After a short hiatus due to the pandemic, Maine Apple Camp is back this year! We’d love to see you on August 19-21 at Pilgrim Lodge in West Gardiner — a gorgeous camp on Cobbosseecontee Lake with comfy cabins, tall pines, and lots of space for gathering and learning about apples and pears, whether it’s growing them, foraging for them or making them into cider.
Accommodation is in cabins or in your own tent. You can request a cabin with your family/friends if attending with 3-plus people (available until all cabins fill) or you can stay in a cabin with others attending camp. Tent camping is also available in one of several beautiful camping areas.
Registration is sliding scale with the recommended price for the weekend set at $225 for MOFGA members and $275 for non-members (this includes accommodation for two nights and all meals and workshops).
Panel discussions, cider tastings and a keynote will fill out the weekend (along with time for swimming and canoeing!). A few highlights include:
- Melissa Madden (Open Spaces Cider) and Sam Bonney (Quivering Twig Horticulture) and others to talk about foraging for fruit.
- Eric Shatt (of Redbyrd Orchard Cider), Jason Mannka (of Know Your Roots) and Kevin Clark (of Rose Hill Farm) to talk about holistic fruit growing.
- Jason Bowen (of the Southern Heritage Apple Orchard at Horne Creek Farm), Dan Bussey (author of “The Illustrated History of Apples in the United States and Canada”) and Dan Newman (expert on Maine pears) to talk about historical varieties and preservation efforts.
- Eliza Greenman of HogTree Orchard Pork will give a keynote talk on pear breeding.
- William Mullan (@pomme_queen and author of “Odd Apples”) and Sean Turley (@therighteousrusset) will lead a discussion on apple art called “Apples As Object.”
- Zack Kaiser (Absolem Cider), David Buchanan (Portersfield Cider), Jared Carr (Cornish Ciderhouse) and Jon Stein (Fogtown Brewing Company) will talk cider making.
- Dan Pucci (co-author of “American Cider: A Modern Guide to a Historic Beverage”) will lead us through a cider tasting!
Please register by July 30. If you are interested in a scholarship please fill out the application form by July 28.
