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Farm News from Orchard Country Produce
Gardners, PA
We are a two generation family farm in rural Cumberland County, PA. We own approximately 57 acres; some of it in woodland, some in pasture, some in hay, most in vegetables and fruit trees. We have four greenhouses. One for propagation and two are unheated high tunnels and one is heated. We raise hogs and broiler chickens for meat and layer chickens for eggs. Our family consisted of Gregg and Louise Keckler (old people) and Oliver and Lizzie Keckler with their four children – Isabelle, 7; Remington, 5; Cassidee, 2 and Travis.
This is a review of what has happened in the last month on our fields, in our greenhouses and tunnels and around the farm.
The Field Crops
August began hot and humid and is now ending fall-like. It seems unusually early for such sustained cooler weather, but we are not complaining. It is such a relief after the very hot, humid July. We are winding down on the sugar cubes. We had a couple of crop failures on them this year. The last watermelon have been picked now.
We are definitely picking lots of green beans. They are plentiful and delicious. We are having a lot of tomatoes from the field. They are not as pretty as other years, but they taste great. All the broccoli has been planted in the field for fall. Oliver is beginning to be able to clean off some of the fields for the winter.
The plums are winding down now. We have a nice crop of prune plums coming. We still have one variety of peaches to pick yet.
The black raspberries are beginning to come back for the second round. We have been picking red raspberries for their second round for a couple of weeks. The blackberries were very nice and big this year, but they are finished for the year. We have gotten a lot of elderberries this year. I guess they really liked the spring weather. I have been stripping the umbels and Gregg has been selling them in half-pints.
The Tunnels
Tunnel one is still full of cherry tomatoes. The cherry tomatoes are still looking very good. They are amazingly sweet! We are picking them now every Tuesday and Friday. We have not had too many white flies this year. Yesterday I killed the third tomato horn worm for the year. That is not too bad for the end of August.
Tunnel two is covered with ground cloth to kill weed seed.
Tunnel three is filled with lettuce and spinach for the fall and winter. We will be able to start picking it by the end of September or October.
Greenhouse Seeding
The greenhouse has only some Swiss chard and kale in it right now. These will be planted in tunnel two by the beginning of October.
We are cleaning out all the flats, seeding trays and other greenhouse paraphernalia and storing them in the garage for the winter.
CSA
The CSA is in the 13th week. We are now getting into the fall season. Even though there are still three weeks left of summer it feels like fall. We will try to give summer vegetables as long as possible.
Canning, Gardening, Grilling and Preserving
I made chili earlier this month and it was perfect timing with the cooler weather. The fresh tomatoes and basil and garlic really gave it great flavor.
Believe it or not I am still using the blueberries. They were picked in July and left in the cooler and I just made blueberry muffins with them this week. They are holding very well.
We have been eating a lot of fresh corn and grilled or sauteed yellow squash and zucchini. The squash is very good with some sweet onion and butter.
I made a peach pie and it was very good. Gregg finished it off in three days. We have also been eating a lot of baking powder biscuits. Mostly this is due to the busy schedule – no time to let the dough rise. We love the biscuits with butter and Gregg cuts them for sandwiches to eat on the way to market.
As the summer is winding down try to keep enjoying the fruits and vegetables of the summer. Do not rush into the fall vegetables yet. Enjoy and savor the good tastes. So often when we rush from one season to the next, we lose the great memories of the seasonal tastes and are always looking for more. I hope that you never say, “What! Zucchini, again!” Instead say, “Great! I was hoping for more zucchini!”
My flower beds are looking a bit ragged. This year I have allowed the morning glories to stay. ( I am regret this next year.) Now they are twining around the naked rose bushes and keeping up the front of green and flowers. The morning glories are coming in three colors this year – purple, red, and blue.
I have been enjoying the different bees on all the hyssop bushes.
Farm Stands and Markets
Tuesdays
The St Luke’s Tuesday Farm Stand will be open on Tuesdays until September 30 from 12 noon until 6 pm.
Saturdays
The St Luke’s Farm Stand is open every Saturday from 8 – 1 pm.
The Fairfax Community Market is open on Saturdays from 8 – 1 pm.
Thursdays
The Belle View Condos Farm Stand is open from 2 pm – 7 pm every Thursday until November.
The East Columbia Library Farm Stand is open from 12 noon until 6 pm every Thursday until November.
Have a Great Day!
Louise
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc
Gregg and Louise Keckler
Oliver and Lizzie Keckler with Isabelle, Remington and Cassidee, and Travis also.
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc
1410 Goodyear Rd
Gardners, PA 17324
717-486-4653
www.orchardcountryproduce.com
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Orchard Country Produce
1410 Goodyear Road
Gardners, PA 17324
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