From Apple Tree to Table

One crisp autumn afternoon, Gabriel and I decided to turn an overflowing wheelbarrow of apples into fresh, homemade apple juice. It was a hands-on, messy, and wonderfully rewarding process that took us from gathering the fruit to enjoying the most delicious, fresh juice we’d ever tasted.

The Harvest: Collecting the Apples

We started by gathering a wheelbarrow full of apples from the garden. Gabriel carefully picked them from the lower branches and the ground, while I reached up for the higher ones, and together we collected a mix of different varieties. The wheelbarrow looked like a treasure chest of reds, greens, and yellows by the time we were done.

Washing and Prepping

We gave the apples a thorough wash in the wheelbarrow, scrubbing away dirt and checking for bruises or worms. Gabriel took charge of slicing them in half, carefully wielding the knife (under close supervision!) and making sure each apple was ready for the next step. The garden filled with the sweet, fresh smell of cut apples as we worked.

Macerating the Apples

Next, we used a macerator to break the apples down into a pulpy mush. Gabriel loved cranking the handle, watching the apples transform into a juicy mass. The excitement built as we realised we were getting closer to making our juice.

Pressing for Liquid Gold

The most satisfying part came next: pressing the apple pulp to extract the juice. We loaded the press with the macerated apples and began to turn the screw, squeezing out the juice drop by drop. Gabriel was amazed at how quickly the golden liquid started to flow, collecting in the jug below.

The smell of fresh apple juice was irresistible, and Gabriel couldn’t wait to have a taste. When the last drop was pressed, we poured ourselves a glass and toasted to our hard work.

Enjoying the Fruits of Our Labor

The juice was crisp, sweet, and packed with the pure flavour of freshly harvested apples—nothing like the bottled versions from the store. Gabriel declared it “the best juice ever,” and I had to agree. We ended the day with bottles of homemade apple juice in the fridge and big smiles on our faces, proud of the effort we’d put in together.

Making apple juice from scratch wasn’t just a fun activity; it was a reminder of the joy in working with nature and savoring the simple pleasures of life. We’re already looking forward to next autumn, when we can do it all over again!