230: Ciderville Updates & Coming Attractions

Ciderville Updates & Coming Attractions is a mini episode beginning with info on the England Cider Tour scheduled for September 1-6, 2020. I also discuss Totally Cider Tours that I will be look forwarding to once we get by coronavirus. Next up is an Audio Snap Shop from Denmark listener, Sune! Find out about the … Read more

229 Orchard Mystery Series

229: Orchard Mystery Series

The Orchard Mystery Series is written by author Sheila Connolly who passed away in April of 2020. This episode 229 is dedicated to her for taking readers on a journey into the orchards of western Massachusetts, where this series takes place. The first book in the Orchard Series is titled One Bad Apple (2008). There are … Read more

228 Feature Cider Chat POP festival

228: Philadelphia Orchard Project

The Philadelphia Orchard Project (POP) was founded in 2007 and serves Philadelphia and it surrounding area. This nonprofit organization both plants and supports community orchards in the city of Philadelphia. This chat features a chat with Kim Jordan who has been with POP since its founding. In 2019, she became a full time employee of … Read more

Booker T. Washington and son picking strawberries, used with permission for Jones Library

227: The Color of Cider

The Color of Cider provides a snap shot of early practices used to deter black farmers from gaining true equality and the difficulties facing African Americans today who may view farming as a step back to the plantation. We begin this episode with a quote from Booker T. Washington who born into slavery on April … Read more

226 Northern Spy feature

226: Northern Spy and the Underground Railroad

Stories in Ciderville on the Northern Spy Northern Spy is a short story that weaves the tale of the early grafting of the apple known as the Northern Spy, Quaker values, and the Underground Railroad. Read and written by Ryan Monkman, for the new Cider Chat segment titled “Stories in Ciderville”. For additional reading and … Read more

225: Terroir Spotlight | western Massachusetts

New England was the Plymouth Rock of cider in the US for the colonist and western Massachusetts is the launch pad of the modern day US cider market. It was here in 1984 that West County Cider and The Maloney family rekindled America’s love affair with cider. Thirty Six years forward to 2020, provides a … Read more

Ask Ryan pt 4 feature photo episode 224 Cider Chat

224: Ask Ryan | Quarantine Quad Series, Part 4

What is Flor aka Film Yeast and can the cider be saved? It’s all in Part 4 of the Quarantine Quad Series called “Ask Ryan” with Ryan Monkman of FieldBird Cider, Ontario Canada answering questions from Cider Chat listeners. Plus, Why are FieldBird Ciders so wine like and “How did Ryan get into cider?” Listen Part … Read more

Pt 3 Ask Ryan Feature

223: Ask Ryan | Quarantine Quad Series, Part 3

Discover two cidermaking techniques that are also used in winemaking, called Maderisation and Bâtonnage. We delve into both of these topics in Part 3 of the Quarantine Quad Series called “Ask Ryan” with Ryan Monkman of FieldBird Cider, Ontario Canada answering questions from Cider Chat listeners. Maderisation: What is this technique and can it be used with cider? Bâtonnage: … Read more

Cider Chat 222 feature ryan monkman

222: Ask Ryan | Quarantine Quad Series | Part 2

Part 2 of the Quarantine Quad Series called “Ask Ryan” continues with Ryan Monkman of FieldBird Cider, Ontario Canada answering questions from Cider Chat listeners. Listen Part 1 of the Quarantine Quad Series Ryan addresses: Stacking Oak Barrels At FieldBird they call climbing up stacked barrels: Monkey climbing, where they uses e barrels as a ladder. Managing … Read more

Ask Ryan - Part 1

221: Ask Ryan | Quarantine Quad Pt 1 | Q&A

“Ask Ryan” features Ryan Monkman of FieldBird Cider, Ontario Canada answering questions from Cider Chat listeners. Ryan expertise with oak barrel ferments and oak barrels in general inspired this 4 part series. The fact that he also makes mighty fine cider and perry is also a factor. Ryan has been featured in the following Cider … Read more