Get prepared for the October apple harvest at Apples All Year Long: Cider, Sauce, and More. The Audubon Community Nature Center workshop is Saturday, Sept. 8. Audubon staff member Kim Turner is pictured pressing apples on a small family press at a friend’s farm. Submitted photo

The Audubon Community Nature Center will host a workshop in September focusing on the culmination of apple season.

“Apples All Year Long: Cider, Sauce, and More” workshop will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8. Cider, both sweet and hard, will be the star at this program, though other products will be included. And don’t be surprised if there are samples of some of these treats. While most apples do not ripen fully until October, the workshop gives you information to prepare for production by learning about necessary tools, apple combinations and tips for preserving the bounty.

Instructor Al Yelvington is a transplant to the area after retiring from 33 years in the Coast Guard. He started his cider orchard, Happy Dog Farm outside Russell, Pa., to provide juice specifically for hard cider makers. The orchardist is in his second year in the Virginia Tech Online Masters in Agriculture and Life Sciences, focusing on pest and weed management. Happy Dog Farm includes a community cider mill that is registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

Enrollment is limited. The fee for the program is $16 or $12 for Nature Center members. Paid reservations are required by Thursday, Sept. 6, by calling 569-2345 during business hours or online through the Programs page at auduboncnc.org.