Philo Apple Farm
EST. 1984Family and a passion for California cuisine lie at the core of this heirloom fruit orchard in Mendocino County with charming guest cottages, four-course suppers, and a postcard-perfect farm stand.
Philo, CaliforniaReasons To Go
Pull Up A Chair
Philo Apple Farm hosts monthly Saturday Suppers with meals inspired by the recipes of the farm’s matriarch and California-cuisine pioneer, Sally Schmitt. Dinners include appetizers, four courses, wine from local vineyards, and a visit from an apple farmer to chat over a course or two.
Sleep Among The Apple Trees
Guests can book a stay at cozy farm cottages nestled in the orchard, each with a porch, gas fireplace, and daily breakfast served with farm-made apple juice and jams.
Get Your Fruit Fix
Stock up on Wicksons, Splendours, and other apple varieties, pears, seasonal veggies, and apple-products like farm house cider, chutney, and apple-cider syrup at Philo’s self-service farm stand, open daily.
From romantic weddings in the garden to intimate dinners for eight with recipes to take home, the farm offers a variety of ways to gather with your favorite people.
Celebrate At The Farm
What Rings True — The Cowbell Difference
“Farms have historically been family affairs involving several generations. Ours is no exception. We are reminded daily how well the system works. Working together gives a family a relationship that cannot be realized during infrequent holiday gatherings. Not that every day is perfect, but we learn to appreciate each other’s strengths and live with their weaknesses. We each have our areas of responsibility, giving us individual pride in what we do. At the same time the health of the whole farm is always our primary goal. We keep the conversation going, always looking for new ways to make our place thrive.”
— The Bates Family, Owners
Agriculture
Philo’s heirloom apples are certified organic, picked and packaged by hand, and sent to market without being washed and waxed to maintain their natural bloom.
Locality
The Apple Farm is a partner in Farmhouse Mercantile in nearby Boonville, stocked with farm products and gifts like candles and kitchenware created by local artisans.
Enrichment
Grab a group and book the Stay & Cook experience where you’ll wake up to breakfast in the potting shed, learn about life on an orchard on a farm tour, enjoy hands-on cooking sessions, and go wine tasting.
Meet The Stewards
Tim & Karen Bates
Co-OwnersThe Bates Family began the work of creating Philo Apple Farm in 1984, and now three generations tend 1,300 trees–some more than a century old–yielding about 40 apple varieties.