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Earth Outdoor Living Diaries

Read monthly diaries from folks across the country from all walks of outdoor and country life.

Bishop's Orchards

Margaret McNellis
Posted by on in Connecticut
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One of my favorite farm markets in Connecticut is in the town right next to mine, and within walking distance from my office.  Nothing is better than walking the half mile to clear my head for an afternoon of work, and returning with fresh, local grown fruit.  Blueberries are still in season, and peaches.  Of course, one of my favorite times of year is apple season.  Every September I go apple picking and return home with so many apples and fresh cider that it's almost daunting what to do with all of them.

What's most fun is sampling apples whilst picking them.  And yes, I contribute money to Bishop's "sin can" when I do that--the goal is not to take free apples, but to sample apple varieties I have not yet tried to see if I want to pick more of them.  I leave with a full stomach and pounds of fruit.  This particular orchard market is open year round, and also features a bakery and winery. 

Tagged in: apples Bishop's Orchards blueberries Connecticut
Margaret graduated in 2007 with a Bachelors of Arts in Art History from Southern Connecticut

State University, in New Haven, Connecticut. There she explored journalism with the university

newspaper, Southern News, writing for the Arts & Entertainment section. In the spring of 2008,

Margaret began writing on a freelance basis, for internet marketing firms and local journalism

outlets. That summer, she enrolled in her first course with the Long Ridge Writers Group.

In 2008, National Novel Writing Month caught her eye and in 2009 she joined the Shoreline

Cluster of Poets in Madison, Connecticut. She’s a member of a writing and critique group with

several novelists. She began volunteering as Municipal Liaison of the CT Shoreline region for

National Novel Writing Month in November 2011.

When she’s not writing, Margaret enjoys playing classical piano. Margaret began studying Kung

Fu Kempo Karate in December of 2000. She earned her black belt in June of 2005, and taught

students of all ages. She enjoys reading—genres ranging from horror to historical fiction to

Classical Literature. Margaret is an intermediate knitter and loves to go for walks to the river

that runs by her neighborhood, where the quiet often allows for plot-related epiphanies.