Up early and drove to Poverty Lane Orchard/ Farnum Hill Cider in Lebanon, NH to join up with the College of the Atlantic apple class. The owner, Steve Wood, has been incredibly generous with his time over the years to me, Fedco Trees, the “COA” apple class and hundreds (or thousands) of others. It’s hard to imagine the apple cider renaissance without Steve’s inspiration and immeasurable contributions.

After the students headed off to their next stop, I sat and chatted with Steve and then visited my favorite apple spot at Poverty Lane — the“Two Below” orchard where he topworked several dozen unusual cider, dessert and culinary cultivars many years ago. It’s like a library of apples you’re unlikely to see almost anywhere else and a wonderful place to wander, taste and learn. And dream. Later in the day I rejoined the apple class in Vermont for a tour of a beautiful old orchard of huge “standard” trees.