Martin's Hillside Orchard

Explore the Orchard

Our COVID-19 Plan

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We know that outdoor activities are among the safest choices for entertainment during the pandemic and we so look forward to seeing you this fall! We are committed to implementing precautions with our team members but need your help to make the orchard as safe as possible for all.

WHAT WE ASK OF YOU

Bring a Mask. Masks are required when you check in at the gazebo, when you are inside the apple barn shopping or checking out, and anywhere else you aren’t able to social distance. Typically, you wouldn’t need to wear your mask when you are outdoors in the orchard

Maintain Social Distancing – Please preserve at least 6 feet of distance between your group and others whenever possible

Sanitize Your Hands. Please be sure to use the hand sanitizers that we’ll have posted for your use near the attractions and at checkout

Stay Healthy. Please visit the orchard only if you are healthy. Stay home if aren’t feeling well, have a fever, or have any other COVID-19 symptoms. As well, please stay home if you believe you have been exposed to the virus in the last 14 days

COVID-19 Warning

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. Senior citizens and guests with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable.  By visiting our orchard, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19

Update: Apples sold out this weekend (posted 9/19 at 2:30 pm)

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Due to an unexpected numbers of visitors this morning, all the apples ripe for this weekend have been picked. 

We’ll have more varieties ripen in the weeks to come. Check the U-Pick Schedule for more details.

The pumpkin patch will be open for business, though, with tons of decorator pumpkins available for your fall displays.

How to stay safe at the orchard? Please be sure to bring masks for your group. For the most part, you should be a-okay to roam the orchard without a mask, but at check-in and check-out or where you can’t social distance, you will want to use that mask. Here’s how you can help us make the fall orchard experience as safe as possible.

 

Apple Crumb Cheesecake Pie

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We couldn’t go through the season without doing a bit of cheesecake.

This recipe has you make the cheese cake layer in advance and then chill for 4 hours. We got a bit antsy and didn’t chill it for quite that long so when we added our apple pie filling it sort of sunk into the cheesecake a tad. Maybe not as aesthetically pleasing as if we had waited but it still tastes great.

Top with ice cream or dairy topping. And, of course, a drizzle of caramel sauce is always a good finishing note

 

Apple Cider Biscotti

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What a great way to start the morning!

With a cup of coffee/latte. Dunking is definitely called for. As well, a good way to round out the day with a bit of milk for late evening snack

You can’t go wrong with apple cider as your base

Here is the recipe

We’d recommend using only the lightest touch of cinnamon in the icing to preserve nice contrast with the cookie

Meet Wally!

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Tamra Ziems (Wally’s mom) and Alex

Wally is a 3-month old, Atlantic Giant pumpkin raised in Ewing, Nebraska by family members of our very own Sheila Ziems, Tamra and Larry Ziems, in preparation for a pumpkin competition in Rapid City.

  • At one point, Wally was gaining 23 lbs/day!
  • How do you move a one thousand lb pumpkin? With a John Deere, of course!

For more information on how to grow your own giant pumpkin check out this segment from “Backyard Farmer” featuring Wally and some other pumpkins Tamra and her husband grew this summer.

Tamra and Larry wanted to make sure Wally got to enjoy the limelight post-competition so we are lucky to have them choose Martin’s Hillside Orchard for his forever home. Come on out and meet Wally. Great photo opportunity!

Follow the Ziems on Facebook, Instagram and twitter – their handle is “craZpumpkins” for photos of the recent pumpkin weigh-in and more info on raising these giants

We can’t wait to collect a few seeds and try to grow one of these for ourselves 🙂

A BIG thanks to Tamra and Larry!