We are developing a great connection with the Ballarat Cemeteries Trust who have graciously welcomed us onto their facilities for the third year in a row. Last week, Leo & a crew picked apples and nashis at the ‘Old’ cemetery, and today a few of us went to the New cemetery to check out apples.
We picked 40 kgs off this Granny Smith apple – and collected many kgs of rotten, fallen fruit to go to chickens. Tidying up under the trees improves the amenity of the cemetery grounds and also breaks the life cycle of pests like Codling Moth.
Just when we thought we were nearly be done, one of the great cemetery staff called by and told us about some other trees in the lawn section; one that looks and tastes like a Cox’s Orange Pippin and another small apple with a very intense red colouring. Only a few on that tree but we’ll be tasting them with interest! In total, another 36 kg from 2-3 trees in the lawn section, which means we harvested 76 kg in an hour & a half… sweet!
Most of the apples were dropped at Food Is Free Laneway, but some will go to other charities tomorrow – and a big box of fallen apples will be delivered to the animals at Ballarat Wildlife Park.