Trees & Bees
In the beginning of Wheel Line Cider’s existence, our orchard was only pollinated by using the cross-pollination method with wind and our pollinator trees. We planted about one pollinator tree per 25 cider apple trees, and over the years, we have developed several different pollinator tree varietals. We have a Manchurian Cherry tree that has a unique bloom to it, and we have a Virginian Hewes which is a very old American varietal– as old as the 1700s– also known as a Virginian Crab Apple. It was our goal to pick ones that would best compliment our orchard, and they have! While wind can be and was effective, we wanted our cider and our production to be top-notch. So, after some time, we consulted a fellow orchardist on how to improve and they suggested we try bees for pollination.
We created a partnership with a lovely local beekeeper, about five years ago now, and once bees came into the picture, our pollination more than doubled! Our bees traveled from Mattawa, WA in the night and got to work the very next day! The bees and orchard are right up the road from our cidery, and lie next to the local firing range, which means our bees get access to lots of luscious native plants, like sagebrush and wildflowers. This means their honey is not only delicious, but has lots of benefits for locals. Here’s the best part– the bees that pollinate our orchard produce the same honey that we use in all of our cider recipes!
The Complexity of Cider
Now, while switching up our pollination method proved to be rather fruitful (no pun intended) for our cider apple trees, too much fruit can be a slight issue. Similar to wine, cider relies on the tannins of the apple skin. Apples grow in clusters, and the smaller the cluster, the more room for apples to grow nice and big. However, cider apples need to grow smaller, for that thicker skin, meaning their clusters should be larger. Here’s where it gets tricky–our blossoms and apple clusters come in so large and beautifully (thank you bees!), but when the clusters are too large and too many, it leaves pockets for insects and that can invite devastating disease to the trees. To prevent this, and to achieve the imperative cluster balance, we have a precise thinning process. Other factors also come into play, for the success of our cider apples, and those are all reliant on mother nature. The weather and temperatures, such as the last frosts of winter into spring, not only affect the growth of the fruit, but affect the bees as well! Cooler weather or harsh winds can mean fewer buzzing buddies out and about doing their thing.
We know that maintaining an apple orchard entails close attention and care, and to others it might seem discouraging to rely on nature’s timing and elements, but to BEE honest, what we do is a beautiful craft that gives us a chance to find harmony with nature, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.