Harvest season is upon us, and with it comes an abundance of apples growing all around this area.
Wildsight Kimberley-Cranbrook would like to help you enjoy local fruit now and in the months to come, through its Apple Capture Project — an initiative that makes equipment available free of charge for picking, juicing, drying, and more.
"Through the Apple Capture Project, this community has literally turned tons of local apples into juice and other preserves," said Wildsight Food Sustainability Coordinator Jessica Windle.
The Apple Capture Project began as a creative solution to the never-ending volunteer task of picking apples before the wildlife get to them — helping to keep both wildlife and humans safe.
Now, in the project's third year, more and more people are finding delicious ways to take advantage of the bounty of local apples.
Wildsight has five presses and grinders in action between Kimberley and Cranbrook, with the Kimberley units stored at the Allotment Garden and the Cranbrook ones in a shed — built by the COTR Pre-Apprenticeship Program — at the Cranbrook Public Produce Garden.
The four Excalibur dehydrators make it easy to dry large amount of fruit into tasty snacks. Picking bags, ladders, and long-handled pickers are also available.
The Apple Capture Project also features a tree-share program. Many fruit tree owners are happy to have their trees picked as a way to reduce animal attractants and to share the harvest. There are also a number of trees on public land that are laden with fruit. Available trees are listed on the Wildsight website, and those looking for apples can find a tree close to them, contact its owner, and arrange to harvest the fruit.
Want to get involved? Visit www.wildsight.ca/apples to book equipment and find trees, or for more information call Jessica at 250-427-2535, extension 223.