Orchard

The Kimberton Hills Orchard provides our Village with fresh apples, pears, peaches, grapes, currants, blueberries, blackberries, persimmons, kiwi berries, and both sweet & sour cherries. We work with the principles and practices of biodynamic agriculture, utilizing the preparations to enhance the nutritive qualities and health of our trees and bushes, as well as benefiting the plethora of fungi in our soil. Each one of our crew members deepens their relationship with the Orchard, becomes more sensitive to the changing seasons, and gains an appreciation for a tree’s processes as the years progress.

In the Orchard, we celebrate an annual tradition of Wassailing, creating a raucous cacophony of pots and pans and parading to encourage our bountiful trees, and to discourage any lingering winter spirits from overstaying their welcome. We also host autumn picking parties and biodynamic gatherings throughout the year. Common Orchard products include applesauce, apple butter, and apple cider.

Nothing in the orchard gets very far without pollinators! We keep 10 hives of honeybees to help our apple trees bloom and provide the village with honey.  Our goal is to learn biodynamic principles of beekeeping and put bee health first and foremost.