Berry ’ s farmstand . GOOD TO KNOW : “ With one hand , grasp the branch the apple is on , then twist and pull gently with the other hand ,” Eckhart advises . As for which variety to stock your kitchen with , he maintains that Cortland and McIntosh are typically best for baking , but “ a recent trend is to mix any apples for sophisticated flavor .” MORE FOR THE PICKING : Sweet Berry Farm also offers pick-your-own ( and pre-picked ) pumpkins , gourds and flowers like sunflowers and zinnias in mid-September . MORE IN STORE : Sweet Berry Farm ’ s market store and cafe serves up sandwiches , soups , pizza , ice cream and desserts , which you can enjoy on-site at the indoor or outdoor seating areas . If you ’ re looking to make something with apples you picked , the store also sells a delicious apple crisp mix with a recipe on the back of the package for your convenience . And if that ’ s not enough to satiate your fruity cravings , additional offerings include homemade apple cider in both liquid and doughnut form . “ The apple cider doughnuts have amazed me because they ’ re in such high demand . We really had no idea how popular they were until we started making them a few years ago and then people of course asked for more ,” says Eckhart . 915 Mitchell ’ s Ln ., Middletown , 847-3912 , sweetberry farmri . com
SOUTH Narrow Lane Orchard , North Kingstown
ABOUT : The orchard first got its start as Narrow Lane Farm in the eighties , named after the narrow lane that it bordered . “ The former owner had it for about twenty-two years prior to selling ,” recalls current owner , Stephen Grenier . “ The property abutted ours and we didn ’ t want to see a house flat go up . We were fortunate enough to beg , borrow and steal to buy it in 2004 , and we renamed it Narrow Lane Orchard .” The only problem ? He and his wife , Sharon , knew next to nothing about fruit-growing . But by taking a few classes at the University of Rhode Island and University of Massachusetts at Amherst , and gaining a helping hand from Heather Faubert , URI ’ s Plant Protec- tion Clinic director , they became experts in no time . The Greniers went on to increase the orchard ’ s size by three acres and to plant more apple tree varieties that they knew would attract the masses . SEASON : Narrow Lane is home to Honeycrisp , Macoun , Candy Crisp and more . Luckily , Grenier says , this year ’ s apple crop was not affected like its juicy cousin , the peach . “ People usually come in droves in the summer for the Saturn peach — a small white peach that has a hint of vanilla flavor — but because we didn ’ t have enough cold days last winter , there were no peaches anywhere in New England ,” he explains . “ The bloom for apples , though , was phenomenal . We ’ ve had more apples than we ’ ve ever had — a tremendous number of apples .” The orchard typically opens for apple ( and blueberry ) picking the second week of August and the season lasts till Halloween . PYO HOURS : Open daily from 10 a . m . to 5 p . m . While you collect the goods , make sure to take advantage of the scenic , milelong nature trail ringing the perimeter of the orchard .
Steere House is an independent , nonprofit organization with a legacy of innovative programs , advanced therapies , and leading-age technology to serve adults requiring shortterm , long-term , or memory care . Our licensed Transitional Care Unit staff , with our Carelink Rehab Team , encourage continuing recovery to restore independence to daily living . Our trained staff offers a blend of expertise and compassion to support residents and their families .
SERVICES & AMENITIES
• Individualized , resident-centered care
• In-house Nurse Practioner
• Secure Memory Care Unit
• Conveniently located on the RI Hospital campus
• Physical , Occupational and Speech Therapies
• In-house Wound Care team
• Affiliated with Brown Physician Group
Call us at 401 454.7970 to learn more
100 Borden Street | Providence , RI | www . steerehouse . org
124 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l SEPTEMBER 2023