All about apples at Ridgway Farm

All about apples at Ridgway Farm

Ian Ridgway kneels in the nursery to show how a young tree that he grafted is growing.

L. Tomaino

CORNWALL — The Cornwall Garden Club hosted an apple tree workshop at Ridgway Farm on Town Street Saturday, April 26.

More than twenty attendees gathered in the farm’s newly built barn, which when finished will house a store, tasting room, cold storage for fruits and vegetables and someday, a cidery.

After a welcome to the farm, Gordon Ridgway said he hoped the future store would offer “really good local food and a place for people to come and enjoy what we have here.”He expects the farm store to open this year to begin selling homegrown maple syrup and organic produce.

He introduced Peter Del Tredici, formerly of Harvard Arboretum, who is a fellow Cornwall apple enthusiast.

Ridgway’s son, Ian, explained that when he graduated from college in 2019, he searched for something to do to “not just follow in the old man’s footsteps.”He discovered a book called “Uncultivated,” by Andy Brennan, which inspired him to learn cider-making.

Nowadays, he explained, there are basically seven basic varieties of apples in stores. “Older varieties go by the wayside and are lost to history,” said Ian.

He set out to find the older varieties, also known as heritage apples, in historical Cornwall orchards to use them in his grafting. Heritage apples are known for being more flavorful.

Ian began grafting apple trees in 2023 and demonstrated the process. He uses semi-dwarf apple trees for his root stock, which determines the size of the tree. He likes the resulting height. “About 12 feet high.”

The first step in grafting is to select a scion and root stock of similar diameters.Then both pieces get inch-long cuts on a slant to expose wood.These are lined up again and notches are cut in both pieces. “You cut the notch in both so they can hook into each other,” explained Ian.

Next a wound dressing is applied, and a piece of plastic tape is added around the wound for stability. Both keep water and other substances out.

Ian led the group out to the nursery where the newly grafted trees are kept for about two years. He pointed out some with green leaves, saying, “Green means happy.”

Once ready to leave the nursery, the young trees are moved to the orchard and are planted about 12 feet apart.

Ian placed a young tree in a hole big enough to give the roots plenty of room to spread. He made sure that “the graft union is a couple of inches above the soil line.”The young tree was then watered, and soil was added around the roots.

“Certain varieties of apples make better cider,” Ian commented, “generally, those with higher sugar content.” Ridgway Farm has more than 500 trees and 30 varieties of apples growing now.

One variety, Redfield, is known for having red flesh and red skin. It gives the cider a reddish color. Another, Wickson, he said, has “an insane explosion of flavor.”

Ian expects to make cider from his own apples in about five years.

Latest News

Racecars roar in NASCAR’s return to Lime Rock Park

High-speed action made for a weekend of excitement at Lime Rock Park Friday and Saturday, June 27-28.

Photo by Simon Markow

LAKEVILLE — For the first time since 2011, Lime Rock Park hosted National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing events June 27 and 28.

It was billed as the largest event in modern track history with an estimated 20,000 fans attending.

Keep ReadingShow less
Joseph Robert Meehan

SALISBURY — Joseph Robert Meehan the 2nd,photographer, college professor and nearly 50 year resident of Salisbury, passed away peacefully at Noble Horizon on June 17, 2025. He was 83.

He was the son of Joseph Meehan the 1st and his mother, Anna Burawa of Levittown, New York, and sister Joanne, of Montgomery, New York.

Keep ReadingShow less
Florence Olive Zutter Murphy

STANFORDVILLE, New York — It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Florence Olive Zutter Murphy, who went home to be with the Lord on June 16, 2025, at the age of 99.

She was born in Sharon, Connecticut on Nov. 20, 1925, and was a long time resident of the Dutchess County area.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chore Service hosts annual garden party fundraiser

Chore Service hosted 250 supporters at it’s annual Garden Party fundraiser.

Bob Ellwood

On Saturday, June 21, Mort Klaus, longtime Sharon resident, hosted 250 enthusiastic supporters of Northwest Corner’s beloved nonprofit, Chore Service at his stunning 175-acre property. Chore Service provides essential non-medical support to help older adults and those with disabilities maintain their independence and quality of life in their own homes.

Jane MacLaren, Executive Director, and Dolores Perotti, Board President, personally welcomed arriving attendees. The well-stocked bar and enticing hors d’oeuvres table were popular destinations as the crowd waited for the afternoon’s presentations.

Keep ReadingShow less