Growing Apples, Growing Responsibility: Stepp’s Commitment to Sustainability and Outdoor Stewardship
Nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard is more than just a place to pick apples—it’s a working family farm committed to sustainability, soil health, and environmental responsibility. Every growing season, the Stepp family thoughtfully manages their orchard and crop fields not just to grow delicious produce, but to care for the land that has supported them for generations.
In line with the values of the Outdoor NC movement, Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard proudly implements agricultural practices that help protect North Carolina’s natural beauty and inspire visitors to do their part in preserving the outdoors.
Cover Cropping for Soil Health
In the off-season, Stepp’s plants cover crops like wheat and rye in their pumpkin and sunflower fields. These crops serve a powerful purpose:
Preventing soil erosion caused by rain and wind
Reducing nutrient loss, minimizing the need for synthetic fertilizers
Adding organic matter to improve long-term soil fertility
Enabling no-till planting, which reduces fuel usage and minimizes soil disturbance
A Home for Pollinators and Wildlife
Stepp’s also preserves natural habitat areas around the farm by leaving certain sections unmowed, allowing native wildflowers and grasses to thrive. These untouched areas support pollinators like bees and butterflies, and even provide benefits for birds. It’s a simple but powerful way to protect biodiversity right on the farm.
Composting Apple Tree Prunings: Closing the Nutrient Loop
Each fall, the orchard’s apple trees are carefully pruned to encourage strong growth. But rather than letting the pruned branches and fallen fruit go to waste, Stepp’s chops and mulches the material directly into the soil, creating a rich, natural compost. This reduces the need for additional fertilizers and returns nutrients back to the earth.
Smarter Fertilization Through Testing
To avoid unnecessary chemical use, Stepp’s collects soil and tissue samples throughout the year. This targeted testing allows them to apply only the nutrients their crops actually need, which improves efficiency, produces healthier crops, and avoids blanket application.
Join the Outdoor NC Movement with Us
At Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard, sustainability is a cherished practice. That’s why we’re proud to support Outdoor NC, a movement that promotes responsible outdoor recreation through simple, mindful actions.
We invite you to be part of this mission:
Together, we can protect what makes our mountains, farms, and forests so special for future harvests, and for future generations. Let’s make an effort to leave the land better than we found it!