019: Neil MacDonald | Orchard Park Farms, UK

Neil MacDonald is a self described "man of the soil". He co-launched Orchard Pig Cider in 2004 in the Somerset region of England. His specialty is apple growing and the primary process of the cidermaking at Orchard Pig Cider.I spoke with Neil while at CiderCon (United States Association of Cider Makers annual congress) in Portland Oregon in 2016.Neil was granted a scholarship from the Nuffield Farming Scholarship Trust which has helped him hone in on his apple growing passion and helped him travel around the world.Neil uses what is a called a "Bush Orchard" in the UK, which works well with the mechanics of harvesting within high density orchards for a maximum harvest.He is sharing what he thinks US cidermakers and orchardist may be very interested in doing in the states.Neil chats about UK cider traditions and there is a bonus chat on the specs for a paid internship at Neil's farm.Follow Cider Chat on twitter @ciderchat