The summertime goodness of apples squeezed into a golden nectar could be the secret to Wally Gustafson’s long, healthy life. At 90 years of age - actually 90½ - it’s hard to dispute that daily consumption of a glass of hand-pressed juice from home-grown apples could be the elixir of life. “They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” said Gustafson, an attorney and World War II veteran who was on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2, 1945, and witnessed the Japanese surrender.
Gustafson grows about 35 different varieties of apples on his wooded, hilly land near New London. Growing apples is a hobby that was borne from his own childhood and watching his father buy at least two apple trees every spring from a traveling salesman. “Of course after 10, 15 and 20 years we had quite an orchard,” he said. When he was a boy, Gustafson said he carried water by hand to nurture the young trees, which eventually grew into a mature orchard. “I’ve always been around apple trees,” Gustafson said. “It’s a hobby and it’s a lot of fun.” [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2033814","attributes":{"alt":"These Boy Scouts from Troop 228 in New London squeeze juice at the orchard. CAROLYN LANGE | TRIBUNE","class":"media-image","height":"330","title":"","width":"480"}}]]Raising apples is something Gustafson encourages others to try. “I’m just surprised more people in rural areas don’t have an apple orchard,” he said. While acknowledging young apple trees need to be watered, fertilized and surrounded by a good fence to keep out deer, Gustafson said a mature apple orchard isn’t difficult to maintain and provides bushels of good eating and drinking. For about 25 years Gustafson has owned a wooden apple press which he uses to squeeze gallons of juice each fall. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2033817","attributes":{"alt":"Growing apples has been a lifelong hobby for Wally Gustafson. CAROLYN LANGE | TRIBUNE","class":"media-image","height":"326","title":"","width":"480"}}]]He freezes jugs of juice that he then thaws and drinks all year long. On Monday, Boy Scouts from Troop 228 of New London picked a truckload of apples from trees down the road at Gustafson’s neighbor’s and hauled them to Gustafson’s press for an event that’s become a popular tradition with the troop and Gustafson. In a labor-intensive process that went well into the evening, the boys pressed more than 30 gallons of cider, with each family taking home a gallon of the sweet, pulpy juice. With his land in a Minnesota land trust - which means it can never be developed but will always be preserved for plants and wildlife - and exposing Boy Scouts to the art of raising apples and making juice, Gustafson has planted the seeds for new apple orchards for the future.The summertime goodness of apples squeezed into a golden nectar could be the secret to Wally Gustafson’s long, healthy life. At 90 years of age - actually 90½ - it’s hard to dispute that daily consumption of a glass of hand-pressed juice from home-grown apples could be the elixir of life. “They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” said Gustafson, an attorney and World War II veteran who was on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2, 1945, and witnessed the Japanese surrender. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2033811","attributes":{"alt":"Wally Gustafson grows some 35 different varieties of apples at his orchard. CAROLYN LANGE | TRIBUNE","class":"media-image","height":"330","title":"","width":"480"}}]]Gustafson grows about 35 different varieties of apples on his wooded, hilly land near New London. Growing apples is a hobby that was borne from his own childhood and watching his father buy at least two apple trees every spring from a traveling salesman. “Of course after 10, 15 and 20 years we had quite an orchard,” he said. When he was a boy, Gustafson said he carried water by hand to nurture the young trees, which eventually grew into a mature orchard. “I’ve always been around apple trees,” Gustafson said. “It’s a hobby and it’s a lot of fun.”
Raising apples is something Gustafson encourages others to try. “I’m just surprised more people in rural areas don’t have an apple orchard,” he said. While acknowledging young apple trees need to be watered, fertilized and surrounded by a good fence to keep out deer, Gustafson said a mature apple orchard isn’t difficult to maintain and provides bushels of good eating and drinking. For about 25 years Gustafson has owned a wooden apple press which he uses to squeeze gallons of juice each fall. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2033817","attributes":{"alt":"Growing apples has been a lifelong hobby for Wally Gustafson. CAROLYN LANGE | TRIBUNE","class":"media-image","height":"326","title":"","width":"480"}}]]He freezes jugs of juice that he then thaws and drinks all year long. On Monday, Boy Scouts from Troop 228 of New London picked a truckload of apples from trees down the road at Gustafson’s neighbor’s and hauled them to Gustafson’s press for an event that’s become a popular tradition with the troop and Gustafson. In a labor-intensive process that went well into the evening, the boys pressed more than 30 gallons of cider, with each family taking home a gallon of the sweet, pulpy juice. With his land in a Minnesota land trust - which means it can never be developed but will always be preserved for plants and wildlife - and exposing Boy Scouts to the art of raising apples and making juice, Gustafson has planted the seeds for new apple orchards for the future.The summertime goodness of apples squeezed into a golden nectar could be the secret to Wally Gustafson’s long, healthy life. At 90 years of age - actually 90½ - it’s hard to dispute that daily consumption of a glass of hand-pressed juice from home-grown apples could be the elixir of life. “They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” said Gustafson, an attorney and World War II veteran who was on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2, 1945, and witnessed the Japanese surrender. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2033811","attributes":{"alt":"Wally Gustafson grows some 35 different varieties of apples at his orchard. CAROLYN LANGE | TRIBUNE","class":"media-image","height":"330","title":"","width":"480"}}]]Gustafson grows about 35 different varieties of apples on his wooded, hilly land near New London. Growing apples is a hobby that was borne from his own childhood and watching his father buy at least two apple trees every spring from a traveling salesman. “Of course after 10, 15 and 20 years we had quite an orchard,” he said. When he was a boy, Gustafson said he carried water by hand to nurture the young trees, which eventually grew into a mature orchard. “I’ve always been around apple trees,” Gustafson said. “It’s a hobby and it’s a lot of fun.” [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2033814","attributes":{"alt":"These Boy Scouts from Troop 228 in New London squeeze juice at the orchard. CAROLYN LANGE | TRIBUNE","class":"media-image","height":"330","title":"","width":"480"}}]]Raising apples is something Gustafson encourages others to try. “I’m just surprised more people in rural areas don’t have an apple orchard,” he said. While acknowledging young apple trees need to be watered, fertilized and surrounded by a good fence to keep out deer, Gustafson said a mature apple orchard isn’t difficult to maintain and provides bushels of good eating and drinking. For about 25 years Gustafson has owned a wooden apple press which he uses to squeeze gallons of juice each fall.
He freezes jugs of juice that he then thaws and drinks all year long. On Monday, Boy Scouts from Troop 228 of New London picked a truckload of apples from trees down the road at Gustafson’s neighbor’s and hauled them to Gustafson’s press for an event that’s become a popular tradition with the troop and Gustafson. In a labor-intensive process that went well into the evening, the boys pressed more than 30 gallons of cider, with each family taking home a gallon of the sweet, pulpy juice. With his land in a Minnesota land trust - which means it can never be developed but will always be preserved for plants and wildlife - and exposing Boy Scouts to the art of raising apples and making juice, Gustafson has planted the seeds for new apple orchards for the future.The summertime goodness of apples squeezed into a golden nectar could be the secret to Wally Gustafson’s long, healthy life.At 90 years of age - actually 90½ - it’s hard to dispute that daily consumption of a glass of hand-pressed juice from home-grown apples could be the elixir of life.“They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” said Gustafson, an attorney and World War II veteran who was on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2, 1945, and witnessed the Japanese surrender.
Gustafson grows about 35 different varieties of apples on his wooded, hilly land near New London.Growing apples is a hobby that was borne from his own childhood and watching his father buy at least two apple trees every spring from a traveling salesman.“Of course after 10, 15 and 20 years we had quite an orchard,” he said.When he was a boy, Gustafson said he carried water by hand to nurture the young trees, which eventually grew into a mature orchard.“I’ve always been around apple trees,” Gustafson said. “It’s a hobby and it’s a lot of fun.”[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2033814","attributes":{"alt":"These Boy Scouts from Troop 228 in New London squeeze juice at the orchard. CAROLYN LANGE | TRIBUNE","class":"media-image","height":"330","title":"","width":"480"}}]]Raising apples is something Gustafson encourages others to try.“I’m just surprised more people in rural areas don’t have an apple orchard,” he said.While acknowledging young apple trees need to be watered, fertilized and surrounded by a good fence to keep out deer, Gustafson said a mature apple orchard isn’t difficult to maintain and provides bushels of good eating and drinking.For about 25 years Gustafson has owned a wooden apple press which he uses to squeeze gallons of juice each fall.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2033817","attributes":{"alt":"Growing apples has been a lifelong hobby for Wally Gustafson. CAROLYN LANGE | TRIBUNE","class":"media-image","height":"326","title":"","width":"480"}}]]He freezes jugs of juice that he then thaws and drinks all year long.On Monday, Boy Scouts from Troop 228 of New London picked a truckload of apples from trees down the road at Gustafson’s neighbor’s and hauled them to Gustafson’s press for an event that’s become a popular tradition with the troop and Gustafson.In a labor-intensive process that went well into the evening, the boys pressed more than 30 gallons of cider, with each family taking home a gallon of the sweet, pulpy juice.With his land in a Minnesota land trust - which means it can never be developed but will always be preserved for plants and wildlife - and exposing Boy Scouts to the art of raising apples and making juice, Gustafson has planted the seeds for new apple orchards for the future.The summertime goodness of apples squeezed into a golden nectar could be the secret to Wally Gustafson’s long, healthy life.At 90 years of age - actually 90½ - it’s hard to dispute that daily consumption of a glass of hand-pressed juice from home-grown apples could be the elixir of life.“They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” said Gustafson, an attorney and World War II veteran who was on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2, 1945, and witnessed the Japanese surrender.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2033811","attributes":{"alt":"Wally Gustafson grows some 35 different varieties of apples at his orchard. CAROLYN LANGE | TRIBUNE","class":"media-image","height":"330","title":"","width":"480"}}]]Gustafson grows about 35 different varieties of apples on his wooded, hilly land near New London.Growing apples is a hobby that was borne from his own childhood and watching his father buy at least two apple trees every spring from a traveling salesman.“Of course after 10, 15 and 20 years we had quite an orchard,” he said.When he was a boy, Gustafson said he carried water by hand to nurture the young trees, which eventually grew into a mature orchard.“I’ve always been around apple trees,” Gustafson said. “It’s a hobby and it’s a lot of fun.”
Raising apples is something Gustafson encourages others to try.“I’m just surprised more people in rural areas don’t have an apple orchard,” he said.While acknowledging young apple trees need to be watered, fertilized and surrounded by a good fence to keep out deer, Gustafson said a mature apple orchard isn’t difficult to maintain and provides bushels of good eating and drinking.For about 25 years Gustafson has owned a wooden apple press which he uses to squeeze gallons of juice each fall.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2033817","attributes":{"alt":"Growing apples has been a lifelong hobby for Wally Gustafson. CAROLYN LANGE | TRIBUNE","class":"media-image","height":"326","title":"","width":"480"}}]]He freezes jugs of juice that he then thaws and drinks all year long.On Monday, Boy Scouts from Troop 228 of New London picked a truckload of apples from trees down the road at Gustafson’s neighbor’s and hauled them to Gustafson’s press for an event that’s become a popular tradition with the troop and Gustafson.In a labor-intensive process that went well into the evening, the boys pressed more than 30 gallons of cider, with each family taking home a gallon of the sweet, pulpy juice.With his land in a Minnesota land trust - which means it can never be developed but will always be preserved for plants and wildlife - and exposing Boy Scouts to the art of raising apples and making juice, Gustafson has planted the seeds for new apple orchards for the future.The summertime goodness of apples squeezed into a golden nectar could be the secret to Wally Gustafson’s long, healthy life.At 90 years of age - actually 90½ - it’s hard to dispute that daily consumption of a glass of hand-pressed juice from home-grown apples could be the elixir of life.“They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” said Gustafson, an attorney and World War II veteran who was on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2, 1945, and witnessed the Japanese surrender.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2033811","attributes":{"alt":"Wally Gustafson grows some 35 different varieties of apples at his orchard. CAROLYN LANGE | TRIBUNE","class":"media-image","height":"330","title":"","width":"480"}}]]Gustafson grows about 35 different varieties of apples on his wooded, hilly land near New London.Growing apples is a hobby that was borne from his own childhood and watching his father buy at least two apple trees every spring from a traveling salesman.“Of course after 10, 15 and 20 years we had quite an orchard,” he said.When he was a boy, Gustafson said he carried water by hand to nurture the young trees, which eventually grew into a mature orchard.“I’ve always been around apple trees,” Gustafson said. “It’s a hobby and it’s a lot of fun.”[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2033814","attributes":{"alt":"These Boy Scouts from Troop 228 in New London squeeze juice at the orchard. CAROLYN LANGE | TRIBUNE","class":"media-image","height":"330","title":"","width":"480"}}]]Raising apples is something Gustafson encourages others to try.“I’m just surprised more people in rural areas don’t have an apple orchard,” he said.While acknowledging young apple trees need to be watered, fertilized and surrounded by a good fence to keep out deer, Gustafson said a mature apple orchard isn’t difficult to maintain and provides bushels of good eating and drinking.For about 25 years Gustafson has owned a wooden apple press which he uses to squeeze gallons of juice each fall.
He freezes jugs of juice that he then thaws and drinks all year long.On Monday, Boy Scouts from Troop 228 of New London picked a truckload of apples from trees down the road at Gustafson’s neighbor’s and hauled them to Gustafson’s press for an event that’s become a popular tradition with the troop and Gustafson.In a labor-intensive process that went well into the evening, the boys pressed more than 30 gallons of cider, with each family taking home a gallon of the sweet, pulpy juice.With his land in a Minnesota land trust - which means it can never be developed but will always be preserved for plants and wildlife - and exposing Boy Scouts to the art of raising apples and making juice, Gustafson has planted the seeds for new apple orchards for the future.
