beautiful!
You guys…..this year, once again, we had no fruit due to late freeze in July. Even our ancient apple tree succumbed. That what happens up here in the high desert of Oregon at 5,000ft. Actually had to buy bushels of organic apples from a farm up north so could dry some for this winter. Apple cider? No way this year. I love yours and also your winemaking. What an amazing woman you are.
Oh what a wealth of news! Fascinating to learn about the wine and mead [hmm, quiite a little sip!] and cider ~ clever contraption that!! Love the old barn also: should rebuild beautifully. Boo: incredible ~ yes, half my friends seem to have photo series of him and his brood also, in spite of my being practically offline . . . do, do, do hope all three will make it: Boo CAN count!!!!
Your John is quite handy to have made the apple processing machines. Just think of all the time you’ll have without moving the ark around. Your food pictures are outstanding! Boo and the babies are adorable as ever.
Always can use a little more cuteness in the day! Thank you!
We could almost smell the apples. Just today Misfit said he’s in the mood for a homemade apple pie. He does make a good one & now that I “smelled” the apples, we may go on the hunt tomorrow for some apples. And of course love Nanny Boo & brood. Keeping fingers crossed for the tiny one.
What a life at the Farmy – it does not stop… old barns, apples, cider, a smashing machine, wine, mead, chickens, tomato plants, kittens, Boo, unseen cast members, and Celi the ringmistress… roll up, roll up… 🙂
The cider experiment is fascinating (I’m placing secret bets and guess who I’m backing, but then I’m biassed). I admire Johns smashing machine. With that kind of ingenuity, he qualifies to be an honorary Kiwi.
I need some of that equipment at my house!
That apple crushing device is very clever! I’m curious about the wine too.