1913 Kickapoo Orchards
Gays Mills, WI
Noel and Harrison came about the orchard a few years ago having met the previous owners. Noel was interested in tree grafting and heirloom varieties of apples whereas Harrison’s interests with the public allows them to mange both the back and front ends of the orchard business. The couple also own Roots to Fruits Nursery a tree business also based in Gays Mills. In fact many of the tree sold at RTF were created from scion wood from Kickapoo Orchard.
The Orchard produces well over 50 varieties of apples across several months starting with the Zestar and Dudley apples and ending with some cold hardy Granny Smith and Goldrush apples. Their year begins in mid-January when we go out and prune the orchard. This process takes several weeks and is very hard work but the results speak for themselves. They are able to sculpt the trees for better production and to help stave off biennialism. Pruning also eliminates broke branches and possible infections on the trees. They continue this process through the beginning of March as there are a lot of tree to prune.
Come March the orchard starts to open again with bare root tree sales via Roots to Fruits Nursery. The Orchard offers baked goods and cider pressed over the winter for those looking to get some trees. In mid April the trees start their bloom and the bees start their work pollinating the apples, cherries, and pears they have on the farm. Pear trees tend to flower first, followed by cherries, and finally the apple trees. Even within the Apple trees some will flower before others and part off our job is to know where to put the hives for effective pollination.
May and June are growing months where they generally care for the apples as they transition from flower to bud to apple. June also brings the first cropping of cherries! These tart little fruits offer a bridge between the Spring flowers and Autumn Harvest and allow them another crop with which they can blend for cider or sell. Cherries continue though the beginning part of July.
July and August see apple growth and development. They frequently inspect the apples for damage, pests, malformation, crowding, and color. For most of the summer, the apples pretty much do their own thing and we merely get to watch. The actual first start of apple harvest can vary from year to year. There are even some apples that can ripen in mid-July! Their first apple harvested this year was the RedFree Apple. It’s a smaller, bright red apple that is resistant to common apple maladies. They have it planted along the fringes or parts of the orchard like sentries of the forest.
Once September hits the apples are in full swing and we have crews all over the trees hand picking the apples and flying up and down ladders! September is the most boisterous month and the most active. There is ALWAYS someone on the orchard and something getting picked. October sees the beginning of the end of picking. Most of the main crops are finished and we have transitioned to smaller sets of trees. Overall our goal is to consolidate over the next five years and have better managed rows for ease of picking and care.
Halloween is typically when they start to transition to our Winter season. The temperature drops and the visitors slow to a trickle. However, the cider production begins to ramp up and we press hundreds of thousands of gallons for various orchard, distilleries, coops, and brewers. They offer custom blends and generic ‘cider du jour’ options for smaller orchards who due process the full pressing ability. It’s always our goal to assist Wisconsin orchard owners and farmers. The pressing machine is over 100’ long and can handle thousands of pounds of apples an hour.
They close their doors to the public the Wednesday before Thanksgiving before winterizing the building and any left over products that hasn’t sold or won’t be donated. Still we press on for several more weeks and typically end in early January. Despite only having apples for 2 months of the year, the goal is to have something happening year round. “We welcome the holidays for rest but are then back at it in mid-January to prune” -Noel and Harrison and the 1913 Kickapoo Orchard Crew.
Visit their website to learn more: 1913kickapoo.com