
Last weekend we visited what is believed to be the oldest apple tree on the west coast. Planted in 1826, it still produces apples today. The Old Apple Tree Festival celebrates the longevity of this tree and the history that was to follow its planting, making Washington the U.S. leader in apple production.

The festival was quaint with a toe tapping bluegrass band, lots of room to explore, and free activities for the kids to do.
If you bring your own apples and your own container, the volunteers will help you turn them into fresh pressed apple cider. We brought a mix of grannysmith, ginger gold, and honeycrisp. It was by far the best cider I've ever tasted. Logan claims that ours was even better than Martinelli's. Top that.

I've been treating our prized brew as if it were war rations. The kids want to guzzle it down, while I want to savor every sip. I think we're down to less than a quart now.

Quite possibly the biggest draw for me was that Vancouver Urban Forestry was handing out one tree cutting from the old apple tree to each family. I've heard that the success rate for these cuttings is pretty low, but I remain hopeful. I believe that there is a registry of survivors & it would be an honor to have my family's name on that list.
If you're interested, here is a detailed history of the tree.
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