News and blog
Saturday Markets
St Luke's Episcopal Church- 8009 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA
This market is happening every Saturday year round. Hours: 8 - 1
Fairfax Community Market - 10500 Page Ave, Fairfax, VA This market opens on May 8 and ends on October 30. Hours: 8 - 1
Tuesday Farm Stands
St Luke's Episcopal Church- 8009 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA This farm stand will start in June as soon as we have strawberries and end at the end of September. Hours: 2 - 7 pm
Thursday Farm Stands
East Columbia Library-, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, MD This market begins on May 13 and ends on November 18. Hours: 12 noon - 6
Belle View Condos-1204 Belle View Blvd, Alexandria, VA This farm stand opens on May 6 and ends on November 18. Hours: 2 - 7 pm
CSA Information
We are now ready to accept CSA subscribers for the 2021 season. The information for the CSA is on our website.
The first 12 week session will begin on Monday - June 7 and end on Saturday - August 28. The cost for fruits and vegetable delivered to one of our farm stands (mentioned above) is $360.
The second 12 week session begins on Monday, August 30 and ends on Saturday, November 20. The cost for the fruits and vegetables delivered to one of our farm stands is $360.
Special full season price! Sign up for both for 24 weeks of fruits and vegetables for $650.
You can add eggs to any of the sessions as well.
Send us a email to day to sign up for either session or the whole year. These prices will be available until March 31.
How to sign up:
Send a check to:
Orchard Country Produce
1410 Goodyear Rd
Gardners, PA 17324
Let us know where you plan to pick up your share and also give us an email address that we can use to get in touch with you. We will let you know when we receive your check. You can also drop off your check at St Luke's Farm Stand on Saturdays in Alexandria.
Let us know if you have any questions about our growing practices, CSA or markets.
Attention: We are going to be changing our web host in the next couple of weeks. You will still be able to view everything and contact us. We will let you know when everything has been redone. So sign up today and avoid the hassle.
Gregg and Louise Keckler
1410 Goodyear Rd
Gardners, PA 17324
717-486-4653
Oliver and Elisabeth Keckler
Remington and Isabelle, too
877 Myerstown Rd
Gardners, PA 17324
Have a great winter! See you in the Spring!
What's Happening on the Farm
Markets
We have had a busy year. All our markets have been up - meaning there have been more customers and naturally more money. Folks were interested in buying fresh local produce in an outdoor setting this year. We have tried to follow all the regulations and proper distancing requirements in order to keep folks safe and comfortable. This has been a challenge especially at some of the busier markets. We are so glad for you folks who have been thoughtful and understanding throughout the year.
We intend to come back to all the markets next year.
We have one market that will be open all winter.
St Luke's Episcopal Church on Saturdays from 8 - 1 pm. We will be there each week except December 26 and January 2.
CSA
Our CSA was up in number this year from the previous years. Again we believe that folks like to get their fresh produce and fruit without having to go to a store. Thanks to all of the folks who has been CSA subscribers for years and also for those of you who took a chance on us this year and joined. We appreciate your trust in us.
We will offer the CSA again next year - same prices and same market locations. I will be changing the dates to reflect the 2021 calendar.
Farm News
We have added 10 tractor trailer loads of compost to all the fields this year. Last year we added 5 loads and in each location where the compost was added we noticed significant gains in production.
We have had great success with new varieties of tomatoes. We have great tomatoes well into October. The weather was very cooperative as well with warm temperatures. We have lots of zucchini, yellow squash and cucumbers - too many - actually. We had to sell some to the produce auction. We do not like to do this because we cannot make very much money on auction sales. We think the surplus was due to the compost.
We are growing and picking a lot of spinach, radishes, Swiss chard, Bok Choi, and kale from the high tunnels. We are picking lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts from the field. We have lots of sweet potatoes and winter squash in storage.
We are working to fix up some of the infrastructure and buildings. We are cleaning and fixing the barn for better keeping of hogs and chickens and also improving things in our washing station and storage areas.
We are making jam - strawberry, peach and raspberry are the varieties right now and also lots of bread and butter pickles. We are mulching berries and planning for spring planting of new plum and Asian pear trees.
We will be getting another 125 fresh layers in February. Then we will be back up to our 250 layers. We are butchering new broilers every six weeks throughout the year.
We have had a great year and we are looking forward to 2021 selling season. Our 2021 growing season will begin in February in the greenhouse.
Enjoy your holidays and the quiet time of peace and thankfulness.
Gregg and Louise Keckler
Oliver and Elizabeth Keckler
Isabelle and Remington, too
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc
1410 Goodyear Rd
Gardners, PA 17324
717-486-4653
ocp@orchardcountryproduce.com