On Thursday, September 27 from 5 to 6:30 pm at Langlais Sculpture Preserve, legendary John Bunker will present Saving our Apple Heritage. Bunker is known in Maine as “The Apple Whisperer,” or simply “The Apple Guy,” and, after laboring for years in semi-obscurity, he has never been in more demand. Through the catalog of Fedco Trees, a mail-order company he founded in Maine 30 years ago, Bunker has sown the seeds of a grassroots apple revolution.
Fedco Trees every year takes a selection of rare heirloom apples and attempts to make them less rare. John has scouted and harvested cuttings of "lost" heirloom apple trees all over New England. When he finds one of these missing links, he grafts it onto rootstocks at the Fedco nursery and begins selling the trees a few years later. Bunker estimates that over the past 30 years he has saved anywhere from 80 to 100 varieties from oblivion.
On Saturday September 29 from 9:30 to 11:30 am Waite Maclin, also known as Pastor Chuck and his Pastor Chuck's organic apple products, will make a repeat performance at Langlais Sculpture Preserve for his annual apple cider pressing. Maclin’s dream to create the best applesauce and apple butter in the world, originated in his own family's kitchen right down the road in Cushing. Presently he works with the Cushing Community School and their Green Team and is sharing his hand turning his cider press to create Langlais Cider. Fall oriented activities suited for children will also be available during this Apple Fest morning.
The Georges River Land Trust is committed to protecting the ecosystems and traditional heritage of the Georges River watershed region. For additional activities and more information, visit georgesriver.org or phone (207) 594-5166.
PHOTO: Heirloom Apples
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