Orchard blooms on Main Rd.
Woodside Farms expands its turf
By Carolyn Thorenz

John Chapman, aka Johnny Appleseed, was born on Sept. 26, 1774. Coincidentally, the grand opening of Woodside Farm's new apple orchard fell one day shy of the famous apple seeder's birthday.

Gammon family members seem to be following in Mr. Appleseed's footsteps. They've expanded beyond their Manor Lane apple orchard to one newly created on Main Road in Jamesport.

"We would like to be known as 'the apple guys,' " Bob Gammon said.

The orchard on Manor Lane was purchased in 1982, when Mr. Gammon's and his brother Scott's father, Robert, decided that he wanted to grow apples after he retired as a precision-instrument repairman. Three thousand trees and 35 different varieties of apples later, a retirement project turned into a family business.

Scott runs the Manor Lane orchard while Mr. Gammon oversees the Main Road location with his wife, Amy.

The new orchard on Main Road was purchased two years ago. According to Mr. Gammon, they brought 40 mature trees from their orchard on Manor Lane to the new three-acre location. They planted an additional 250 trees that should be ready for apple picking by next year, according to Mr. Gammon. He said varieties include red delicious, mutsu, idared and fuji apples.

"Mutsu and Ida red are good baking apples," Mr. Gammon said. "The ones that hit the ground are good for juice or pies."

Other apples grown in the orchard include empire, lodi, jonamac, golden supreme, liberty, and macoun.

The Main Road farm has a new red barn that the Gammons built themselves. The barn is where they sell a sampling of their apples, along with other specialty items that are baked daily, according to Mr. Gammon.

Ms. Gammon bakes pies for the Main Road farm in a commercial oven located at the Manor Lane site. A Friday-night ritual of apple peeling has turned into the Gammons' version of dinner and a movie.

Mr. Gammon said they order pizza and invite over a couple of friends to help peel 15 to 20 bushels of apples.

Mr. Gammon said they use rotating apple peelers with a drill he invented and that four people can peel a bushel of 60 to 80 apples in 12 minutes. "We make conversation and the kids play," Mr. Gammon said. "It makes the time go faster."

Once the peeling is out of the way, Ms. Gammon prepares apple crumb, best-ever apple pie, no-sugar apple and honey apple pie.

The Gammons make apple cider, as well. Mr. Gammon said the cider from Woodside has a longer shelf life because apples are used fresh off the tree.

The barn on Main Road also has a selection of pumpkins and mums that the Gammons bring in to add atmosphere and selection for visiting shoppers.

Mr. Gammon enjoys working in a family business. He has the flexibility to be with his family and can switch his schedule if necessary.

Ms. Gammon is a substitute teacher and may get called to work at the spur of the moment. During those times, Mr. Gammon swings into action and get the kids on the bus for school.

"You can't change your schedule as freely when you work for someone," Mr. Gammon said.

A normal workday for the Gammons begins at 6:30 a.m. and ends when the barn is straightened up at 8 p.m.

Apple-picking season runs through November. "The crops were good this year and our orchards are plentiful," Mr. Gammon said.

Mr. Gammon hopes that by next year the farm will be open to host school field trips, where students might see Johnny Appleseed himself wandering through the orchard.