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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, 8; Remington, 6; Cassidee, 3 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
September is a month for winding down. There is still a lot to do in the fields, but the transplanter was put away; the sprayers were put away and now Oliver is cleaning up the fields. Some of them are pretty weedy because he just did not have time to get to them. But now is the time. There is lots of black plastic that needs to be picked up.
We are still picking a lot of summer vegetables – peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, and eggplant and green beans. The fall broccoli are being picked and we still have carrots and potatoes. Gregg has been picking the Lima beans. This has been a good year for them. The sauce tomatoes are still going strong. Most of the winter squash is being picked and stored; sweet potatoes have been dug and they are curing for winter storage.
We are starting to sell spaghetti squash, delicata, butternut, honeynut butternut and acorn squash.
We picked the last peaches, Victoria and after this weekend they will should be nearly all gone. We are still picking red and black raspberries and lots of hardy kiwifruit. We harvested the grapes earlier in the month. We still a few left to sell.
The blackberries have been cleaned up for the year. We planted some new rhubarb plants and covered them with lots of mulch.
The Tunnels
Tunnel one is still full of cherry tomatoes. The cherry tomatoes are still selling well so we are not pulling the plants just yet.
Tunnel two is covered with ground cloth to kill weed seed.
Tunnel three is filled with lettuce, spinach, chard and kale for the winter.
Greenhouse Seeding
The greenhouse is empty right now except for a few perennial spinach in big pots and a few weeds.
CSA
The CSA is in the 17th week. We are now getting into the fall season. We just began to press cider. So that will be a nice addition to the winter squash and fall vegetables and apples.
Canning, Gardening, Grilling and Preserving
I have made three peach pies in the last three weeks. I think knowing the end of the peach season is coming has spurred me on to make them and it has spurred Gregg on to eat them! I canned carrots and this week I will finish canning the last of the grape juice. Each year I can only make grape juice based on the number of empty jars I used in the last year. This year the magic number was 15 two-quart jars of grape juice. When I am finished with them I will start on the applesauce and apple juice for the year.
I am enjoying the last of the summer flowers. The moonflowers just began to bloom this month. I cut down all the sunflowers. They had a very good year and the finch and jays loved them too. September was a great month for the fall flowering clematis. The smell was heavenly and the bees and moths loved it too! The strawflowers and the asters are lovely at this time of year. I am actually getting second blooms of foxglove right now!
Farm Stands and Markets
Tuesdays
The St Luke’s Tuesday Farm Stand will be open on Tuesday until September 30 from 12 noon until 6 pm. This is the last Tuesday market for this year.
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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