Apple Drying

Apple drying is a big part of our heritage. Ever since the earliest days in the Annapolis Valley apple trees did well and produced an abundance of sweet tasting fruit.

The valley became world known for its bountiful apples and apple factories and distribution centers became big business. Vessels would sail to various parts of the world full of the delicious fruit to be sold overseas.

To preserve this tasty fruit for use throughout the year a method of apple drying was designed.

Big plants were built to dehydrate the apples so they could be sent out for sale around the world. On a smaller scale apple drying was done in the homes as well. In the early days everybody in the Annapolis Valley would dry apples and store them for future use.

In the kitchen you would find a paring machine which was clamped to the table. The apple would be stuck on a 3-pronged fork and a crank would be turned which would turn the apple against a sharp knife which pared the skin off.

Then the apples would be cut into quarters by hand and the core removed. They would use twine and a big needle to string the apples together. This string of apples would be seven to eight feet long.

Then they would tie the ends together and hang the apples behind the wood stove to dry. During the apple drying process the apples would shrink and look more like prunes. The dried apples would then be stored in containers and put in the attic.

Usually around the first of March the barrels of fresh apples stored in the cold storage would run out and the dried apples would be brought down. A kettle with some water would be put on the stove and a handful of the dried apples put in it. These would simmer away until the apples softened up and made a nice tasty sauce.

Some varieties of apples would not melt good and stayed like prunes, these would not be served to guest. I do not think anyone dries apples anymore, but at one time almost everyone in the Annapolis Valley did.

Old Postcard of the Apple Dehydrating Plant in Annapolis Royal, NS

I remember when we owned the Nova Scotia Handcraft store an older lady would bring us Apple Dolls to sell in the store. These apple dolls were a big thing back then, but this lady was one of the last people I know of who made them.

She would start by carving a face into a pared apple with eyes, nose and mouth and ears. Then the whole apple was hung to dry. After it dried and shriveled up it would look like a wrinkled old face.

I am not sure what she used to preserve the apple, maybe just a varnish over it all. I am quite sure she used something because the apple face would last a long time without spoiling.

She would then add a pair of glasses to the face made from wire. A bendable body would be made which she would dress with small handmade clothes including a bonnet. Some she made into little old women and some would be little old men. She would finish them off sitting in a small chair, usually a rocking chair, which I think was also handmade.

These dolls sold very well, people would come in especially to find them. I cannot remember the price but I remember thinking is was quite a bit. But now that I am older and realize the work that must have gone into them was really quite reasonable.

It has been years since I have seen a handmade apple doll. Unfortunately I think it might be a lost part of our heritage now. If someone still knows how to make an apple doll I would love it if you could share it with us.

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