Importance of Heritage Apples Added to Writing
Last spring, we visited Horne Creek Farm in Pinnacle, North Carolina, where we discovered their heritage apple orchard in full bloom. I began taking notes on the animals, which represented what the Hauser farm was like in 1900.
During our visit, the one thing that stood out to me was the orchard. I have begun my writing process for another historical fiction novel, set in the Southern Piedmont of North Carolina. The memory of the heritage apple orchard at Horne Creek farm provided the setting for the small yeoman farmer, James, and his wife, Zilphia, around 1860.
This past week, I researched heritage apples James would have planted during his time and learned he would most likely have started his orchard with rootstock.
What was so interesting to me was discovering a man named Lee Calhoun, who wrote a book titled Old Southern Apples. It was published in 1995 by the McDonald and Woodward Publishing Company and republished in 2010 by Green Publishing.
After Calhoun retired from the military, he had his wife research the importance of heritage apples and began the orchard at Horne Creek. (I did not know that when visiting it last year.) I enjoy researching and making connections all the more when I discover that I have experienced them in some way. Personal connections create tie-ins and add a meaningful sidebar to the story's rich history and authenticity.
The Calhouns’ passion for preserving the history of the apples of early farmers before they were lost. I was excited to read this book! A quick search of availability surprised me to learn that copies sold for hundreds of dollars. However, other online resources are available for reading older books. I discovered a copy on archive.org, where I “borrowed” Old Southern Apples to read online. It was a hurrah moment!
I learned the names of apples that would have been around in North Carolina during the mid-19th century, for example, Pearmain and Winter Queen.
I also discovered which apples were used and for what purposes. Some varieties of apples are better for drying, winter storage, apple butter, vinegar, and cooking. Also, apples ripened in different months and were harvested in summer, fall, and early winter. For Example, Calhoun points out that Maiden’s Blush apples were prized for drying, and that womenfolk would send dried apples to soldiers during the Civil War.
Did you know some varieties of apples could be stored through February in cool places and on shelves?
James and Zilphia farmed for their own survival and sustenance. As yeoman farmers, they may have had five or a dozen varieties to meet their needs. I imagine Zilphia drying apples, simmering them for apple butter (stored in a crock), or frying them for her children’s breakfast.
An index to the southern heritage apple orchard at Horne Creek Farm provided descriptions of the apples, the history of the varieties, if known, and their uses. Since local apples were not recorded, Calhoun and his wife researched newspapers, family stories, and letters to find apples for the orchard. I then cross-referenced the list with specific apples in the area around James’ farm and the county.
Do you have a favorite apple or recipe that may have been in your family for generations? Please feel free to share in the comments below.
