August News

What an exciting time of year!

We stand in the thick tangled vines of late August harvesting; some summer crops are still holding on and autumn crops are just about ready. But with the days getting noticeably shorter, we on the farm feel the race for the sun. Winter frost is at our heels and we have miles to go before we are ready to bundle ourselves and our fields up for the cold weather. This summer has been very kind to us, though, and we are grateful for the bountiful harvest. It has not been easily won, but a fresh watermelon first thing in the morning, while it is still cool from the evening chill, is well worth the effort.

Here is the news from the farm with some important announcements about upcoming events. Thanks, as always, for your interest in supporting a local farm and sustainably grown food!

PICK YOUR OWN APPLES – This weekend, August 25-26, we will open the orchard to share the first tastes of autumn. Several trees have early-ripening apples. They are tart and crisp and there are lots and lots. The orchard will be open limited hours: 10-4 each weekend day. We are at the height of our peach harvest too, so there will be baskets of peaches to sample and buy along with apples. Future orchard weekends will be posted on the online calendar on our website: www.thehickories.org

BE A WINTER LOCALVORE – We are currently doing a great deal of our own food preservation to get our families through the cold months this winter. If you are interested in eating locally throughout the winter, come to the farm and buy some of our “canning grade” peaches and tomatoes for jarring or freezing. We are selling them in bulk for reduced prices. Get your friends together for a canning party!

Keep an eye on the website calendar this autumn for the following events:
A FOUR SEASON HARVEST – Greenhouse growing was such a success last winter that we are expanding our winter growing substantially this year. Salad greens and spinach, along with root crops like beets and carrots, will be raised from October through May in “low tunnels” and “cold-frames” using little to no fossil fuel heat. It is hard to believe in the height of summer, but we are busy preparing for winter.

FALL HARVEST WEEKENDS– The farm will be open each weekend in October for pumpkin picking, hayrides, and apple picking. We are excited to reintroduce Otto’s hayrides again this year. Keep an eye on the website calendar for more information on these weekends.

FIREWOOD FOR SALE – We will be selling a limited supply of firewood this autumn to families in the community. Wood is a sustainable and renewable source of winter heat. Burning wood in an efficient wood stove is an easy way to offset some of our dependency on fossil fuels.

All the best,

Dina Brewster