From Orchard to Table: Fall Agrarian Day at Chesterton

Chesterton students recently spent the day learning traditional methods of harvesting and preserving some of the Willamette Valley’s fall bounty.

Students gathered apples and grapes from an orchard near the school before learning several ways to preserve and make use of the harvest. They canned applesauce and apple pie filling, fermented apples, and pressed cider. Throughout the process, students learned the importance of good stewardship, sorting the fruit for different uses and making sure that nothing went to waste.

A group of seniors also visited a local winery owned by a Chesterton family, where they learned firsthand about the winemaking process.

These hands-on experiences are an important part of Chesterton Academy’s Agrarian Vision, giving students the opportunity to develop practical skills, work with the land, and grow in gratitude for the created world around them.

Some of what students prepared will even make its way back to the table at our annual Epiphany celebration in January!