In July, I found an ad for peach-picking at Fishkill Farms. Since arriving in the Hudson Valley, I had been planning a fall apple-picking expedition because I’d never been to an orchard before.

Peach-picking was a wonderful summer surprise. I wouldn’t have to wait for that orchard visit, and wait I did not. My roommate and I headed out as soon as she got off work.

Fishkill Farms was the homestead of Henry

Morgenthau, Jr., who worked on NYS agriculture and conservation policy before chairing Franklin Roosevelt’s Farm Credit Administration. Later he became secretary of the treasury, and during this period, hosted FDR and Winston Churchill at the farm as they discussed the course of World War II.

After Morgenthau’s death (hundreds of volumes of his papers and diaries are housed at the FDR Presidential Library), the farm was inherited by his son, Robert, and managed by Ray Morris, whose stewardship I have to thank for the opportunity to pick my own fruit!

Today, a third generation is working the farm under the management of Josh Morgenthau. Their sights are set on organic and sustainable growing. This is a particularly challenging goal when it comes to apples, which according to the farm’s website are “beset by a host of gnarly insect pests and devastating fungal diseases.” Hannah Geller, the farm’s market manager and director of education and outreach, told me the farmers are always working to make the various pest management strategies even more ecologically friendly.

When we arrived at the farm, we stopped at a small stand for maps and bags. Then we walked on -- past the market and barn stopping to look out over the rolling orchards. We headed for the closest ripe fruit—white nectarines. To pick them, you climb a very short ladder, and end up with your head in the thick of the sweet-smelling fruit. Seeing and touching nectarines on the tree, we learned as we picked how to select really ripe ones to eat immediately and not-quite-so-ripe ones to last us a while.

Apple season came early this year for Fishkill Farms and a lot of orchards in the Hudson Valley. The hot summer meant fruit was ready to pick at the end of August! This time, I was joined by a friend visiting from New York City. We both hail from the great state of Kansas. A farm boy, he was looking for a pastoral escape from summer and subways.

He told us to look for apples with big spots of red on their mostly green skin. When we asked how long apple trees were usually kept on an orchard, he told us his father planted trees before he was born and kept them until he graduated from high school, about twenty years.
 
He didn’t, however, know what the dusty coat of gray was on the Fishkill Farms’ apples. When we went to check out we learned from one of the farmers that it was clay -- a natural, non-toxic pesticide. We were all pretty to happy to hear that, so we could each eat a couple apples on the way home.

Though it looks like you-pick apples will be done for the season by the time you read this, other fall weekend activities include hay jump, face painting, pumpkin picking ('till picked out), eating apple cider donuts, fresh-pressed cider, and barbecue; and watching the laying hens.

To find more resources for making classrooms a place to learn about food, farming, and nutrition, watch for THV's Guide to Teaching about Farms & Food in the Hudson Valley available later this fall.

Hadley Galbraith worked with THV as a Student Conservation Associate for five months. She is now teaching English in France.