- Trails are open 24/7 at no charge. Enjoy a Winnie-the-Pooh themed TRAIL TALES Storybook Walk.
What’s Happening: Apple Harvest
Long before Crossroads at Big Creek became an environmental preserve—or even the “school forest”—this land was an apple orchard. The tradition of growing fruit here dates back more than a century. According to the descendants of Hans and Bertha Hanson, after Hans died, his son foresaw the rise of orchards in Door County. Acting on that vision, Hans Jr. sold their property, and the family moved to Daggett, Michigan.
That foresight proved accurate. The land was sold to Moulton Goff in 1919 and became part of the Guern-Weal Farm Corporation—an enterprise that included what is now the Big Creek Preserve, as well as land stretching from the current YMCA all the way to the Fairgrounds. Though cherries, Christmas trees, rye, and alfalfa were also cultivated, the name “Guern-Weal” reveals the farm’s primary focus: Guernsey cows and Wealthy apples.
In those early years, most of the orchard work was done with hand tools, and those Wealthy apples were processed without the benefit of electricity.
So how did those hand tools of the apple harvest work? The answer takes us back to grade school science: simple machines. These six basic devices change the direction or force of effort, making it easier to do work.
On Saturday, September 20, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, for our weekly Science Saturday program, Crossroads is teaming up with the interpreters from the Madden Tool Museum to present The Simple Machines of Apple Harvest. Visitors can enjoy hands-on demonstrations and activities at the Madden Tool Museum, just across the trail from the Collins Learning Center.
From peeling apples and making applesauce to driving nails, the hard work of harvest was made easier by simple machines. The Madden Tool Museum houses an extensive collection of antique apple peelers—each different, each an ingenious combination of simple machines.
The crank is an example of a wheel and axle, with rotating gears attached to the spindle that holds the apple, transferring both motion and speed. Many peelers use a threaded screw shaft to move the apple steadily toward the blade. The blade arm acts as a lever, and the blade itself is a wedge—just like the blade of any knife or axe.
Visitors of all ages will be able to use some of these tools during the program.
Other family programs this week include Environmental Explorations, an afterschool program featuring a field study of the surprising life hidden in fallen logs, and Junior Nature Club, our Wednesday program for children ages 3–5 with an adult companion, during which participants will explore shapes in nature.
As always, our trails are open every day, free of charge, and all programs this week are offered at no cost thanks to the generosity of our donors. So, whether you are interested in local history, science education, and just looking for a wonderful outdoor experience, join us at Crossroads this week.
– by Coggin Heeringa, Interpretive Naturalist
For more information, please check out our Crossroads calendar or stop by the Collins Learning Center and pick up a printed calendar. Our trails are open all day every day, free of charge, thanks to donors like you!
Crossroads at Big Creek Learning Center and Nature Preserve is located at 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay. Crossroads is a 501(c)(3) organization committed to inspiring stewardship of the environment through education, research, and outdoor experiences. We welcome your support.
Upcoming Activities
