In October P4 children visited Paul and his colleagues at Palace Stables in Armagh, to learn about apples.
Paul explained through an engaging session, how the seed develops into a plant which produces flowers. Then, with help from some bees, it changes and grows into the fruit we recognise as an apple. The apples are ready for harvesting in autumn.
Apple Day is celebrated on 21st October. The children learned that long ago in Ireland, there were over 7000 varieties of apple. Yes, you read that correctly!
The orchards in Armagh grow a variety known a Bramley. This apple used for baking / cooking as its flesh doesn’t fall apart when heated. It has a sharp taste and isn’t used as an ‘eating’ apple. Pink Lady, Gala, Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Jazz, Golden Delicious are all varieties of ‘eating’ apples.
Apples were and still are a very important fruit. Today apples are used for much more than a fruit for eating, jam making or juicing. They can be used as part of cleaning products, sweets, shampoo, vinegar and flavouring in foods.
The children experienced the historical characters of Cook and Mr ‘Meanie’ Heaney during their trip. Cook involved the children in the many stages of preparation of potato and apple bread. Weavels in the flour was common.
“They gave the food a delicate crunch,” explained Cook.
Mr Meanie Heaney gave a demonstration as to how apple juice was extracted using a press. A lot of effort for very little juice. He told the children that several hours would be needed to crush and press the apples to get enough apple juice for several people. Thirsty work!
Back in school, we undertook a taste test of a few varieties of apples. We were amazed at the differences in colour, size, flesh texture and taste of the apples. We had a clear favourite. It was the ‘crispy & juicy’ Smitten apple, grown in Kent.
