News and blog
Dear Folks,
You have until Saturday, September 6 to sign up for the fall session. We will be having Concord grapes, applels, apple cider, pears, Stanley plums, acorn squash, butternut squash, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, potatoes, sweet potatoes, red beets, cabbage and turnips and other fall crops.
We will be giving summer crops until the first frost (usually between the first of October the 15th of October 15th.) We would love to have you join us. The first week of our fall session begins next Monday, September 8. You can go to membership updates to change your membership for fall. If you want to see what your status is for fall, just go to membership status and you can see if you are already signed up.
I have added a few new items to the store this week: including butternut squash, red raspberries, peach mango melons, and apples in bulk for apple sauce. Check them out.
If you are not coming back for the fall session, thanks so much for supporting our farm. We have enjoyed providing your food for this summer. Please remember if you are in the area to check us out for next spring.
This week's shares will include:
watermelon
Zestar apples
Cantaloupe
cherry tomatoes
zucchini/summer squash
sweet corn
Peach Mango Melons
personal shares:
Zestar apples
corn
zucchini/summer squash
cherry tomatoes
cantaloupe
The zester apples are like an early Honey Crisp - very crisp and sweet-tart, enjoy!
The corn is Mira - a wonderful sweet bi-color. You will love this variety!
We grow these Peach Mango Melons. They are an heirloom melon with a unique flavor. I do not think that they taste or look like a peach or a mango, but you can taste for yourself! They do have a smooth texture which could be peach-like, but I do not know where they resemble a mango. Try something new!
We are excited about the fall! I hope you are noticing the subtle change in season. I know is is still too hot and humid to be thinking about fall. But I noticed that the Black Tupelo is changing to red! Fall is in the AIR!
See you this week!
Gregg, Louise, Viriginia, and Oliver Keckler
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc
Dear Folks,
August is nearly over and I have not written my monthly farm news. So here goes -
We have some beautiful broccoli planted for fall. We have just picked a lot of the watermelons. They are scrumptious! One of you came to the farm yesterday to buy second tomatoes and left with watermelon! Gregg was giving samples and the taste was irresistible!
We are picking several apple varieties already - Red Graventstien, Chestnut Apples, Gala, Zestar, William's Pride, and Summer Rambo. We have about 2 -3 weeks left of peaches to pick and sell. Our first batch of heirloom tomatoes are finished. We have a second batch coming on and lots of cherry tomatoes.
Last week's weather was hard on the tomatoes. Wet and Warm! A recipe for mold and fungus. Hopefully with the hot, dry weather this week the plants will recover. We are paying kids to pick all rotten and split tomatoes to get them away from the plants.
New developements this month.
In the middle of July we hired Juan Hernandez. He is a farmer, who as worked for many years with a local large fruit grower. Juan and Oliver work well together. He is our first full time salaried worker. He is living in the house on the other farm. His coming has been a huge asset for us. We've got a experienced man whom we can rely on to do the right things while Gregg and Oliver are at markets or making deliveries.
We are not extravagant folks, You can come and see for yourself. We try to use money and resources wisely incorporating recycling, reusing, solar, respectful land use, and accurately accessing our needs and wants. We have made mistakes, but since we farm conservatively and strongly believe in diversity, we have never been devastated.
We love growing food and selling food directly to you. You are people needing food. ( I hate to call you a consumer and us a producer. That is not true and those terms are dehumanizing.) You buy your food from a farmer who grows fruits a vegetables on a farm that you are welcome to come and visit.
We like this model!
With that said - feel free to come and visit or even work! We would enjoy having you as much as you would enjoy the drive, the visit, ahd green space and the dirt.
The future:
Our area is dotted with old small family farms - 15 acres - 60 acres places, The population is aging. Many of these places are available now or will be available in the next couple of years. We hate to see farms broken up for development - some residential - some industrial.
We would like to purchase some more land - we own 41 acres and rent about 40 more. We do not mind renting, but we are always afraid that these aging farmers will decide to sell out for development.
So our thoughts -
Would any of you folks be in a position to lent money to us for real estate purchase? Yes, we can go to the bank, but we would like to go right to our income source first. You are the folks who believe in us and local farming and want to see local farmers succeed. Banks will charge many upfront fees. By getting private investors we can avoid these fees and put our (actually- as an investor and as a buyer of our fruits and vegetables- your money) to better use.
A couple of these properties have older homes that would require much updating in order for a bank to consider loaning money. The landowners are elderly people- many living on limited incomes, They would not be able to make necessary repairs and updates to meet bank requirements. We are interested in purchasing these places because of the soil, the land, the potential for food production. We can fix up the house in our personal time (in the winter). if you may have some money in an account gaining little interest or you might consider playing big investor for our future growth, please let us know. We can discuss terms, interest, repayment, etc.. We are open to ideas, and creative thoughts. If you are saying, "How much money is she talking about?" I would say that we would need a total of about $300,000. We have $100,000. The rest could come from many sources - say..
10 people @ $20,000
20 people @ $10,000
40 people @ $5,000 and so on
I realize that not everyone is an a position to do this - that's fine. I just wanted to throw the thought out. It is only going to pertain to a small unique portion of our farm friends, but at least we are letting you know what we are considering doing.
We hope that you are having a wonderful summer - lots of sunshine, lots of birds, lots of butterflies and lving things.
if you are interested in our Fall CSA, now is the time to sign up. We will be taking subscriptions until September 6.
Loving Life,
Gregg, Louse, Oliver, and Virginia Keckler
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc
We will be at DOT for the Farmer's Market tomorrow from 10-2 pm
Come out and get fresh vegetables. We will have these items available for sale.
Vegetables
summer squash
zucchini
salad mix
kale
cucumbers
cabbage
Swiss chard
garlic
cabbage
red beets
cherry tomatoes
red tomatoes
bell peppers
sweet corn!!!
heirloom tomatoes
okra
Mexican gerkins
Spaghetti squash
Butternut squash
carrots
hot peppers
green beans
Fruits
red raspberries
blueberries
peaches
plums
cantaloupe
strawberries
watermelon
blackberries
nectarines
Gala apples
Red Gravenstien apples
Rambo apples
Smokehouse apples
Cut herbs
Basil
Dill
Meat
Pork
Beef
Whole chickens
Baked goods
Blueberry pies
peach pies
Sweet Breads
cookies
Other items
jams and jellies
honey
Shagbark hickory syrup
OUR OWN Fresh eggs
Cheese from Whispering Brook Farm
Come out and stock up with good food!
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc
We will be at NGS on 17th Street in the Courtyard from 8 - 2:30
Come out and get fresh vegetables. We will have these items available for sale.
Vegetables
summer squash
zucchini
salad mix
kale
Sorrel
Swiss chard
Red Beets
cucumbers
CHERRY TOMATOES
green beans
red tomatoes
banana peppers
cabbage red and green
bell peppers
Sweet Corn!
Heirloom tomatoes
okra
Mexican gerkins
hot peppers
spaghetti squash
butternut squash
eggplant
potatoes
Fresh cut herbs and flowers
basil
dill
flowers
Fruits
red raspberries
blueberries
Pink Lady apples
peaches
plums
Summer Rambo apples
Nectarines
cantaloupe
William's Pride apples
Strawberry apples
Zestar Apples
Watermelon
blackberries
Clapp's pears
Red Gravenstein Apples
Gala apples
Meat
Pork
Beef
Chicken whole
Baked goods
Blueberry pies
peach pies
Sweet Breads
cookies
yeast bread
Other items
jams and jellies
honey
Shagbark hickory syrup
OUR OWN Fresh eggs
Cheese from Whispering Brook Farm
Come out and stock up with good food!
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc
Dear Folks,
it is hard to believe that we are almost finished with the summer session. We are now taking subscriptions for the fall. So you can go on to the website - www.orchardcountryproduce.com and click on membership updates and sign up for the fall session. The last day to sign up for the fall will be September 6. Do it NOW! I know September seems like a long way off, but it is just around the corner.
Also - some for you have not yet paid for the summer session, please do this now. I will keep bugging you until you do it. You can pay with a credit card on the website or you can send a check for the amount due.
Do not forget to check out the online store. There may be something there that you were going to purchase in the store - buy from us (your farmer) instead. We will include it in your share and you can pay when you order with your credit card or you can wait until the end of the session and pay the balance due with your card or with a check.
I have added several "new" apples this week. We are picking some pears and spot picking Gala apples. We also have some heirloom apples that are great old cooking and tart eating apples - Red Gravenstein and Smokehouse. We have blueberries, but they are near the end of their season, very sweet, but beginning to get softer.
WE HAVE SECOND PEACHES AND SECONG TOMATOES NOW!!. Do not' wait to get these for cooking and canning.
This week's shares will include:
Watermelon
plums
cherry tomatoes
summer squash/zucchini
mystery item
Sweet Candy onion
mystery item
personal shares:
watermelon
cherry tomatoes
mystery item
summer squash/zucchini
mystery item
We have seeded and seedless melons. Oliver and Juan have been picking all morning. I see 9 bins of watermelons sitting outside the barn right now. These are sweet and great eating!
We have several different plums available right now - red heart, large yellow, and Castleton - a blue prune plum.
you will notice 2 mystery items this week. We have a little of this and a little of that. We also have some items that we will have a lot of early in the week and other items that will not be ready to pick until later in the week. So be surprised!
I have been noticing a lot of goldfinches right now. They are enjoying the elderberries. I saw a Common Grackle last week in the yard. I was surprised at his shiny greenish/bluish/indigo color and, of course, his yellow eye. Enjoy the last month of summer!
Gregg, Louise, Oliver, Virginia Keckler
Orchard Country Prpduce and Fruit Farm, Inc
Saturday Farm Stands!
St Luke's Episcopal Church on Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA from 8-1pm
August 23rd is Oliver's birthday!!!! If you are at St. Luke's on Saturday be sure to wish him a happy 20th!
Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church on Cedar Lane, Bethesda from 9-1pm
We will have these items available this week!
Vegetables
cucumbers
Mexican gerkins
sweet onions
yellow wax beans
kale
salad Mix
zucchini
summer squash
red beets
Swiss chard
cabbage
green beans
tomatoes YEAH! Red and Hierloom
cherry tomatoes
lima beans
Sweet banana peppers
Garlic
eggplant
Sweet Corn
Hot peppers
carrots
Fruits
raspberries
blueberries
peaches!!!!!!
plums
cantaloupe
canary melons
sugar cubes
watermelon
summer apples - William's pride
Ginger gold
Rambo apples
nectarines
Meat
Pork
Beef
Whole Chickens
Baked goods
Blueberry pies
Peach pies
Sweet Breads
Teas and other herb greens
mint tea
lemon blam
basil
dill
sage
Other items
jams and jellies
honey
Shagbark hickory syrup
Fresh eggs
Cheese from Whispering Brook Farm
Come out and stock up with good food!
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc
Saturday Farmer's Market across from the High's Store in Westminster
We will have these items available this week!
Vegetables
cucumbers
sweet onions
Kale
salad Mix
cabbage
red beets
Swiss chard
cucumbers
zucchini
Summer squash
Green beans
tomatoes
cherry tomatoes
yellow wax beans
lima beans
Sweet corn
heirloom tomatoes
plum tomatoes
garlic
spaghetti squash
Mexican Gerkins
butternut squash
carrots
Fruits
raspberries
blueberries
plums
cantaloupe
Peaches
nectarines
canary melons
sugar cubes
watermelon
nectarines
Meat
Pork
Beef
Chicken
Baked goods at Tamara's stand - She will be next to us!
Blueberry pies
Peach pies
Blackberry pies
Sweet Breads
cookies
yeast breads
rolls
sticky buns
cinnamon rolls
Other items
jams and jellies
honey
Shagbark hickory syrup
Fresh eggs
bunches of tea ( great for making a cold pitcher of summer tea)
Come out and stock up with good food!
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc
Between now and the middle of September is PEAK season for fruits and vegetables. Get them now!
We will be at the East Columbia Library on Cradle Rock Way Tomorrow from 2-6 pm!
WE HAVE PEACHES!
We have SWEET CORN!
We have Cantaloupe!
We will have these items available this week!
Vegetables
White potatoes
kale
Sweet onions
Swiss chard
Red Beets
Summer Squash
Zucchini
Cucumbers
yellow wax beans
green beans
Sweet corn
broccoli
carrots
sweet banana peppers
bell peppers
egg plant
okra
TOMATOES!!
cherry tomatoes
plum tomatoes
Red Norland potatoes
red and green cabbage
Hot peppers
snacking peppers
spaghetti squash
Butternut squash
Fruits
raspberries
blueberries
peaches -Free Stone peaches are here!
plums - three varieties
cantaloupe
Rambo apples
William's Pride apples
watermelon
nectarines
Zestar apples
Ginger Gold apples
Meat
Pork - We have chops!
Beef
Chicken whole
beef bologna
Baked goods
Blueberries pies
peach pies
Sweet Breads
cookies
Other items
jams and jellies
honey
Shagbark hickory syrup
Fresh eggs
Cheese from Whispering Brook Farm
Come out and stock up with good food!
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc
We will be at DOT for the Farmer's Market tomorrow from 10-2 pm
Come out and get fresh vegetables. We will have these items available for sale.
Vegetables
summer squash
zucchini
salad mix
kale
cucumbers
cabbage
Swiss chard
garlic
cabbage
red beets
cherry tomatoes
red tomatoes
bell peppers
sweet corn!!!
heirloom tomatoes
okra
Mexican gerkins
Spaghetti squash
Butternut squash
carrots
Fruits
red raspberries
blueberries
peaches
plums
cantaloupe
strawberries
watermelon
blackberries
nectarines
Cut herbs
Basil
Dill
Meat
Pork
Beef
Whole chickens
Baked goods
Blueberry pies
peach pies
Sweet Breads
cookies
Other items
jams and jellies
honey
Shagbark hickory syrup
OUR OWN Fresh eggs
Cheese from Whispering Brook Farm
Come out and stock up with good food!
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc
We will be at NGS on 17th Street in the Courtyard from 8 - 2:30
Come out and get fresh vegetables. We will have these items available for sale.
Vegetables
summer squash
zucchini
salad mix
kale
Sorrel
Swiss chard
Red Beets
cucumbers
CHERRY TOMATOES
green beans
red tomatoes
banana peppers
cabbage red and green
bell peppers
Sweet Corn!
Heirloom tomatoes
okra
Mexican gerkins
hot peppers
spaghetti squash
butternut squash
Fresh cut herbs and flowers
basil
dill
flowers
Fruits
red raspberries
blueberries
Pink Lady apples
peaches
plums
Summer Rambo apples
Nectarines
cantaloupe
William's Pride apples
Strawberry apples
Zestar Apples
Watermelon
blackberries
Meat
Pork
Beef
Chicken whole
Baked goods
Blueberry pies
peach pies
Sweet Breads
cookies
yeast bread
Other items
jams and jellies
honey
Shagbark hickory syrup
OUR OWN Fresh eggs
Cheese from Whispering Brook Farm
Come out and stock up with good food!
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc