DIY (“do it yourself”) doesn’t only apply to home repairs. Picking fresh fruits and vegetables not far from your home is a hands-on activity everyone from the smallest to the tallest can enjoy.

The 810Kids! team has assembled an orchard guide and a few tips to help turn outings that bring nutrition into your household into memorable experiences your family will treasure.

Call ahead to the location where you plan to enjoy your outing. Ask about hours for picking, and guidelines on what you might need to know.

Dress for the outdoors, including comfortable clothes that can get messy, plus hats, sunscreen and sunglasses.Pack wet wipes or similar hand cleaner – juicy fruits can make a mess.Plan on making the outing short and memorable for children, not so long that it feels like a chore.

Do a little research. Guidelines about ripe apples and their appearance can be explored online and shared with children, so they know what’s good for picking.

Ask the staff at your chosen location about any helpful hints you and the children might need to know.

U-PICK RASPBERRIES, PLUMS & APPLES

Spicer Orchards

10411 Clyde Rd.

Fenton, MI 48430

810-632-7692

The entire family will enjoy picking raspberries, plums and apples at Spicer Orchard.

There will be lots of varieties of apples available to harvest this fall from MacIntosh,

Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Empire and Northern Spy to Ida Red and others.

Hours: Picking daily 9 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; Farm market daily 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Payment: Cash, check or credit card

Picking season: Raspberries (now until mid-Sept.), blue plums (Sept.) apples (Sept.

through Oct.)

Learn more: spicerorchards.com

APPLES

Almar Orchards & Cidery

1431 Duffield Rd.

Flushing, MI 48433

810-620-8114

This 500-acre family-owned farm sells more than 30 varieties of organic apples. Kids

love the orchard’s farm animals, playground and picnic area. If you ask, the staff will

point out the orchards’ bee hives and give visitors an insider’s look at how honey is

made. Enjoy a cup of the orchard’s famous cider before you head home.

Hours: Mon. – Sat. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun. Noon to 5 p.m.

Payment: Cash, check or credit card

Picking: Apples for sale (Sept. through Oct). No picking available.

Learn more: facebook.com/AlmarOrchardsOrganic

Diehl’s Orchard & Cider Mill

1479 Ranch Rd.

Holly, MI 48442

248-634-8981

This fourth-generation, family-owned orchard sells nearly 20 varieties of apples and has

plenty of free activities to keep the kids engaged for hours. Families love the playscape,

hay pile, kiddie maze, bird coop and the pond, which always has plenty of friendly

ducks. In mid-September, they also have a corn maze ($5 per person, kids under 5

FREE) and hayrides (weekends only; $3 per person, kids under 3 FREE).

Hours: Open daily; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Payment: Cash, check or credit card

Picking: Apples for sale (Aug. 15 through Oct.); No picking available.

Learn more: diehlsorchard.com

Mueller’s Orchard &Cider Mill

6036 Lobdell Rd.

Linden, MI 48451

810-735-7676

Families love Mueller’s Orchards’ apples and cider. The free farm playground and straw

bale maze will entertain your kids for hours. Don’t leave without a visit to Owen’s

Barnyard, filled with friendly animals that just love to be petted.

Hours: Open daily 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Payment: Cash, check or credit card

Picking season: Apples for sale and U-Pick. (mid- Sept. – Oct.)

Learn more: muellersorchard.com

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