Stewards of the land

Many farm-based cideries are certified organic, most partner with beekeeping collectives to foster productive hives and all hand-pick every apple off the tree or ground, making the most of every harvest.

LOST ORCHARD PROJECT

Mark and Courtney Skinner of Windswept Cider are on a mission to save the “lost orchards” around Meaford, Ont. Their Lost Orchard Cider, available in LCBO stores this past summer, is made by picking apples from wild heirloom orchards that would otherwise be left to decompose.

SPIRIT TREE

This picturesque Caledon, Ont., cidery is one of the greenest beverage producers in the country.

Its straw-bale construction requires half the energy of a traditional home to heat and cool (all done by renewable geothermal energy), and wildflowers and long grass grow between the apple trees, making for bumblebee-friendly orchards.

GEOTHERMAL GOODNESS

Spy’s farm and ciderhouse in the Blue Mountains, Ont., are certified organic. Plus, the facility is heated by geothermal power, which draws out natural heat stored deep in the earth, keeping the tanks at a chilly -1°C, making for a clean, crisp cider.