Visit a Vermont Heirloom Apple Oasis with Simon and Erin

Send us Fan MailApple picking season probably generates fun memories for many people; it does for me.  Apple picking definitely embodies agritourism.  And Scott Farm in Dummerston, Vermont is an eco-certified heirloom apple oasis.  The farm is rich in history - it was settled in 1791 and the orchards were planted in 1911 and now bear over 130 varieties of apples, many of which are heirloom. Scott Farm is a for-profit working farm which is owned by The Landmark Trust USA, a nonprofit historic preservation organization which was gifted the 571 acre property in 1995. Today, Scott Farm is led by General Manager Simon Renault and Orchardist Erin Robinson. The orchard is a living, breathing ecosystem that is managed with biological and cultural methods which produce healthy, high quality fruits. The  community can visit the farm,  enjoy their  beautiful grounds,  pick apples, shop at the farmers market, eat at their outdoor cafe, drink cidars produced at their cider mill, tour the property, enjoy community events, and celebrate their own events. Although I definitely understand the hard work involved in farming, I never really understood much about apples - even after all the years of visiting orchards and apple picking.  I feel like there was a missed opportunity to educate me about apples during all of those apple picking adventures. This presents a significant opportunity for apple orchards to embrace agritourism in an even more immersive way. My inspiring conversation with Simon and Erin gave me a whole new appreciation for the intricacies involved in apple growing and a renewed interest in learning more about apples. The next time you go apple picking, talk to the farmers and orchardists or take a tour if available, and  learn more about what it takes to grow these gorgeous, healthy fruits.  Enjoy my conversation with Simon and Erin!Scott Farm OrchardRed TomatoUVM Extension ResourcesThank you for taking the time to listen to The Agri-Tourist Podcast, for supporting our inspirational guests, and for sharing my personal journey back to agriculture.  Agri-Tourist.comHeartBeet FarmsInstagramAbout Jen Ross, The Agri-Tourist Podcast HostGlobal Agritourism Network