The 2013 Festival of Fruit, which will be held Saturday, September 14 from 10AM – 2PM, will be our seventh annual festival, and will celebrate several anniversaries. Andrew Piper purchased the land on which the orchard lies in 1888, 125 years ago this year. And the present day activities of releasing the abandoned orchard from its blackberry and ivy prison began in 1983, thanks to the enthusiasm of Daphne Lewis, a recently graduated landscape architect, who discovered the orchard while making a master-plan survey for Carkeek Park restoration.
We expect this year to be as fun and informative as the previous festivals. Our keynote speaker, Dr. Beverly Gerdeman, a noted WSU researcher and entomologist, will discuss protecting home orchards from damaging insects using organic, biological, and IPM techniques. She will also discuss her cutting-edge research on the spotted wing drosophila, a new pest and one now threatening backyard fruit here. Dr. Gerdeman, who is recognized internationally as an expert, is also a talented speaker. She is smart, articulate, funny, engaging, and an excellent communicator.
And, as in past years, we’ll be pressing cider, holding an apple pie contest, selling pies and cider, featuring live music, kids crafts, Piper’s Orchard apple variety tasting, and informative booths from City Fruit, Seattle Tree Fruit Society, etc. After the morning’s lecture, apple pie contest, and other activities at Carkeek Park’s Environmental Learning Center, you’ll have the opportunity to walk up to Piper’s Orchard, and learn more about the orchard and the Piper family history, permaculture, the grapes we’re growing, and more.
Here are some pictures from last year’s festival.
Pies and fresh pressed cider sold like hotcakes at Tillie’s Cafe.
Everyone got into the act with Will Murray’s mechanical cider press
11 scrumptious pies competed for $50 Swansons Gift Card and vintage pie themed goodies
Visitors walked up to the orchard to enjoy the sunshine and learn more about the trees, permaculture, and the orchard’s history.
Kids and their parents alike enjoyed making dream weavers, facilitated by artist David Francis.
Blue Star Creeper provided music while folks were pressing cider.
Friends of Pipers Orchard 