Atlas Twp. – In 1921, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is dedicated in Arlington Va., the first radio broadcast of the World Series went on the air and Raymond Porter, Sr. planted the first apple tree on his township farm.
Since then, plenty has changed, including most of Porter’s Orchard apple trees.
‘We have one tree left that my grandfather planted’a Tolman Sweet (apple tree),? said Ray Porter, third generation apple grower. ‘It’s our heritage tree and it’s still producing.?
While the new orchard keeps growing, so do the autumn traditions. Despite a rough spring, Porter says there’s plenty happening in October.
‘There was a frost at the end of May that hurt almost half of the apple crops in Michigan,? he said. ‘Apples can take 28 degrees before an orchard has any loss. However, we will have lots of apples to sell, because we are buying them from other orchards that weren’t hit as hard as we were. We have also just started to press cider, so there is plenty of great tasting cider this year.?
The U-Pick pumpkin patch is ready. Porter said the patch looks great.
‘We will have the traditional hayrides out to the pumpkin patch and will serve doughnuts and cider.?
A petting zoo with two llamas, four goats, three rabbits, a potbellied pig and ducks and chickens is available daily. On weekends, there will be pony rides and a bounce house. Visitors can take a hayride through the orchard and also pick pumpkins (hayrides are available during the week for tour groups).
‘We are taking reservations for tours right now,? said Porter.
For the first time this fall, Porter said he will be carrying Cook’s Farm Dairy products.
‘It’s nice that our residents don’t have to drive all of the way to Ortonville to get milk, ice cream, ground beef and other products from Cook’s Farm Dairy.?
Some of the other products the locals can pick-up for the kitchen are home-baked apple pies, apple dumplings, apple butter jams and frozen fruit from the freezer.
Porter’s Orchard is located at 12060 Hegel Road and is open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.
Today, the Magic of Michael Brown 1-4 p.m. and on Sunday the folk music of Neil Woodard will be from 1-4 p.m. Details:810-636-7156.