Fall into fun

Nestled in a scene of gold and orange foliage are dozens of acres of seasonal fun. Orchards for apple picking, hayrides and a pick-your-own pumpkin patch are all offered at Apple Works, a family-owned farm located in Trafalgar, Ind. \nThough Trafalgar is small, Apple Works is not. \nIn 18 years, it has grown into a 70-acre farm with more than 7,000 trees that grow 50 varieties of apples. \nWhile an unlikely location for a day trip for Bloomington residents, the orchard sees thousands of visitors each year for fresh seasonal fruits, vegetables and holiday decorations, said owner Sarah Brown. \n“We have a lot of regulars, and we’re always getting new people, too,” Brown said. “Friends bring friends, and a lot of out-of-town visitors come for something to do.”\nSeptember and October, Brown said, are easily the busiest months of the year. \nInside the orchard’s country store are bakery-made apple pies, an entire room devoted to seasonal decorations and warm apple cider that literally flows from a tap on the wall. Apple cider slushies are even available for hot autumn days. \nOutside, there is a pumpkin patch where customers can pick their own pumpkins off the vine, a bamboo maze, a super slide, the Apple Express train and a petting zoo. Hayride tours of the property can be arranged by appointment. \nWallace Jeffs, one of the tractor tour guides, said his favorite part of his job is being able to be outdoors all day, as well as working with children.\nThe orchard offers field trips for more than 8,000 kids between Labor Day and October. Field trips offer educational opportunities for students to learn about bees, honey-making and, of course, apples. \nDuring the tractor-pulled wagon tours, students learn about pollination. Before lunch, students learn about honey bees and the process of making honey while observing a live beehive.\nBrown and her husband Rick opened Apple Works in 1989 as a small apple orchard. Sarah Brown discovered after opening her own orchard that her grandmother had also owned apple orchards. \n“I guess it must be in the blood somewhere,” she said. \nMany of the orchard’s visitors are return customers.\n“We come here two or three times during the season,” said Sandy Gaunt of Greenwood. “The staff is just always so friendly and helpful.” \nWhile employees at the orchard love seeing new faces “we always are happy to see our old tried-and-true customers,” Sarah Brown said. “They’re like family to us.” \nWhile striving for quality and a family environment, the Browns maintain a welcoming atmosphere. \n“We just consider ourselves a big community orchard,” she said. \nAlthough the Apple Works is not necessarily a part of the Bloomington community, some residents would find that the 40-minute drive is definitely worth the trip.