Students at Camphill School Aberdeen have been bearing the fruit of a project that began last year.

On a crisp September morning at Camphill School Aberdeen, baskets of apples begin to fill the garden paths. Along the walls, trained espalier trees hang heavy with fruit ready to be harvested. It is the start of a well-loved tradition as the students come together for the Michaelmas harvest festival.

The festival is a long-standing tradition at Camphill. As part of the celebrations, students come together for the apple harvest, even those not usually based in the garden. The harvest reflects Camphill’s emphasis on shared work, seasonal rhythms, and community with staff and young people working side by side.

Last year, the harvest led to something new. A small apple juice project, coordinated by Garden Workshop Leader Katherine Noble, gave the students the chance to follow the apples beyond the garden gate.

After discovering Elgin’s Orchard and its apple-pressing facilities while working in Moray in 2023, Katherine found a way to bring the students’ harvest one step further. This time, apples grown in Camphill’s Murtle garden were pressed into 274 bottles of organic apple juice.

Back at Camphill, the project began to take shape. Students in the Art Room designed the bottle labels, while others worked at Murtle Market, the school’s social enterprise café and shop, proudly selling the apple juice to customers.

Katherine Noble, who has worked in horticulture for 12 years, said the project highlighted the value of hands-on learning “The garden is a therapeutic space where students can connect with nature, build skills and see the results of their work. It was rewarding to see the pride students felt when the apple juice sold out.”

From the first apples picked in September to the final bottles sold, students were involved at every stage. Along the way, they gained practical skills and developed confidence, while seeing how Camphill’s workshops connect in a hands-on and meaningful way.

With hopes that the project will return next year, the apple juice has already earned its place as a memorable project by Camphill School Aberdeen.

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