Autumn is the perfect time to visit Bilden's Apple Orchard near Elgin. The apple harvest is in full swing. Arts and craft projects are ready for sale. The crispness of northeastern Iowa is in the air.

Mary and Erling Bilden are ready to greet people. Erling Bilden started his orchard in 2006. He already had a few trees that had provided apples and pears to the family for years. 

He decided to expand as a retirement project. He has planted a few trees a year, until now there are around 70. The orchard includes 12 varieties of apples and two varieties of pears. 

“That’s enough with my day job,” says Bilden, Clayton County Farm Bureau member. He has yet to retire and has been reminded a few times by his wife that it is his...