>> HI, I'M ERIC FORD FOR MADE HERE.

NORWICH, VERMONT, FILMMAKER WHITMAN BROOK TELLS THE STORY OF A QUECHEE, VERMONT, APPLE ORCHARD, A FOUR SEASON MEDITATION ON TIME, CHANGE, LOSS AND RENEWAL.

THIS AWARD WINNING DOCUMENTARY OFFERS A GLIMPSE INTO THE WORLD THAT MOVES WITH A DIFFERENT CADENCE, WHERE WE ARE INVITED TO SLOW DOWN, PAY ATTENTION, AND RECOGNIZE THE EXTRAORDINARY.

YOU CAN WATCH WHITMAN BROOK AND OTHER GREAT MADE HERE FILMS STREAMING ON VERMONTPUBLIC.ORG AND THROUGH THE PBS APP.

ENJOY THE FILM, AND THANKS FOR WATCHING.

>> SARAH AND I BUILT A HOUSE ALONG WHITMAN BROOK, A LITTLE OVER 30 YEARS AGO.

AT THE TIME, I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THE APPLE ORCHARD.

BUT AS I WOULD WALK TO THE TOP OF THE DRIVEWAY TO GET THE UP IN, I WOULD LOOK OUT AT THE APPLE ORCHARD AND REALIZE IT WAS DISAPPEARING INTO THE FOREST.

AND I THOUGHT, SHOULD I TRY TO DO SOMETHING WITH THIS?

COLD IS NOT YOUR FIRST THOUGHT WHEN IT'S COLD.

EVEN IF IT'S BITTER COLD.

THE SNOW IF THERE IS ANY WILL BE LIGHT AND DRY ALMOST LIKE SAND IF IT'S REALLY COLD.

MOVING LADDERS IS EASIER, FALLING LESS WORRISOME.

COLD AND WINDY IS THE WELCOME AFTERMATH OF A STORM.

WHATEVER SNOW HAS NOT BLOWN OFF THE TREES IS EASILY BRUSHED AWAY WITHOUT GLOVED HAPPENED BECOMING SOD DEN.

PEOPLE LIVING A LONG LIFE ONLY HAVE A FINITE NUMBER OF APPLES.

BEING IN THE ORCHARD EVERY DAY DURING PRUNING SEASON MOST DAYS THE REST OF THE YEAR I GET TO RELIVE THAT APPLE BLOOM AND WHEN I SEE THAT APPLE BLOOM IT FEELS LIKE IT WAS JUST YESTERDAY.

THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS TO BE ROOTED.

OUR PLAN WAS A FARM, NOT RIGHT AWAY.

FIRST JUST AN OUTPOST.

A PLACE TO LOOK FOR A PLACE.

LITTLE DID I KNOW I WOULD NEVER LEAVE.

IT'S TAKEN ME A WHILE TO MAKE SENSE OF IT ALL.

THE WRITER WENDELL BARRY CALLS A DISPLACED PERSON.

ROOTED NOW IN VERMONT ENCHANTED WITH THIS PIECE OF GROUND.

IT'S NOT SO MUCH THAT HERE IS SPECIAL, ALTHOUGH IT IS, IT'S THAT I WANT TO KNOW A PLACE, REALLY KNOW IT, WHEREVER I AM.

TO DIG DEEP WHEN A CUSTOMER PICKS THEIR FRUIT IN SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, THEY ARE TALKING TO ME.

MY GOD, I SAW YOU OUT THERE IN JANUARY, THEN IN FEBRUARY, THEN IN "MARCH."

THAT TAKES A LONG TIME.

IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S RAPING OR ICE OR SNOW.

WHEN I'M IN ANY PART OF THIS PROPERTY I'M JUST -- EVERYTHING IS SO MAGICAL.

>> THEY DON'T STAY DRY TOO LONG.

>> THE GENERAL RULE IN PRUNING VERTICAL WOOD GROWS LEAVES.

HORIZONTAL WOOD GROWS THE BEST FRUIT.

AND WEAK OR DROOPY WOOD IS POOR FRUIT.

SARAH AND I ARRIVED IN VERMONT IN 1980, CHASING A VANISHING WAY OF LIFE, TRYING TO TURN BACK THE CLOCK, SO TO SPEAK.

FOR SARAH IT WAS A RETURN TO VERMONT.

SHE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING TO ME INITIALLY.

I LEARNED LATER THAT SHE HAD GOOGLED WHAT SHE WAS FEELING, OPENED THE FIRST LINK AND SLAMMED THE LAPTOP SHUT.

UPON REFLECTION, THE SIGNS WERE THERE EARLIER.

SHE WOULD ALWAYS HAVE CUT FLOWERS IN THE HOUSE, AND IN THE MIDDLE SPRING SHE SAID, I CAN'T FIGURE THIS OUT.

THE SMELL IS BOTHERING ME.

SO IT WASN'T UNTIL ONE NIGHT IN EARLY OCTOBER THAT SHE BLURTED OUT, I THINK I HAVE CANCER.

SARAH'S CANCER WAS IN HER SIGN N SY NEWS.

I WAS PRUNING HUGHES ROW, THE LOWEST ROW OF TREES ALONG THE LOWER SPLIT RAIL FENCE.

SARAH CALLED AND ASKED ME TO COME BACK TO THE COTTAGE.

SHE WAS GETTING HER HAIR CUT FOR THE FIRST TIME.

HER HAIR HAD THINNED IN CHEMO.

SHE DIDN'T LOSE IT BUT IT WAS CLOSE AND SHE WAS PRETTY EXCITED TO HAVE THE FIRST HAIR CUT IN ALMOST FOUR MONTHS.

IT WAS HER BIRTHDAY, BUT I REALLY WASN'T THINKING ABOUT IT BEING HER BIRTHDAY.

IT WAS A HAIR CUT DAY, IT WAS JUST A LITTLE SLIVER OF NORMALY THAT I SORT OF SNAPPED TO AND REALIZED HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS, AND I WAS ABLE TO DASH TO WOODSTOCK, BACK IN TIME FOR A CAKE AND CANDLE.

THAT'S TEN YEARS AGO.

ALMOST.

AND AS I GO THROUGH HUGHES ROW I THINK OF THAT LONG AGO FRIDAY WITH SARAH ASKING FOR A CAKE AND CANDLE.

IT'S GOOD LUCK TO BLOW OUT A CANDLE ON YOUR BIRTHDAY.

BEFORE LONG IT WILL BE ZERO.

>> THIS TIME OF DAY, THE CLOSEST TO TIME STANDING STILL AS YOU GET.

THE PHONE RINGS LESS.

IT'S SORT OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORKER UNINTERRUPTED.

THERE'S NO SUBSTITUTE FOR A WINDMILL TO GET YOUR HANDS WARM.

>> I KEEP DROPPING MY PHONE.

>> WHEN I LOOK AT THE DORMANT FRUIT BUDDE ON A WINTER DAY I CAN SEE IT ALL.

GREEN TIP, HALF INCH TIP, THEN CLUSTER BLOOM.

MY SISTER CALLED THE OTHER DAY CRYING.

I LISTENED BUT DIDN'T SPEAK.

SHE WAS LEAVING HER FAMILY HOUSE IN MASSACHUSETTS FOR THE LAST TIME.

IT SOLD A FEW DAYS LATER.

SHE ASKED WHY I WASN'T UPSET.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?

MY EMOTIONS, I TRIED TO EXPLAIN, HAD COME YEARS BEFORE WHEN THE LAND WAS LOST.

I'LL NEVER FORGET SAYING GOODBYE TO A HIGH SCHOOL FRIEND ON ONE OF OUR FARM ROADS.

HE HEADED IN ONE DIRECTION, ME TURNING AROUND FOR HOME.

I TURNED TO LOOK BACK, COINCIDENTALLY SEEING HIM DO THE SAME.

WE WAVED ONE MORE TIME AND THAT WAS IT.

THE BULLDOZER STARTED THE NEXT DAY.

LOOK CLOSER.

DRILL DEEPER AND YOU WILL BE SURPRISED.

THERE'S A THROW QUOTE, I'LL PARAPHRASE IT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IT EXACTLY.

HE SAYS I'M ALARMED WHEN I HAVE WALKED A MILE INTO THE WOODS BODILY WITHOUT GETTING THERE IN SPIRIT.

AND HE GOES ON TO SAY THAT THE PROBLEMS MUCH THE DAY, THE VILLAGE ARE ON HIS MIND, WHAT BUSINESS DO I HAVE WALKING IN THE WOODS IF I CAN'T BE IN THE WOODS.

I AM IN THE ORCHARD ALL WINTER.

I AM IN THE GARDEN EVERY DAY OF THE GARDENING SEASON.

I'M IN THE WOODS WHETHER IT'S FORESTRY, MAPLE SUGARBUSH, REJUVENATION OR OTHER FARM WORK.

AND AS A RESULT, IT CORRAL'S TIME.

I HAVE A FAMILIARITY WITH THIS PLACE THAT I CAN SEE THE BLOOM IN THE DEAD OF WINTER AND UNLIKE THOROUGH'S DILEMMA OF NOT BEING ABLE TO BE IN THE WOODS SPIRITUALLY BECAUSE HE'S GOT SOMETHING ELSE ON HIS MIND, I'M SO FAMILIAR AND HAVE DRILLED SO DEEP INTO THIS PROPERTY THAT I CAN WALK OUT OF MY OFFICE ON A BAD MONDAY, BE IN THE HIGH IN A TREE IN THE DEAD OF WINTER AND I HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE.

I STEP FROM ONE WORLD INTO ANOTHER.

I'M SEEING THE SAME TREE AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME EVERY YEAR TO PRUNE IT.

I MOVE THROUGH THE ORCHARD AND CAN SEE THE RHYTHM OF THE SEASONS.

YOU GET TO EXPERIENCE THAT I OTHERWISE WOULDN'T GET WITHOUT BEING CONNECTED TO THE GROUNDS OR NATURE IN THAT WAY.

ONE OF THE MISTAKES WE MADE IN PRUNING IS YOU HAVE TO THINK THROUGH A FEW MOVES AHEAD ON THE CHESS BOARD.

YOU CUT SOMETHING THEN IT WILL CREATE ANOTHER PROBLEM.

>> I THINK THAT WHAT STRIKES PEOPLE WHEN THEY COME TO THIS ORCHARD IS HOW IT'S CARVED OUT OF THE SECTION OF THE VALLEY.

IT WAS A FOREST THAT WAS TURNED INTO A FIELD THAT WAS TURNED INTO AN ORCHARD.

THERE ARE OUTCROPPINGS OF LEGEND PLACES, IRREGULAR TERRAIN.

YOU IMMEDIATELY GET THE IMPRESSION THAT THIS WAS PLANTED ON LAND AS IT WAS FOUND.

IT WASN'T LEVELED.

IT WASN'T GRADED TO ACHIEVE A MINIMUM SLOPE.

IT IS NESTLED INTO THE VALLEY.

YOU CAN LOOK OUT OVER THE WHOLE VALLEY AND IMAGINE HOW IT WAS IN YEARS GONE BY.

THIS ORCHARD HAS SEEN AT LEAST ONE WORLD WAR, POSSIBLY TWO.

WE THINK IT WAS PLANTED AROUND 1920.

IT MAY HAVE SEEN PARTS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR.

IT HAS SEEN THE DEPRESSION.

IT'S SEEN SOCIAL UPHEAVAL.

IT'S SEEN ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS AND HERE ARE THESE TREES PRODUCING YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT.

IT JUST OFFERS A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

THIS PLACE PULLS THE PAST AND THE PRESENT APART.

>> I HAVE TAUGHT PRUNING TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE INCLUDING MEMBERS OF OUR CREW HERE.

THE CONCLUSION I REACH FARRYL RECENTLY IS THAT IF SOMEBODY HAS AN ARTISTIC BACKGROUND THEY ARE GOING TO DO GATHER.

THEY ARE GOING TO LEARN IT QUICKER AND THEY ARE GOING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> FARMING WASN'T SOMETHING I INTENDED TO GET INTO.

IT WAS A SUMMER JOB IN MY THIRD YEAR IN ART SCHOOL.

AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.

I COULDN'T LEAVE IT.

I LEFT ART SCHOOL.

>> YOU READY, ADDIE?

>> YES.

>> I DIDN'T SEE IT COMING.

IT WAS JUST A SUMMER JOB.

>> YOU PLANT AN APPLESEED, SAY A MCINTOSH, YOU'RE REALLY ASSURED OF ONE THING, THAT THE TREE THAT RESULTS FROM THAT SEED WILL NOT BE A MCINTOSH AND YOU CAN BE REASONABLY SURE THAT IT WON'T TASTE GOOD.

HERE'S ONE OTHER I CAN'T RESIST.

THAT'S THE PERFECT SKI ON WOOD.

APPLES ARE PROPAGATED BY CUTTING WOOD, NOT BY SEEING IT.

>> ZION WOOD SHOULD BE COLLECTED IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD IN "MARCH."

THE COLLECTION PROCESS IS TO CUT FIRST YEARWOOD, AND WE PUT THOSE IN PLASTIC TUBES THAT ARE LABELED AND WE ADD JUST A SLIGHT BIT OF MOISTURE THEN THEY GO IN THE REFRIGERATOR.

>> WE PUT A DAMP BUT NOT DRIPPING PAPER TOWEL IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TUBE.

ONLY ONE END.

WE PUT ALL THE SC ION WOOD IN THE SAME DIRECTION, WITH THE BUDS UP.

SO THAT THEY DON' DON'T DRY OUTN STICK THEM IN THE FRIDGE FOR SAFEKEEPING UNTIL WE NEED THEM FOR GRAFTING.

TO KEEP THE OLD VARIETIES OF APPLES AROUND IT HELPS US UNDERSTAND OURSELVES BETTER AND OUR PAST BETTER.

THEY ARE THE FRUIT THAT OUR ANCESTORS WERE EATING.

YOUR CUTS SHOULD ALMOST DISAPPEAR, AND IT STARTS TO TAKE ON A FORM THAT IS PLEASING TO THE EYE BUT ALSO PLEASING TO THE PLANT.

IT'S A MARRIAGE BETWEEN NATURE AND HUMAN IN A WAY THAT PRODUCES SOMETHING GOOD FOR BOTH.

GNARLED OLD TRUNKS OF TREES THAT HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE BEFORE YOU AND WILL BE THERE AFTER YOU, THINGS THAT ARE ALMOST TIMELESS THOUGH NOTHING REALLY IS.

IT MAKES YOU HAVE MUCH MORE RESPECT FOR THE TREE AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO IT.

MAES YOU THINK A LOT MORE BEFORE YOU DECIDE WHERE ON THE TREE TO PUT A GRAFT, WHERE TO MAKE A CUT FOR PRUNING.

THESE ACTIONS ARE GOING TO BE LONG-LASTING.

>> COMING IN HERE CLOSE YOU'LL SEE THE START OF THE WRINKLING AND RIGHT AT THAT POINT IS THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE BRANCH COLLAR.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN STUDIED NOT ONLY IN APPLE TREES BUT IN ANY TYPE OF TREE PRUNING THAT THAT IF YOU MAKE THAT CUT RIGHT AT THE BRANCH COLLAR, IT'S GOING TO HEAL THE QUICKEST AND THE BEST.

AND ANY TIME A PERSON OR A LIVING THING IS HEALING IT'S EXPENDING A LOT OF ENERGY, SO A BAD CUT WILL CAUSE A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF ENERGY BEING DIRECTED TO HEALING.

>> PRUNING IS ESSENTIAL TO GROWING GOOD FRUIT.

THE GEM RULES OF PRUNING ARE THE TWO Cs AND THREE Ds.

YOU'RE CUTTING OUT CROWDED AND CROSSING LIMBS.

YOU'RE REMOVING DAMAGED, DISEASED AND DEAD WOOD.

YOU'RE DWARFING THE TREE TO ALLOW LIGHT PENETRATION AND AIR CIRCULATION.

IN OUR ORCHARD WE ALSO FOCUS ON THE TWO Ss.

SOMETIMES THREE Ss.

THE TWO Ss ARE SIZE AND SHAPE.

IN PLACES WE'RE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT SPACING.

WE WANT TO WALK THROUGH THE ORCHARD AND REALLY SEE THE ART IN A PROPERLY PRUNED TREE.

A PROPERLY PRUNED TREE WE'LL SEE FRUIT BUDS DISPERSED ALL OVER THE TREE INCLUDING ON THE TRUNK% WHEREAS IF A TREE IS NOT THINNED ENOUGH YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE FRUIT BUDS JUST AT THE OUTER PERIPHERY.

YOU'LL HAVE LONG LIMBS THAT ARE BARE.

I NEVER MADE IT TO COLLEGE.

FOR ME, SCHOOL NEVER WENT AT THE PACE THAT WORKED.

THE TOPICS OF LITTLE OR NO INTEREST WERE DWELLED ON, THE TOPICS THAT I WANTED TO DIG INTO WE SKIPPED OVER THEM.

MY FATHER, WHO WAS THE ONLY CHILD IN HIS FAMILY THAT DIDN'T GO TO A GOOD SCHOOL, WHO WENT TO SCHOOL NIGHTS, WAS DETERMINED THAT HIS SON WAS GOING TO GO TO COLLEGE.

IT WAS YEARS LATER BEFORE HE FINALLY ACCEPTED THAT I DIDN'T GO, AND THAT IT CAME OUT ALL RIGHT.

I HAVE TWO JOBS.

GROWING APPLES AND FIXING TROUBLED COMPANIES.

THE LATTER SUPPORTS THE FIRST, BUT THE FIRST MAKES THE HEARTACHE AND UNCERTAINTY OF THE LATTER BEARABLE.

SOMETIME TODAY OR TOMORROW WILL BE THE LAST OF THIS YEAR'S PRUNING.

WE WILL SOON TURN TO GRAFTING.

AND WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE OR TWO DAYS, I HAVE BEEN OUT HERE EVERY DAY.

ALL WINTER.

>> YOU SPEND 120 DAYS IN THIS ORCHARD, NO LEAVES, MOSTLY SNOW, SOME DAYS BITTERLY COLD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A BLOOM, GREEN GRASS, AND WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THE SEASON.

>> THE FLOWERS START IN PINK AND EVERY FLOWER IS A POTENTIAL APPLE.

SO HERE IS ONE BUD, AND IF YOU WALK AROUND AND COUNT THIS, YOU COULD POLLINATE FIVE APPLES OFF OF THAT BUD.

WHEN YOU TAKE AN APPLE AND TURN IT OVER, YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE BLOSSOM END.

THAT BOTTOM OF THE APPLE IS THE BLOSSOM END OF THE FLOWER THAT HAS GROWN INTO AN APPLE ONCE SUCCESSFULLY POLLINATED.

>> WHEN YOU WALK THE ROW AND YOU TAKE IN THE SMELL AND THE SOUNDS OF THE BIRDS AND THE INSECTS, AND YOU SEE THAT ENDLESS AMOUNT OF FLOWERS, IT'S MAGICAL.

>> WE'RE NOW WELL UNDER WAY IN THIS YEAR'S GRAFTING PROGRAM.

THE PURPOSE OF THE GRAFT IS TO DO ONE OF TWO THINGS.

EITHER CHANGE THE VARIETY OR FIX A STRUCTURAL ISSUE WITH THE TREE.

FOR INSTANCE DEAL WITH A BROKEN LIMB.

CUT IT BELOW THE BREAK AND YOU CAN GRAFT THE SAME VARIETY BACK IN OR IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE VARIETY, THE NEW VARIETY.

THE 1920'S BLOCK WAS ORIGINALLY MCINTOSH.

SINCE 2014, WE HAVE BEEN CARRYING OUT A FARRYL AGGRESSIVE GRAFTING PROGRAM.

IT'S ENABLED US TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF APPLES WE HAVE FROM ABOUT 25 VARIETIES WHEN WE STARTED TO NOW OVER 130.

>> WE'RE GRAFTING THIS TO CANADIAN STRAWBERRY.

CANADIAN STRAWBERRY FIRST GAINED POPULARITY AT THE COMMON GROUND FAIR IN UNITY, MAINE.

A GENTLEMAN HAD THREE ANTIQUE APPLE TREES GROWING ON HIS FARM IN MAINE.

THOSE TREES WERE PROBABLY 100 YEARS OLD OR SO AT THE TIME.

CANADIAN STRAWBERRY IS A FANTASTIC DESSERT APPLE.

A LITTLE TART, VERY JUICY.

BEAUTIFUL HEART WOOD DOWN THERE.

THE SC IONS WERE COLLECTED IN LATE WINTER.

THESE ARE ONE YEAR SHOOTS MEANING IT WAS LAST YEAR'S NEW GROWTH.

>> WE DID IN EXTRA LARGE GRAFT ABOUT A MONTH AGO, JUST ABOUT A MONTH AGO.

AND HAD INCREDIBLE SUCCESS.

THIS IS THE REWARD RIGHT HERE.

>> MY GRANDMOTHER GRAFTED ON HER FAMILY FARM IN ENFIELD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

MY UNCLE JIM WAS AN AVID GRAFTER, SO I GUESS YOU COULD SAY THAT I'M A THIRD GENERATION GRAFTER.

>> GRAFTING IN OUR ORCHARD IS PRIMARILY TOP WORKING.

THE TECHNIQUE USED TO CHANGE THE VARIETY OF APPLE OR IN SOME CASES REPAIR DAMAGE TO THE TREE.

IT'S ESSENTIALLY SURGERY.

THE CHINESE, THE GREEKS AND THE ROMANS WERE ALL GRAFTERS BEFORE THE COMMON ERA OR BCE.

>> WHEN I LOOK OUT ACROSS THE ORCHARD I THINK ABOUT ALL THE HANDS THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS ORCHARD OVER THE YEARS.

THE NURSERY MEN THAT UNUSUALLYLY PLANTED THESE APPLE TREES, WHO PRUNED THEM.

WHO PICKED THE FRUIT.

NOW 100 YEARS LATER I'M TOP DRAFT GRAFTING THIS TREE.

>> MY FAMILY ON ONE SIDE HAS BEEN IN VERMONT FOR EIGHT GENERATIONS.

EIGHT GENERATIONS FOR NORTHERN VERMONT, SIX GENERATION THROUGH HARTFORD.

GROWING UP AND REALIZING THAT MY GENERATIONS HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE SAME HILLS, POSSIBLY PICKING IN THE SAME ORCHARDS, YOU NEVER KNOW, MAKES YOU FEEL PRETTY ROOTED.

THIS IS A NOTE THAT I WROTE DOWN WHILE THINKING ABOUT THIS ORCHARD.

THE JAPANESE ART OF REPAIRING WITH GOLD.

A CRACK OR BLEMISH CELEBRATING AND MADE MORE BEAUTIFUL WITH THE REPAIR.

>> WE'RE GOING TO ATTACH THIS WHIP BELOW THE WOUND AND ABOVE THE WOUND.

BASICALLY WE'RE CREATING A VEIN, AND IT WILL TRANSFER SAP AND NUTRIENTS ON THAT SIDE THE TREE WHERE IT'S DAMAGED.

>> MANY YEARS AGO I WAS WALKING THROUGH THE ORCHARD SHOWING A BRIDGE GRAFT TO ONE OF OUR CUSTOMERS WHO PARENTHETICALLY WAS A HEART SURGEON.

HE SAID, THAT'S JUST WHAT I DO ONLY I DO IT ON PEOPLE!

>> YOU KIND OF BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE TREES AS YOU START TO GET TO KNOW THEM AND THEIR PROCESS, THEIR HISTORY, THEIR PLAN AND PATH FORWARD FOR THE FUTURE.

>> WE WANT SOMETHING THAT WILL VERY ACTIVELY GROW AND HELP HEAL THE TEAR ON THIS TREE.

>> WINTER IS QUIET AND YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THE STRUCTURE OF THE TREES A LOT MORE N. SUMMER THERE'S A LOT MORE PRESSURE FROM THE DISEASE AND HEAT AND BEING CONCERNED WITH WHAT THE CROP WILL BE LIKE.

THAT IS A LADY BUG.

THEY ARE A GOOD BUG.

THEY EAT ApH IDS.

THEY ARE A PREDATOR.

THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.

IT'S ALSO A SIGN WE HAVE NOT OVER-SPRAYED.

GRAFT PROTECTION WE PUT UP TO PREVENT DEER BROWSE ON A GRAFTED BRANCH.

THERE'S SOME BLUSH ON THE APPLES UP HERE.

IT'S THE FIRST SIGN OF STARTING TO GET A LITTLE BIT RIPER.

>> SO HERE WE ARE NOW IN THREE FEET OF GRASS MOWING THE ORCHARD FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THE LAST TIME I WAS REALLY AT THIS TREE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD IT WAS FIVE BELOW ZERO.

WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED AT THIS TREE IN 1995, EACH ONE OF THE STEMS WERE BROKEN AND LYING ON THE GROUND.

I THOUGHT, WE'RE HERE, THE TREE IS GROWING.

IT HAS A REALLY INTERESTING TRUNK.

LET'S JUST TRY CUTTING IT BACK AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

IT'S BECOME ONE OF MY FAVORITE TREES.

SO I ENJOY BEING OUT HERE IN THE WINTER AND CHECKING IN ON THIS TREE AND IT WILL BE ONE THAT I DIRECT A NUMBER OF PICKERS TO BECAUSE WE GET BUSHELS AND BUSHELS OF APPLES FROM THIS TREE.

WHEN WE MADE THIS CUT IN THE SPRING OF 1995, THERE WERE NO SUBSTANTIAL SIDE LIMBS.

ALL WE HAD WAS ONE THAT WAS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A NUMBER 2 PENCIL.

THIS LIMB THAT I CAN'T GET MY TWO HANDS AROUND NOW WAS THE SIZE OF A NUMBER 2 PENCIL IN 1995.

THE INSIDE OF THE TREE IS ROTTED.

BUT I CLIMB UP THIS EVERY YEAR.

I REST THE 14 FOOT LADTER UP ABOVE, I CLIMB ALL OVER THIS IN THE WINTER.

>> SARAH DIED EARLY IN THE MORNING ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 3rd JUST A FEW WEEKS EARLIER SHE ASKED IF I WOULD TAKE HER IN THE UTILITY VEHICLE AROUND THE FARM.

IT WAS A COOLER SUMMER DAY, IT WASN'T COLD.

SHE HAD A BLANKET ON BECAUSE SHE WAS CHILLED.

BUT IT MADE HER SO HAPPY TO SEE A LITTLE OF IT EVEN THOUGH SHE COULDN'T BE IN THE ORCHARD ANY LONGER I COULD TELL HER ABOUT A FLOWER OR A TREE OR A SPOT AND SHE WOULD GET IT COMPLETELY.

IT JUST BROUGHT ALL SORTS OF IMAGES TO HER MIND AND OF COURSE HAPPINESS.

CARING FOR HER WAS A GIFT.

A GIFT BEYOND WORDS.

>> EVERYTHING THAT WILL DROP FROM TODAY FORWARD WILL BE COMPLETELY RIPE, SO BY PICKING UP THINGS THAT HAVE DROPPED BEFORE THEN WE KNOW WE'RE GETTING RID OF DAMAGED FRUIT, UNRIPE FRUIT.

IF I TAKE A BREAK AND DO THIS FOR A LITTLE BIT IT'S CHANGING THE CHANNEL.

IT'S PLEASURE RATHER THANH LES ANYTHING TO SOMEBODY COMPLAIN ABOUT A BUSINESS PROBLEM THAT ISN'T A PROBLEM.

>> THE HONEY CRISP THAT I HAVE BEEN DIRECTING PEOPLE TO IS THE END OF ROW 12.

>> IT'S THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON, WHICH MEANS VARIETIES ARE JUST STARTING TO RIPEN, AND AS A RESULT YOU WANT TO BE PICKING ON THE DOWNHILL OR SOUTH SIDE OF THE TREE.

IF IT'S A VARIETY THAT GETS RED LIKE MCINTOSH, THE REDDER THE BETTER, FARTHER OUT ON THE LIMB THE BETTER.

FURTHER DOWN THAT 12th ROW IS A CHESTNUT.

>> MY FAVORITE TYPE OF APPLE WOULD BE THE CHESTNUT BECAUSE THEY KIND OF TASTE LIKE BANANAS AND THEY ARE PRETTY SWEET.

I HAVE NEVER ACTUALLY TASTED A CHESTNUT SO MAYBE THEY DO TASTE LIKE CHESTNUTS.

I'M NOT SURE.

>> TECHNICALLY A CRAB, ORIGINALLY A POLLINATOR, RIPE ANYTHING IN MID-SEPTEMBER.

IT HAS FLAVORS OF PEAR AND BANANA.

REALLY A FAVORITE KIDS' APPLE.

>> IT CAN GET YOU MCINTOSH, HONEY CRISP.

FROM USE IS THE PARENT TO MACK.

A LITTLE DIFFERENT TASTE THAN A MCINTOSH.

THIS IS ONE OF TWO OR THREE RED GROVENSTEINS LEFT IN THIS TREE.

FRUIT WAS RIPE ANYTHING JUST AS WE WERE OPENING LAST WEEKENDED ON THE 11th.

THE TREE SOLD OUT IN A COUPLE OF HOURS.

IT'S TYPICALLY A GREEN APPLE WITH A BLUSH OF RED, AND THIS IS A RED SPORT.

SO IT'S PREDOMINANTLY RED.

THIS IS A ST. EDMOND'S REDUCE SET.

IT REALLY THINKS IT'S A PEAR.

IT'S LIKE TASTING AN ASIAN PEAR.

>> THIS IS A PRAIRIE SPY.

NEXT IS A CANADIAN STRAWBERRY.

THAT'S A HIDDEN ROSE.

THAT'S A MOTHER.

S THAT A CARMINE.

A ROME, PWRUGS AUBURN.

>> THIS IS A PALM D'OR.

THE SEASONED SIDES RATTLE WHEN THEY ARE RIPE.

>> COX'S ORANGE PIPPIN, GRIMES GOLDEN, HONEY CRISP, JONATHAN, MCINTOSH, OPALESCENT, PALM AGREE, PIPPEN, WAGNER, WEALTHY, WEST FIELD, SEEK NO FURTHER.

>> IN WEST FIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, SEEK NO FURTHER.

THE PERFECT APPLE HAS BEEN FO FOUND.

>> THIS MAKES AN INCREDIBLE APPLESAUCE.

OUT OF THIS WORLD.

THIS IS MY WIFE'S PARTICULAR FAVORITE.

>> WE GROW 132 VARIETIES OF APPLES.

>> MY FAVORITES ARE DEPENDENT ON THE TIME OF THE SEASON.

YELLOW TRANCE PARENT IS THE FIRST OUT OF THE GATE.

USUALLY FOLLOWED BY DUCHESS OF AL DENBURG, THEN CENTENNIAL.

PALM D'OR, ST. EDMONDS REDUCE SET ALL HAPPEN VERY EARLY SEPTEMBER.

COX'S ORANGE PIPPEN, A CUSTOMER FAVORITE, IS LATE SEPTEMBER.

ROXBURY REDUCE SET IS MID- TO THIRD WEEK OF OCTOBER.

>> ASH IMMEDIATE'S COLONEL, BALDWIN, BEAUTIES OF WELLINGTON.

DENTON.

BETHEL, BLACK OXFORD, BLAKE.

BLUE PEAR MAIN.

BRIGGS AUBURN, BROCK, BULLOCK PCENTENNIAL.

STRAWBERRY, CHESTNUT, CLAY GATE.

COURTLAND, COURT, COX'S ORANGE PIPPEN, DARCY SPICE, DAVENPORT REDUCE SET, DUTCHESS OF OLDER BERG, EARLY MAC.

FALL PIPPEN.

FLETCHER SWEET.

FROSTBITE.

>> IF YOU WALK AROUND THIS TREE, YOU'LL SEE THE FIRST OF THE NEW TOWN PIPPEN APPLES.

HUGHES, WHICH IS JUST A TRANSITION, THESE WILL ALL BE CUT OUT.

THEN AROUND TO THE OTHER SIDE IS THE REMNANTS OF THE MCINTOSH.

SO HERE WE HAVE A TREE THAT HAS THREE DIFFERENT APPLES GROWING ON IT.

ON CERTAIN LIGHT COLORED APPLES YOU'LL HAVE THE SURFACE STAINING, WHICH IS CALLED SOOTY BLOTCH.

WE'RE NOT REALLY THAT CONCERNED ABOUT IT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE WATER HERE BUT -- IT JUST WASHES OFF.

>> I DID THIS WITH FOUR CRATES OF APPLES YESTERDAY.

WIPING THE PHROFP OFF TO GET THEM TO MARKET JUST SO THEY LOOK A LITTLE BETTER.

PEOPLE BUY WITH THEIR EYES.

SO WHEN YOU ARE SELLING AT THE GROCERY STORE IT'S GOOD TO HAVE NICE, CLEAN FRUIT.

>> THE MINUTE AN APPLE COMES OFF THE TREE IT STOPS.

IT WILL EVOLVE AND SOME WILL EVOLVE IN A VERY INTERESTING WAY FROM A FLAVOR STANDPOINT, BUT THEIR STATE OF RIPENESS IS NOT CHANGING.

UNLIKE A PEAR OR AN AVOCADO OR OTHER FRUIT THAT RIPENS OFF THE TREE, WHEN YOU PICK AN APPLE THAT'S IT.

IT'S NOT RIPE A RIPENING ANY MO.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

SOMEBODY JUMPED WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

ALMOST LIKE A CUT.

>> RIGHT THERE.

>> I SWEAR IT'S A BEAR.

>> RIGHT THERE THEN THREE RIGHT DOWN HERE.

>> THEN IF YOU LOOK FURTHER UP IN THE TREE YOU'LL SEE SOME OTHER BROKEN LIMBS SO I'M NOT SURE WHY THE BEAR DIDN'T GO THE EASY ROUTE AND EAT WHAT'S ON THE GROUND BUT IT HOPPED RIGHT UP.

>> THIS HUGHES IN STORAGE WILL SPLIT BUT THIS IS PERFECT RIGHT IN THE ROASTING PAN AS IT IS.

NO SPICES.

NO SUGAR.

THIS IS JUST THE APPLES.

WE'RE GOING TO TENT IT.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE TENTED BUT THE TENTING IS AN EXTRA PRECAUTION SO THAT YOU RETAIN AS MUCH MOISTURE AS POSSIBLE.

STARTED IN AN OVEN IDEALLY AT 200, THIS WILL SLOW ROAST AT THIS TIME OF YEAR FOR A MINIMUM OF A COUPLE OF HOURS.

THIS WAS JEFFERSON'S KREIDER CRR CRAB.

IT WAS CENTRAL TO MONTECELLO.

WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR THE APPLES TO ROAST WE'RE GOING TO PICK AN ORDER FOR A MARKET THAT NEEDS THEIR FRUIT TOMORROW.

THIS TREE HAS BEEN GRAFTED TO A VARIETY CALLED SPY GOLD.

WE'RE PICKING ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF FRUIT.

WE HAVE TO PICK AN ORDER OF SPY GOLD.

I'M DOING ALL THIS WHILE EATING A GRIMES GOLDEN.

AS WE WALKED IN WE WENT BY THIS FAR TREE, Q-11, GRAFTED TO A VARIETY CALLED NOD HEAD.

NAMED BECAUSE THE PERSON THAT DISCOVERED THAT APPLE WALKED AROUND NODDING HIS HEAD ALL THE TIME.

I'M JUST GOING TO TRY THIS BECAUSE IT'S THE FIRST CROP I HAVE -- GREAT APPLE.

>> YEAH.

THESE TREES NOT ONLY HAVE THE GROWING HERE IN CENTRAL VERMONT BUT BECAUSE OF THE GROUND AND THIS ORCHARD TWO TREES OF THE SAME VARIETY PLANTED IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS HAVE THEIR OWN UNIQUE FLAVOR.

>> WE'RE TWO HOURS IN STARTING TO GET THE JUICE DOWN BELOW.

WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE WE CAN BRING THE TEMPERATURE UP.

THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS IS VERY LOOSE.

IT'S 200 DEGREES.

OR A LITTLE WARMER.

THE LATITUDE IS BY HOURS.

ONCE YOU'RE FINISHING THEM AT 375 OR SLIGHTLY HIGHER THEN YOU HAVE TO WATCH THEM.

YOU'LL BRING THEM TO THE EDGE OF BURNT WITHOUT BURNING THEM.

IT'S THE SAME AS SLOW ROAST AGO TOMATO IN THE OVEN.

IT REALLY CONCENTRATES THE FLAVOR.

NO SUGAR.

NO SPICES.

WE'RE FOREVER TELLING BAKERS THAT ARE USING OUR FRUIT FOR THE FIRST TIME, YOU DON'T NEED THAT SPICE.

JUST USE THE APPLE.

WHAT I GET FROM NATURE IS ENGAGING WITH IT AT A LEVEL THAT PUTS THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE.

THE SCALE IS SO MUCH DIFFERENT, AND WE MISS THAT.

I ALWAYS WAS PUZZLED BY THE NEED TO MAKE RAPID DECISIONS.

BUSINESSES HIRING CONSULTANTS TO HELP THEM SPEED THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS.

MOST OF THE TIME THEY MAKE BAD DECISIONS.

THEY ARE JUST MAKING THEM FASTER.

YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO THINK DIFFERENTLY.

YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO STEP INTO NATURE.

IT WILL BREAK YOU OF THAT HABIT.

>> WE LIVE IN A HYPER ACCELERATED TIME AND WE MIGHT DO BETTER BY SLOWING THINGS DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

I LOVE THIS GARY SNYDER QUOTE.

THIS PRESENT MOMENT THAT LIVES ON TO BECOME LONG AGO.

>> TWO BINS OF HONEY CRISP.

GRIMES GOLDEN.

>> THESE WILL KEEP AT LEAST UNTIL NEXT FEBRUARY.

>> I HAVE A FRIEND, BOB GRAY, WHO IS QUITE CONNECTED WITH OUR ORCHARD.

>> OH, BOY.

AMAZING!

>> WE HAVE TALKED EXTENSIVELY ABOUT FARMING, AND THIS GUY IS LIKE A HERO TO ME.

HE IS IN HIS 80s, FORMER OLYMPIA SKIER, STILL SKIING COMPETITIVELY.

HE IS AS EXCITED ABOUT HIS FARM AND SHOWING ME THE GRAPHS HE WAS MAKING, COMING DOWN TO OUR ORCHARD TO GET SCION WOOD, I'M SPEECHLESS BUT HERE IS SOMEBODY WELL PAST NORMAL RETIREMENT WHO IS WORKING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND LOVING IT.

HIS ONLY COMPLAINT IS HE WISHES HE HAD STARTED FARMING SOONER.

>> WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DRINKING MOST OF?

>> SEMI SWEET.

>> I GREW UP HEARING CIDER STORIES.

MY DAD TALKED ABOUT SO AND SO HAD THE BEST CIDER AND SO AND SO HAD 13 BARRELS IN HIS CELLAR.

THEY HOPED THEY WOULD KEEP MOST OF THE WINTER.

>> WE MAKE REALLY GOOD HARD CIDER IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF.

THE OLD WAY, NOTHING ADDED.

JUST SQUEEZE THEM AND FERMENT THEM REALLY SLOWLY.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> WITH SOME OF THE REAL CIDER VARIETIES YOU GOT A THICK.

IT'S NOT FLAT.

YOU CAN PRESS IT WITH YOUR TONGUE.

JUST MORE TEXTURE TO IT I GUESS REALLY.

>> NOW WE START THE WHOLE PROCESS AGAIN.

>> I LONG AGO TALKED TO SOMEBODY WHO HAD A CAREER SIMILARLY LONG CAREER TO BOB'S, AND HE SAID TO ME, I DECIDED YOU'RE EITHER GOING TO RUST OUT OR WEAR OUT.

I WOULD LIKE TO WEAR OUT.

>> I RETURNED TO ONE ACTIVITY OR ANOTHER YEAR AFTER YEAR.

I MAKE THAT INITIAL IN MY HAND AND I FEEL LIKE I HAD IT IN MY HAND JUST YESTERDAY.

IT'S BEEN EIGHT MONTHS AND NOW I'M BACK AT IT AGAIN AND I FEEL LIKE I WAS THERE YESTERDAY.

THAT CAUSES YOU TO THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT TIME.

ONCE YOU THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT TIME YOU THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT DECISIONS.

>> THERE ARE MOMENTS IN THE ORCHARD THAT TAKE MY BREATH AWAY.

A FEELING OF AW E, OR THE SUBLIME I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT BRINGS IT ON.

>> THERE ARE JUST THESE LITTLE MOMENTS, A FIVE MINUTE GLIMPSE OF THE SUN ON AN OTHERWISE OVERCAST DAY, A FURY OF WIND AT THE END OF THE SNOWSTORM.

>> 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40.

AT THAT RING IS WHERE I WAS BORN.

THIS IS PROBABLY EIGHT FEET UP IN THE TREE.

THE BASE OF THE TREE IS EASILY FOUR TIMES THE SIZE OF THIS.

YOU'RE A VERY SMALL PART OF SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER.

IT'S ALL LINKED TOGETHER, AND YOU'RE A PART OF IT.% THE SMALLNESS I FEEL IS BECAUSE EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE WITHOUT ME, AND IT WILL KEEP ON GOING.

AND THERE'S COMFORT IN THAT.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE THINK THAT BEING IN NATURE IS AN ALTERNATE REALITY, BUT IT ISN'T.

IT IS THE REALITY.

>> TODAY IS DAY ONE OF WHAT'S GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 115 TO 125 DAYS, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, AND IT JUST FEELS GREAT TO BE OUT HERE.

>> THE WINTER AFTER SARAH DIED I DROPPED A PAIR OF SUNGLASSES AND BENT THEM, AND I CO-OPTED HER BLUE ONES.

I WAS LOOKING FOR A PHOTO OF SARAH WEARING THOSE, AND AS I WAS LOOKING BACK THROUGH EMAILS, I FOUND ONE FROM HER THAT I HAVE NEVER FULLY RECOVERED FROM.

THE GIST OF IT WAS I'M SORRY THIS HAPPENED.

PLEASE DON'T FORGET ME.

SHE'S NOT FORGOTTEN.

>> VERMONT PUBLIC, PARTNERING WITH LOCAL FILM MAKERS BRING YOU STORIES MADE HERE.

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