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An apple a day

by Natalie Caudill
Charles Marion and his wife Evelyn Lee own and operate Lee’s Orchard, an 11,000-tree orchard in Casey County. Lee examines a load of Ida Reds as they are washed and sorted on his apple grading machine. Small and inferiors apples are rejected and made into cider.

“We grow apples. We pick apples. We sell apples. We grade (sort) apples … We do everything,” said Charles Lee, a 61 year-old Casey County resident.

Lee and his wife, Evelyn have managed the 11,00 tree orchard, the largest apple operation in Casey County, for over four decades.

“It’s a gamble, but I enjoy it. I enjoy growing that apple,” he said.

Dissatisfied with his job as a contract carpenter, Lee was encouraged by a relative to start a farm. Lee said things were not so easy in the beginning.

“I started out with nothing as a kid,” he said. “I built my own buildings, my own house, everything … the plumbing, the wiring and all the electricity, but growing the apples is the best.”

Lee grows up to 52 types of apples. Ida Reds, Red Delicious and Winesaps are among the more popular varieties at the orchard. Trees require year-round care: pollination in the spring by Lee’s own honey bees, the spraying of pesticides and minerals in the summer and fall harvesting and pruning. And they are constantly being examined under Lee’s careful supervision.

Even the picking of an apple is very crucial in regards to next year’s crop because the next season’s fruit buds can easily be torn off by apples being picked improperly.

Lee has his own philosophy when it comes to doing business: Be friendly, be helpful, and always go out of your way to aid a customer. It must work because Lee’s orchard receives lots of business from produce stores as well as individuals.

“Repeat customers are very important,” he said. “One loyal customer in Ohio called the orchard to ask about his year’s harvest and plans to drive down to get his apples.”

Handmade cider, honey, dried apples and chestnuts can also be found at Lee’s. The hot, dry summer cost Lee almost 25% of his crop this year because heat causes trees to drop fruit onto the ground where they rot.

He sees the loss as all part of the risk and still considers the orchard the best thing to ever happen to him.

Liberty is the place where he has lived his whole life. It is here where he set his roots, met his wife and made a living.

“From where I was born to where I live now, I’ve moved 300 yards,” he said. “This is the greatest place on earth.”

Cows graze in a field near Liberty Kentucky.
Charles Marion and his wife Evelyn Lee own and operate Lee’s Orchard, an 11,000-tree orchard in Casey County. After a long day that starts around 7:00 am, Lee and his wife usually end up relaxing in their living room. Lee’s easy chair is his favorite spot.
Charles Marion and his wife Evelyn Lee own and operate Lee’s Orchard, an 11,000-tree orchard in Casey County. Lee demonstrates how to peel an apple properly. In this case, he cuts a spiral pattern on a winesap – Lee’s favorite kind of apple.
Charles Marion and his wife Evelyn Lee own and operate Lee’s Orchard, an 11,000-tree orchard in Casey County. Trees require constant care and Lee personally supervises all phases of spraying, harvesting and pruning.
Charles Marion and his wife Evelyn Lee own and operate Lee’s Orchard, an 11,000-tree orchard in Casey County. Lee poses in his barn with a large crate of yellow delicious.
Charles Marion, 61, and his wife Evelyn Lee own and operate Lee’s Orchard, an 11,000-tree orchard in Casey County. Lee waves to a neighbor while in front of his orchard.