By Mary Carter
Eagle Times Correspondent
UNITY, NH — Got a lot of apples? Thanks to the Sullivan County Natural Resources Department in Unity, making apple cider just got a whole lot easier.
Turn this year’s apple harvest into cider at this cidery using apple cider-making equipment that’s available for public use. This was the brainchild of Natural Resources Director, Lionel Chute.
An old pump house on the Sullivan County property became the perfect setting for this healthy craft opportunity. The area was outfitted with a fruit washing station, an electric grinder, and a shiny Laneman bladder press.
The pump house is easy to spot as one drives along the main road of the Sullivan County complex. Its wall displays a bright mural of apple trees and wildlife designed by artist and instructor Allison Zito. Zito is a fixture at the Makerspace, a community collaborative for artists located in the restored Sawtooth Building in Claremont.
The cidery mural was created in 2021 with the help of 25 area volunteers.
You’re going to need a lot of apples. A successful cidering requires somewhere around 4.5 bushels of apples, or seven milk crates full of fruit. This will produce roughly one dozen gallons of cider.
The apples must be picked or dropped onto tarps or cloths, making them contaminant free. Peelings during prep are saved to feed farm animals.
Supervised kids will enjoy being a part of this unique outing, especially when manning the apple grinder. It’s a community-building experience for folks of all ages, and volunteers are always welcome. The cidery staff offers training, however, participants can also learn on the job.
The first step is to make an appointment at least two days in advance. Call (203) 494-3982 or email [email protected]. Once you’ve booked your cider pressing, all you need to bring are your apples and coolers to bring home your rewards. Masks are recommended, and hair covering required when inside the cidery.
The staff and volunteers there will teach you and your crew how to make cider that will be tastier than anything bought in a store.
If you’re excited for this fun adventure, but don’t have enough apples, the cidery coordinator will help you connect with folks who have trees or others with apples to share.
The process from prep to an all-hands cleanup takes under two hours. There is a $15 fee that covers jugs, lids and stickers. The cidery is open Tuesday through Saturday, September through October, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is located on the grounds of the Sullivan County Complex in Unity.
To learn more, visit sccdnh.org/cidery.
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