Grandpa had an apple tree that produced hundreds of big beautiful red apples. Papa had dug several right good-sized holes in the garden where we stored apples. One of those holes was for our special Christmas apples, the very best that came from Grandpa’s tree. Each year Papa would put a fresh layer of straw in the bottom of each hole and then place a layer of apples on top of it. Then he added more straw and covered that with boards and then a layer of dirt. He would continue with straw, then apples, more straw, boards and then dirt until the hole was full. He would cover the top of the hole by putting a piece of sod on the top board and we would mark it by sticking a wooden stake in the ground next to the hole. We never opened the hole with the very special apples until Christmas time, but we could eat apples that were stored in other holes anytime Mama would let us. We stored potatoes the same way. We used boards as covers for about everything. Papa and Grandpa would make them out of an oak log, splitting them into boards with a froe. The froe was a very important tool. They used it for splitting shingles, splitting oak logs for wheel spokes, splitting wood for chair legs, and so on.
Letters to Lori – The Family History and Stories of Opal Corn Myers written by Barbara League
Today’s Thankful November giveaway is a copy of Letters to Lori The Family History and Stories of Opal Corn Myers written by Barbara League. To be entered in the giveaway leave a comment on this post. Giveaway ends November 24, 2025. You can hear me reading the book here.
Last night’s video: Forgotten Wisdom, Old Sayings & Words of Old Appalachia.
Tipper
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My great grandmother had a family apple orchard . I remember then trees being there but now they have all died and it’s overgrown, but you will find a few wild trees now and then
I never heard of this way of storing apples…and for Christmas! How interesting!
My Aunt Eldean used to iron for her grandmother who was nearly bedridden from arthritis. She said that when she ironed sheets for her grandmother she would fold them and put them in the cedar chest where grandmother also stored paper-wrapped apples. Eldean said she loved the apple and cedar scented sheets at her grandmother’s house.
Lately, I’ve been wanting to learn to make fried apple and peach pies like my grandmother made. I’ve had the hardest time finding dried apples and peaches. They used to be at just about every grocery store. Looks like I’ll have to learn to dry fruit too!
I always love reading or hearing about the old days and old ways things were done in the mountains. Would love this book. Have a blessed day, everyone!
Tipper, I hope you and the family have a wonderful Thanksgiving. continued prayers for Granny and all of you.
I really enjoyed this book. At the farm where I grew up, there was a storage area under the shop that we called “the cave”. It had a rounded cement ceiling and dirt floor. We stored potatoes and fruit there.
We need these stories, to keep the past alive. We’re losing the older ones at such a rate. I’ve had friends lose a dad and a grandma in the past 2 days, and my dad is going on hospice this week. If we lose the stories, we lose the history of the regular people. It’s been on my mind lately.
Annie, I’m sorry for the losses and your daddy’s sickness. I’ll be praying for you all!
I heard a lot of stories about keeping fruits and vegetables in the holes, I think if they had room in a barn that’s where they dug the holes, always wanted to try it myself but here where we live you couldn’t get a hole that big and deep because of the rocks.
My Daddy’s mom had 5 apple trees. The first 4 closest to the house product sort of smallish red apples that had som green mixed in. She made fried apples, pies, and some jelly from those…so good. I felt like it was a feast when we had her fried apples and cat-head biscuits! The 5th tree was larger yellow apples; they were sweet but soft. I liked an apple that crunched. Great memories of sitting in those trees with my sister, looking down their long driveway to see who was coming.♥️
Love this book!!
So neat to read about the old ways of preserving food.
I’m always amazed by the way our ancestors preserved food. Learning something new all the time. I remember my Dad storing cabbage in the ground. Was told My Granny would sulfur apples but I never saw her do that. Would be interesting to get the recipe.
Sounds like alot of work with all that hole digging and layering but I’m sure it was well worth it to have apples and taters!
So thankful for the stories of days gone by ! Praying for all !
I love hearing about how folks preserved food before refrigeration. Makes me thankful to not have to dig a hole anytime I want to eat an apple!
Living in Louisiana I have had to accept the fact that I can’t really grow apples down here. There are a few varieties that they say will grow in the South but I haven’t tried those just yet.
I Love hearing excerpts from the book again. it makes me happy!
Love hearing of the old ways of food preservation. Would love to read the book about Opal’s life!
Interesting. Definitely apple country
Apples don’t grow well down here in coastal MS, but we love them just the same. I always look for new varieties at the grocery stores. I found one I’ve never seen before at Aldi called the “honey bee” apple. I’m making my mother’s Apple Dapple cake for Thanksgiving, a family favorite!!. Your Apple stack cake looks so delicious; I need to try that one
so thankful for the modern preservation of foods……
What a life Opal must have led. Tipper, this is totally off the subject, but I was just looking at the photos of Granny in this blog. The first time I saw her was when she was singing with Paul. My jaw just dropped because she looks so much like my mother. To this day, I still think so. Pretty, inside and out. Y’all are so blessed to have her and I’m always hoping she feels well enough to crochet.
Kourtni, praying for you❤️
So many good books that you have read to us. This one letters to Lori was one of my favorites.
It’s interesting how the older folks stored their apples and vegetables for the winter. Most of us are too wasteful now that everything is readily available. I love hearing your words of wisdom and I have a lot of old sayings that get a chuckle from my grandchildren and great grandchildren !
Have a great day and I’m joining you in wishing for snow! Sending love and hugs❣️
i can only type with one hand, hurt other one in a brace but it will be o.k. just praying for you kourtni, for our lord and saviour to remove that pain and heal you. his words are true, he will never ever leave or forsake you. he is right there with you and you can talk to him anytime.
i would really enjoy reading that book, tipper.
Dee, praying for your hand to heal 🙂
I guess storing the apples as described in the story would be similar to storing them in a cellar? Around here the critters would be digging them up and making a feast out of them!
Apples are always so good this time of year. We always got apples in our stocking along with an orange, a peppermint stick and a few nuts. Church was the same. After the Christmas program, we received an apple, orange and a candy cane. My son was visiting yesterday and mentioned how much he missed his Grandmama’s applesauce cake. She never wrote down how she made it, but it was delicious! It was a simple cake with no icing, made in a glass 9×13 glass dish. I’ve never been able to make it like she did.
Gloria, my momma always made an applesauce cake. It was my uncle’s favorite so she made it for him at our reunions. So good!
Good morning Tipper and your fans!! I don’t know any other mail that comes into my e mail account, or videos on my U Tube account that I love as much as I do yours, Tipper! I know when I read my mail it’s going to be interesting, and I’m no doubt going to learn something, same as if I’m watching a video of yours. What a blessing you are to all your fans! I’m hoping God showers us all with His blessings and I hope Granny is covered in them as if she were standing outside on a very snowy day and the snow flakes just cling to her!!
My Daddy would store sweet potatoes in the ground. He used straw too. He called it “banking” the potatoes. Mama would go out there and get some to bake in the wood cooking stove. Sometimes she would bake them in ashes at front of fireplace. We would sit there watching, so excited. The weather was colder back then from September on, and they didn’t go bad. Great memories from my Mississippi home, the Roebuck place.
Trying once again for a copy of this wonderful, wonderful book. Wishing you all a Blessed Thanksgiving!
we never stored apples this way–we wrapped pears with newspaper and laid them out in the cellar but I guess we canned all our apples or made applesauce and applebutter. My paternal grandpa had lots of apples and pear trees and two cherry trees (one was easy for a five year old me to climb and get comfortable and fall asleep in after eating my fill of those deliciously sweet cherries)
continually praying for Granny and your family, you are so kind to continue to post blogs and videos when I know you would rather be spending every waking moment with your mama.
It seems that throughout history, farmers were able to store their fruits, vegetables, and meats in ways to preserve them. Letters to Lori is an interesting example of storing their best apples for Christmas. Tipper, your posts and videos have made a lasting impression on my life in a wonderful way. May God continue to bless you, Matt, and your sweet family. Sincere prayers for Granny.
The title of this post had my interest piqued before I ever read it. Apples and Christmas just go together for me. I plan to use my frozen and canned apples to make many desserts throughout the winter…especially at Christmas. My dad used to dig a hole on one end of the garden and bury potatoes for eating all year. He somehow created a mound of soil on top and made an opening to get them out. Mama always canned her apples and applesauce. We have a friend who buried an old chest freezer and filled it with potatoes for winter. He says it works great. Hubby always wants to build a cellar, but we haven’t tackled it yet. Have a great day everyone.
I remember the local church had a large kitchen that several ladies would use for canning. The only school in our area had two rooms for classes with a room for our coats and lunches. There was a water fountain and sink in a hallway. Out houses served our other needs.
That is an interesting story. I have never heard of a froe. I love apples of all kinds. My latest obsession is the opal apple. It is yellow and sweet.
Froe? I will have to look that up. It certainly does sound like an important tool.
I have Grandpa’s wheat scythe and at one time I had his wire stretchers, cant hook and froe as well as his shoe lasts. I don’t know where or when those disappeared. I guess I’ve moved too many times. No one in my family even remembers seeing them. It seems the old tools, etc. don’t mean as much to them. I grew up seeing him use them. They didn’t. Maybe that’s the difference.
I wonder what Grandpa would think of the variety of apples in a supermarket these days. Praying peace and healing prayers over Kourtni, and the medical team taking care of her. Hang in there, Jesus hears you.
Mom hid apples in the loft because she had ten siblings, not to mention the grandkids Mammy raised, who would have devoured them before Christmas. I often think about how hard she worked all of her life to provide special gifts for everyone but herself. My parent would ‘hole up’ taters in the ground for winter use.
Kourtni, I prayed for you as soon as I read your message. God bless you!
What a great way to keep your bounty fresh before modern conveniences. Where there’s a will there’s a way!
Where there’s a will there’s a way! I am constantly amazed at the ingenious methods of preserving food!
We wrapped good apples in newspaper and packed them in boxes. We placed those boxes in the basement for later in the Winter. Those with bruises or bad spots were canned – apple butter and apple sauce usually. Sweet and Irish potatoes were put in a hole like this description under the floor of the feed/tack room in the barn. Grandpa and Grandma had the smoke house jutting out over the side of a hill with a cellar under about half of it for apples, potatoes and canned fruit and vegetables. A few apples were stored under the stair well for quick access. Kraut, pickled beans and corn were kept in crocks with a cloth cover in a corner of the pantry. It amazes me how many detailed memories you stir up.
My wife’s favorite apple was Granny Smith until she found Honey Crisp. Mine is Yellow Delicious followed closely by Red Delicious.
We always got an apple and an orange every Christmas in our stocking. We also got pennies, one for every year of our age. The church gave out pokes with a peppermint stick, a bar of chocolate, 5 pennies and an apple and an orange. I loved getting the fresh fruit the most and often traded my candy for them. My pennies were saved and comic books were bought.
My maternal grandparents sometimes had root cellars and spring houses. My in-laws had a huge root cellar. We kept an acre of potatoes and more than 300 cans of food in there. The apples were kept in barrels in the barn with straw between the layers. Every fall we went to Shady Valley, TN (it is in our county up here in NE TN) to the apple orchard and filled empty feed sacks with Rome, McIntosh, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Winesap and Granny Smith apples. They each had a different keeping length and were bagged then stored separately. We hand Lodi, Virginia Beauty and a couple of other apple trees at the house for fresh eating. We hap peaches, pears and several kinds of cherries and grape vines. We had chickens, milk cows, pigs, goats and a pony. It was a great life. I loved farming.
I found that way of storing apples very interesting. Thanks for sharing.
I must admit this preservation method is new to me. Where there’s a will there’s a way!
As always, praying for Granny
Hi Tipper
We have one apple tree. Granny Smith apples. It must have been hard work burying those apples. One year we had hundreds of apples on that tree. I didn’t know what to do with them lol. I shared some and made some applesauce but unfortunately most went in the compost pile. Our little animal friends and birds had a feast.
I had never heard of this method for storing apples. Thanks for sharing.
I love reading about “old ways” food preservation techniques. Much simpler times where delight was found in appreciating something like the enjoyment of a good apple months later.
My grandmother had a big apple tree in her backyard. I remember picking them as a child.
Wow, I’ve never heard of storing apples like that, what a treasured memory. We had a root cellar at one of the many houses I lived in as a kid and would try to imagine what kinds of food was stored in it. My grandmother and Pop always had a big garden and canned a lot of veggies, so that’s all I really knew.
Christmas apples, what a beautiful thing to think about today. ❤️
Kourtni, if you read this, my husband and I will be keeping you in our prayers.
Have a blessed day all!
Very interesting way to store apples. I bet they were delicious by the time Christmas came around.
Praying for Granny!
My daddy and his seven other siblings were orphans. Their parents died when he was age eight and eleven, three years apart. Daddy said the coal mine people would have a wagon loaded with apples and oranges and go around where people lived in the mining areas in eastern Ky and hand these out. He said he looked forward to having an orange for Christmas every year.
I would love to read that book. There was nothing more that I loved in the way of stories than my mama’s stories of when she was a little girl. Up until this year I have been free of serious medical conditions, but apparently this is the year for me to realize I am actually 78 and no spring chicken! I am praying for your family and readers.
My grandparents had what they called a “flower pit” in which Grandma kept certain plants in winter. I don’t recall that any fruits or vegetables were stored in there. We kids would hide in there while playing war during WW II, in which case the flower pit became a machine nest.
Gene, my grandmother also had a flower pit that we she would put her flowers in during the winter months. On May 5th, 1933 a tornado came out of GA through Anderson,SC and pretty much destroyed the square and Blair Mill at Belton, SC. It came on across Southern Greenville County and within 100-150 yards of my grandparents home before turning and destroying their relatives home killing 5 of them. Some of mother’s brothers jumped in this flower pit. Anyone interested in reading about this tornado can google Belton tornado and the date. I heard one of our local weathermen talk about it and it being considered in the worse 10 tornadoes in SC.
I’d love to read more about Opal’s life.
Apples store best, I seem to recall reading, with cool temperatures and moist air. Below the frost line, temperatures are about the annual average temperature for the locality..In the Southern Appalchians, that is somewhere around 55°F. Other things, like onions, cushaw, pumpkins store best with cold but dry. So they can go in A barn loft or unheated room. Where I once worked, we stored tree seedlings for spring planting. The best conditions were a temperature of 32°F and very moist air. You can tell by this post today that folks knew these kinds of things long ago and practiced them as a normal thing.
I have heard of storing apples and potatoes that way, but we didn’t. My Granny had a couple of green apple trees that we picked every year. They were pretty hard and sour, so not good for fresh eating. She would dry them to use for fried pies, etc. my parents helped. They would get them ready and lay them out on a sheet outside to dry. My brother and I would be in charge of keeping the birds away from them. Each evening they were brought inside and then taken back out each morning until they were completely dry.
That’s very interesting!
As with so many other old time practices mentioned here, I have heard of it, I have seen it done and I have done it myself. It makes me feel as if I have just stepped out of a book written in the 19th century. And you want to know what? Most people discount my personal knowledge and experience and go off searching in books, libraries and even Mr. Google, only to find what I already told them. Not you Tipper but most others.
I can remember my parents storing potatoes and cabbage heads in a hole dug in the garden. Maybe other things, but I’m not sure as I was very small. Today’s post brought back long forgotten memories. I would love to refresh other childhood experiences through Opal Corn Meyers’ letters. My mother was also named Opal.
This book would be a great addition for my Appalachian library.
Everyone have a great day!
Thank you for sharing. God bless!
I love apples. When I was growing up in Sevierville County, then only apples were got were from our neighbor Mark Reed. He had 1 June Tree. Momma would pick and can them. Then at Christmas Dad would go to market and buy 1 bushel of fresh apples for us kids to eat. I am so glad that we have access to a wide variety of fruits. Hope this is a good day for granny. God bless.
I love that story!
My parents planted 2 apples trees back in the 50’s. The variety was “JonaDel”, a cross between Jonathan & Delicious. We used them fresh & canned some to make pies or stewed apples later. We never stored any in the ground.
my Mum would put a large orange in our Christmas stockings along with candy and little toys, when I think of Christmas fruit I remember those oranges, yinz take care and have a wonderful thanksgiving n’that!
This is the first time I have heard about this method of storing apples. Never too old to learn!
I had no idea that apples could be stored like potatoes. Letters to Lori is a book I would like to win.
Is everyone else enjoying warm temps? Per NOAA the southeast will have warm temps through mid-December.
That was very interesting. Never heard of storing like that!
I really appreciate the folks who came before us. They were able to survive and thrive in God’s bounty. Thank you for keeping this alive.
thank you Lord for reminding us, of times long ago, how people loved and cherished so much more than today, how to care for something and save it for a special time, as Thanksgiving and Christmas, it made it special, this holiday season Lord, people will be struggling, please help those people Lord, people we don’t even know or see, please help Lord, please bless our friends family neighbors and animals , guard us protect us keep us safe and well , thank you for our blessings Lord, I am blessed to be here and be alive, I’ve got to see some doctors and have some procedures to do that worry me, please bless my brother Bennie with healing and health and deliverance from sickness and disease, and there’s so many more people, please bless Granny Wilson, give her healing and health and strength to endure, bless Tipper and her family, as we await the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, we praise you and thank you for this new day in Jesus name, Amen
Mr. Norman, that was so special, thank you for your prayers! God bless you too!! Amen
This reminds me when we lived in South Florida we had orange, grapefruit, lemon and lime trees. At Christmas time we would trade what we had for others items that grew down there but we didn’t have any off them growing in our yard.
This is not to be entered for give away, but asking for prayer. I have been through so many things in the past 2 years people would think I’m making it up if I started naming them. I’m asking for you and the readers of this post to pray for me. I had a blood clot and had a toe amputated 3 weeks ago. I’m having a tremendous amount of pain. I’m going to have to start over in life. Please please remember me in prayer.
Kourtni, I will pray for you. I’m so sorry you’ve had such a time. I pray God takes the horrible pain away!
Kourtni, I’m on my way to Mass right now and will remember you in my special prayers……and in continued prayers. I’m so sorry for all you’re going through. God bless you!
You’re remembered dear lady and friend. God has not forgotten you. I will be praying for you and believing God for a miracle and to take care of you at this trying time. I’m very sorry for what you’re experiencing and my heart is with yours concerning health and the need for peace and healing at this time. God be with you and may Jesus our Lord and Master comfort you in his love.
Lifting you up in prayer. God loves you and knows your every need. I had my special needs daughter in the ER last night until midnight. If one thing I have learned it is to lean on him. I pray he gives you peace and complete healing. God bless and you hang in there.
We will be praying for you too. God’s love and healing be with you today and always.
Hi Kourtni, I am keeping you in my prayers.
Courtney, I will pray for healing, strength, comfort and hope for you. Know that you are loved.
I will be praying for you Kourtni. May our Heavenly Father free you from this tremendous pain you are in and give you comfort & peace during this healing time.
I’ll keep you in my prayers dear sister. May you be strong in faith and hope. May your trials be blessings. May GOD’s Mercy abound.
Praying for you. .
Prayed for you this morning! God’s blessings! Remember Baby, He’s got this.
Kourtni, I will be praying for you. I am so sorry you are going through this, but God knows our every need.
“Father I ask you to give Kourtni peace & reassurance that you will meet all her needs, and for the practical help that is required to live a good quality life. Please provide the opportunities and people to assist her as she’s having to begin again. You know the circumstances and care deeply about the hurts and burdens she has endured. Thank you for sending empathy and answers her way and making things work together for her good and your glory. In Jesus’ name.” My husband has factor 5 clotting disorder & a dvt. Spent xmas about 10 yrs ago in an out of state hospital; he should have died according to several experts. The concern is always there,so I can understand a bit of your stress. Praying for your best! Focus on the good things as much as possible & that will help.
I am surprised the apples stayed untouched by rodents and bugs …
We had a big black snake in the barn and Grandma’s cellar always seemed to have one or two in it. There were barn, house and yard cats as well. Rodents didn’t last long either place.
I really enjoyed reading the story, it was a good example of the history of food storage.
Tipper, I’m Thankful for you and your family sharing your life!
I have a froh. I also have axes, wedges, and my sledge hammers if I need to split any firewood or whiteoak splints.
Do you have any gluts? Do you know what they are?
Daddy, now me, have the axes, wedges, sledge hammer and “go devil” like you. We also had a chainsaw. For many years my parents only heated with wood. After my Daddy had a heart attack, I kept all of the firewood cut for him, I usually kept about a yearly winter supply cut ahead for him. We had our own trees for wood, when you cut the tree, cut it into firewood lengths, then split, load and haul it to the house, unload and carry it to the house, you have been warmed by wood several times! I also have a draw knife and some blacksmith tools that belonged to my great grandfather, he died in 1925, so figure how old these tools are.
although, I’ve heard of this procedure of keeping potatoes and apples fresh until the time for use, I have not seen it in practice. I may have to try it next year.
Christmas apples sound magical! My husband’s grandmother always wrapped apples individually with newspaper and placed them in a thick cardboard box. She would place the box under the house and the apples would keep most of the winter. I love learning how they did these things. Daddy told of keeping cabbage and potatoes in the ground similar to this. I’ve never tried it. I’ve heard tell of people burying old refrigerators for cold storage. I look forward to the comments on this.
God bless y’all!
People may spurn our appeal, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers.
We never had an apple tree for “eating apples.” My grandparents had a “horse apple” tree. These apples were small green apples that were used for cooking apple pies, drying and jelly. Their method of storing the apples was similar to the way we would store our sweet potatoes. Sometimes a rat would get in them. Later on in the 60’s the area high schools began to have “tater houses” during the winter months to store the potatoes for the area people. The area farmers could store their potatoes in these temperature controlled building during the winter months. I guess this was something the state agricultural department had started with the schools FFA classes. Anyone remember when some of the high schools would be open during the summer for people to come and can their vegetables and fruits? Getting an orange at Christmas was more of “ a thing” than an apple, for many years , area churches would give out small bags of fruit at Christmas.
We had a big black snake in the barn and Grandma’s cellar always seemed to have one or two in it. There were barn, house and yard cats as well. Rodents didn’t last long either place.
Jackie I mentioned a day or two ago when the post was about rats, both of my Granddaddy s keeping either a black snake or king snake in their barns and they also had cats. I don’t remember them having rat problems.