Apple Juicing Workshops

Although we’re unable to run an Apple Fest this year, the Foxlowe gardeners are running a sequence of juicing workshops on two Sundays in October, for those with more apples than they can eat.  In order to comply with Covid regulations these sessions must be pre-booked.  The sessions will be held on the patio (weather permitting) or in the bar.

The charge will be £10 per person per session and we will run three sessions each day:

10:00am-11:30am

11:30am-13:00pm

13:00pm-14:30pm

Please read the details below before booking a place.

To book your place, email Alison at alison_mcc@btinternet.com and specify your prefered day and start time.  Please also provide contact details, ideally mobile number, so that we can contact you at short notice where necessary.

Essential Information

We invite participants to register for a 90 minute time slot and aim for the amount of apples they bring being processed to the bottling stage within that period.  For this reason we ask participants to restrict themselves to a maximum of 20 kg each[1].  If the slot runs over, there will be seating provided either in the garden or the Function Room, where the next group of participants can wait, while remaining physically distanced, or they can opt to return a short spell later.

To comply with Covid regulations, we will need to limit numbers to 4 participants per timeslot, starting at 10.00am.  This will restrict total numbers to six, including the two volunteers leading the session.  These participants can come alone or in pairs.  Some can keep numbers down by bringing along apples provided by friends, which we encourage.  However the upper limit is four people per time slot.

We aim to run no more than three 90 minute slots each day, officially finishing at 2:30pm but with capacity to carry on till 4pm if slots overrun. We will ask participants for contact information when they book their place, so they can be alerted to any significant delay.

Entry will be via the car park, NOT the front door.  Don’t worry if the gate appears closed; it will not be locked.

There will be 6 physically distanced (x3m) areas of activity and each will be provided with hand sanitising facilities.  We will also expect participants to wear face masks throughout.  When participants come from more than one household, we will invite them to space their groups as they move from one activity area to another.

1. Registration and weighing table. Registration will include leaving contact details to comply with Covid track and trace regulations. Weighing allows us to distribute bottles relative to the weight of apples brought.  The minimum recommended weight is 10kg (4 bottles) and the maximum 20kg (9 bottles).
2. A table where damaged areas can be cut from apples prior to milling. We can provide knives for this but will recommend that participants bring their own and also that they pre-wash their apples.
3. The mill, which will receive minimal contact in operation. However the control button can be wiped with hand sanitiser as required.
4. The press, which will be mainly operated by a Foxlowe volunteer. Parts that need handling during the process can be wiped with sanitiser between different users.
5. Bottling table. Large containers with taps are filled via funnels from above and the tap then used to fill bottles that are removed in crates.  We will supply the bottles.  Although these are wine bottles washed and dried for re-use, they were put in closed cardboard boxes for storage well before the Covid outbreak, so will have no residual contamination.  The contents of most will also be pasteurised.  Where juice is taken away unpasteurised, we will ensure the bottling is done by those taking the bottles.  The other option is to pour the juice directly into large containers brought by participants for cider making. Similarly, they will be the only ones to handle the container.
6. Pasteurisers. These will destroy any Covid on bottles inside them, so any concern about handling will be after the bottles are removed.  They are routinely removed on to a wooden board while still hot, so will have to be handled with insulating gloves by the volunteer concerned.  Any possible risk will be after they have cooled, so hand sanitiser will be used by the volunteer who packs them into bags, boxes or crates for subsequent collection, which will have to be by arrangement during the week after the session.

[1] For larger quantities, participants who have attended workshops and are comfortable with the procedure are welcome to hire the equipment for a fee of £20 plus a £20 returnable deposit.  An instruction manual will be provided.