We’ll be growing at least a few of these ingredients during our Kid’s in the Garden Program…

Sweet & Sour Salad

from Jenny Bormett of The Painted Daisy

3/4 c. Shredded carrots
4 c. Mung bean sprouts
1/2 c. Thinly sliced bell pepper (I use red and green)
1/4 c. Chopped scallion
1/4 c. Thinly sliced banana pepper (this is a little spicy but not bad)

Dressing:

1/2 c. White wine vinegar
3 T Sugar
1 T dark sesame oil
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/8 tsp Tabasco
1 clove crushed garlic

Best if it marinates a few hrs.

Be sure to stop by Apple Blossom Days this weekend – lots of fun planned!

Happy Sunday everyone!  I hope you all enjoyed the weekend.  We did around here – our beautiful baby, Persimoni turned ONE yesterday!  I can’t believe how fast the year went.  I’m posting today so you know that there is a fun special event at the orchard for the next two weekends.  We miss you all and hope you can stop out, visit and play awhile!

Apple Blossom* Days and Multi-Family Garage Sale at
Lapacek’s Orchard

WHEN:

Saturday & Sunday
May 5^th, 6^th, 12^th & 13^th
from 10am to 4pm

WHAT’s Happening?

· Multi-Family Garage Sale

Family FUN!

· Scavenger Hunt

· Make and Take Craft Table

                Bird House from a Gourd ($12)

Tin Can Wind Chimes – two different style options – you get to choose! ($3)

· Canned Goods

   Be sure to try our new Raspberry Rhubarb Spread and Chocolate Raspberry Topping!

· Honey

· Maple Syrup

· Handmade Items from KimsCraftyApple, The Apple, Diane and other artists.

· LOTS of Play Equipment for the Kids

· Meet our new goats – Jack Jack, Buster, and Gus

· Visit our emus and chickens

· And MORE!

Info Sessions for this Summer’s ‘Kid’s in the Garden’ Program at 10am and 2pm each day!

WHERE:

Lapacek’s Orchard
N1959 Kroncke Road
Poynette, WI 53955

*Apple Blossoms were early this year so unfortunately there won’t be an orchard full of blossoms for you to visit – but there are still lots of family fun things to do!

***Be sure to head over to my Crafting Blog to enter to WIN a copy of Marie Bostwick’s new book – ‘Ties that Bind’!

A few weekends ago we had the whole crew out planting over 300 new apple trees.

It take about an hour to plant 20 – 25 trees.  First – Frank spades out a hole for the trees with the tree spade attachment on the skidster.  Then, the tree goes in the hole and we have to make sure that all the roots are spread out and not twisted around each other.  Then of course we have to fill the hole shoveling the dirt back in.  Of course – most of our dirt is clay so this is a bit daunting at times. 

Cedi, Capri and Persimoni were very patient and understanding during the full day of planting.  I must say – we’ve been blessed with some really well behaved kids.  We barely even heard a peep from Pip – she just hung out and watched us all work!

The trees we planted this season included more -

• Haralson
• MacIntosh
• Cortland
• Jonathan
• Jonagold
• Snosweet
• HoneyCrisp
• Fuji
• Paulared

And two new varieties:

• Smoothie
• Golden Supreme

These are both types of Golden Delicious.  I can’t wait to try them!

Have you read about the new ‘Kids in the Garden’ Program we’re starting this year?  Still plenty of time to sign up your kids!

Before I get to telling you about the new and exciting program we’re offering at the orchard this season I want to extend a ‘Happy Easter’ to you all!  I had to include a picture of Persimoni all dressed up on her very first Easter!

As you all know one of my new missions is to help encourage the young generation to eat and enjoy fruits and veggies.  I know from my own kids, one of the ways to do this is to let them grow their own food.  Not everyone has the time or space to do this so, we’re going to offer our time and space to help with this!  Read on to find out what I’m talking about!

Operation Fruits and Veggies – Kids in the Garden

A new summer program at Lapacek’s Orchard for kids ages 5-9.

• Help plant a special kid’s garden and care for it every week.

• Special hands on learning activities in all the other gardens at Lapacek’s including apples, pears, peaches, blueberries, raspberries, squash, pumpkins, gourds, cabbage, sunflowers, herbs, tomatoes and peppers.  We’ll even keep an eye on the ornamentals.

• Learn about the life cycle of plants, how to build great soil, pollination and lots, lots more.

• Explore whether critters are friends or foes.

• Sample fruits and veggies right after picking (sometimes raw and sometimes cooked) with the kids involved in every step.

We will be holding informational sessions during Apple Blossom Days – the first two weekends in May if you want to find out more about this program before you sign up.  Times of these sessions will be announced soon!

Thursday afternoons, June 14, 21, 28, July 12, 19, 26, August 2 and 9 from 2:00-3:30.  Cost is $25 per child for the entire season. Come as often as you can.  An interested adult is required to accompany the child(ren) at no charge.

If you already know that you and your child (or children) are definitely in please send Kim an email at (lapaceksorchard {at} gmail {dot} com) to reserve your space.  Don’t hesitate to ask questions!

I hope you all are as excited about this new venture at the orchard as we are!  I can’t wait to see how our first season goes!