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Farm News from Gregg and Louise Keckler
Gregg and Louise Keckler are splitting up from Oliver Keckler. Oliver is going to continue with Orchard Country Produce and Gregg and Louise have begun a new farm – Hand-tilled Farming. We are very excited about this change.
Gregg will still be coming to the East Columbia Library on Thursdays and to the Fairfax Community Market on Saturdays in 2026 plus we will be taking CSA subscriptions beginning in January for the expanded CSA season of 2026. Our new website is: www.handtilledfarming.com We are still working on the website, but you can go there to see what we are doing to it and we will be adding text and pictures as we go.
In the future we will be sending you email updates from our new email address: kecklers@handtilledfarming.com. So if you get emails from this address – please read them to find out what is happening and how things are progressing.
The Field Crops
We are cleaning up the fields. They have been mowed off and the black plastic is out. We are plowing up some new garden plots and renovating some old ones. We have also transplanted some three year old asparagus roots to a new plot. They are resting now in their new bed and awaiting the spring weather. We have also added a few more rhubarb and covered them with compost and hardwood leaves until the first bulbs start to emerge in the spring.
Gregg has been working hard on the fruit trees. He is spreading lime under them covering it with compost and then adding an acid mulch in between the trees to help with weeds. The trees are looking much happier. The blueberries have a thick covering of acid mulch for the winter.
We are learning how to use a two-wheeled tractor which Orchard Country Produce purchased for us. It is very versatile. We are still getting familiar with it.
We had a tree-trimmer come and clean out a willow tree. He also cut up a tree that fell from the fence line and trimmed back an old mulberry tree that was hanging on the overhead wires. We planted a couple of new trees as well.
The Tunnels
Tunnel one is under construction. We took the baseboard off the one side and put all new wood on it. Now we need to do the same thing to the other side and at least the one side of tunnel two.
Greenhouse Seeding
The greenhouse is empty right now except for a few perennial spinach in big pots and a few weeds. All the windows and fans have been closed up for the winter and the gas has been turned off until March.
CSA
Next year we are expanding the CSA to 28 weeks. We used to have 28 weeks, but we shortened ti because we had so many folks and not enough produce, but now the number of members is less and we are able to grow more vegetables and we will have more fruit available for all. Our new dates and prices are on the website www.handtilledfarming.com . We will be sending you more information about the CSA as we get things figured out. We will begin to take new subscriptions beginning in January.
Canning, Gardening, Grilling and Preserving
We have been blessed by a local tree-trimmer. He has given us a lot of acidic mulch for free. We use a lot of acidic mulch because of all the berries we grow. We also use acidic mulch on paths. We are enjoying this new phase of our life and we hope that you also enjoy hearing about our experiences and plans for the new year.
Gregg will be back to the East Columbia Library on Thursdays beginning Thursday, May 7 and he will be back at the Fairfax Community Market beginning on Saturday, May 9. We will be starting the first session of the CSA on Thursday, May 14 and Saturday, May 16. That seems like a long way off, but to us is is right around the corner!
We hope you have a wonderful holiday with family and friends.
Farm Stands and Markets
Saturdays
The Fairfax Community Market is closed for the season, but will reopen on May 9, 2026
Thursdays
The East Columbia Library Farm Stand is closed for the season, but will reopen on Thursday, May 7.
Have a Great Day!
Louise and Gregg
Hand-tilled Farming
Gregg and Louise Keckler
Hand-tilled Farming, LLC
1410 Goodyear Rd
Gardners, PA 17324
717-486-4653
www.handtilledfarming.com
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