To go with our lovely old press, we've just acquired a vintage Apple Mill, which after some restoration will be in action for Porlock Apple Press and Rural Crafts Festival on Saturday 21st October 2017.
We started out with a hand powered mill/pulper, and then we adapted a vintage 'beet chopper' to prepare the apples for pressing. Neither were ideal, but did what we wanted to do in order to demonstrate the process to obtain apple juice, which would have in turn been fermented to cider.
The hand powered machine was OK for small quantities, but in order to make two cheeses worth of pulp, it took around an hour and a half to chop - and a relay of weary arms!
The old farm 'beet chopper', belt driven by a vintage stationary engine, enabled us to speed up the process dramatically, but the pulp was not sufficiently small to maximise the juice yeild.
Now with our newly acquired vintage apple mill (around 100 years old), we have a machine which was purpose designed for the job. Again, coupled with a vintage stationary engine it will make the pulping process extremely efficient.
It is thanks to your donations that we have been able to save this piece of farming history, and to restore it for future generations to see the old way of doing things - thank you!
We've been busy!
The press is very old, so we wish to make sure it is looked after, especially as we believe she is the only one of her type still in use. Built in 1862 she is still in great condition, but there is the inevitability that wear and tear will take it's toll eventually.
We want the press to remain as original as possible, so to help us a local small company offerered to make replacement metalwork parts which had reached the end of their working life. We are most grateful to West Country Blacksmiths, based at Allerford Forge, just down the road, for their generous help.
In order to ensure that the press is ready for this years apple harvest, and the Porlock Apple Press & Rural Crafts Festival on Saturday 21st October, we've been busy to make sure that all work is done in time. This week we will be fitting the newly made parts - all made in a traditional way - hopefully ensuring many more years service.
Looking forward to seeing you on Sat 21st October for for the best apple festival in the south west of England - Porlock Apple Press & Rural Crafts Festival 2017
