Apples on the Web: Orchard Notes

Would you like to know an old-time apple recipe for Norfolk Biffin (or other fruit recipes, some from antiquity)? ¶ 

Perhaps you'd be interested in a deep dive into claims that some apples date from Roman times? ¶ 

How about an introduction to apple and pear identification? From a fellow who grew several score of different apples last fall?

Orchard Notes, by Darren Turpin, is overdue for a review here. It's a challenge, though, to characterize this wide-ranging collection of reports from a self described "orchardist and amateur pomologist." 

Turpin, who grows apples (and other things) near Manchester (UK), shows a ready willingness to plumb the depths of a whole colony of rabbit holes to see what wonders lie on the other side—and share them with us.

History and more

A thread common to many of Turpin's reports is his interest in history, whether old recipes, practices, or advertisements for cider-making and farm equipment from centuries past.

Some highlights of his work:

• Fruit recipes, modern and ancient
• His feature articles, long-form inquiries and discoveries
• Descriptions of orchards around the British Isles, based on his visits
• A bibliography of fruit books, lightly annotated

Other posts report on news from his orchard.

Turpin helpfully provides an introduction to his ongoing work, and his posts (like those of many blogs) are organized into categories. Click on any of a post's labels to read more reports in that category.

He describes his activities and qualifications on an introduction page, and is active on Bluesky as @darrenturpin.bsky.social.

You can learn about other apples on the web on my links page.

Today's orchard photograph is in the public domain.