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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
June has been the most drastic month for change. We started out the month with 40 degree weather at night and no sunshine; then it was cold and rainy and no sunshine; and lastly 95 degrees, high humidity and no breaks – even the nights were in the upper 80’s.
Needless to say, we are late getting transplants in the ground and also direct seedings. We are about 15 days behind on transplanting lettuce which means sooner or later it will catch up to us and we will be without lettuce. The first two seedings of green beans did not come up (too cold). We seeded some more in the second week of June and again this week. Oliver is now setting up all the irrigation system in the fields for the beans, corn, tomatoes, etc…
With all that update we are still picking sugar snap peas and broccoli. We have nice cucumbers in abundance. We are finally picking zucchini and summer squash. The chard and kale are producing great. The sweet corn looks very good and we hope to have some ready for sales by the Fourth of July.
We have been picking lots of black raspberries. They are starting to wane now. The red raspberries did not like the early rain, but they are producing well. The canes are shorter this year so they are harder to pick. A lot of the gooseberries split so they went to jam. We are picking black currants now. The strawberries were here and gone. Sweet cherries were not very good this year (splits and brown rot) too cold and too wet.
We are picking the first peaches and Gregg picked a couple half bushel of plums for today’s market. The plums are looking very good.
We just planted Brussels sprouts in the field for the fall and the first batches of honeynut butternut squash and spaghetti squash are in the ground also.
The Tunnels
Tunnel one is full of cherry tomatoes. The cherry tomatoes look very good. We are picking them every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Yesterday was the biggest yield so far at 24 pints. I am still pruning and clipping them. I now need a ladder for clipping. They are very sweet.
Tunnel two has been cleaned out and has ground cover on it as we solarize it to get rid of weed seed before it will will be filled with spinach in October.
Tunnel three is producing a lot of tomatoes right now. They should start to slow down by the Fourth of July or after. Then we will hopefully have tomatoes from the field.
Greenhouse Seeding
The greenhouse is full again. This time it has all the fall winter squash in it – butternut, honey nut, spaghetti, kiri, black futso, acorn, and lots of field trip pumpkins and gourds for fall sales. We have the last batch of cantaloupe in the germination booth now. The last watermelon should be transplanted this week. There will always be lettuce, cucumbers, squash and zucchini at varying stages of growth until the first of August.
CSA
The CSA is in the fourth week. We have more people in the CSA than we have had for several years. This is a pleasant surprise! We look forward to the box prep every week. This morning Gregg was digging the fennel for the boxes for this week. We were amazed at the number of flowers that the elderberry produced this year. At least they liked the kind of weather we were getting this spring!
Canning, Gardening, Grilling and Preserving
We have been grilling and stir-frying peas – all kinds – snow, sugar snap, and shell. We are enjoying the spring onions. I usually get the ones that did not sell. I cut off the tops and grill the bulbs with either peas, lettuce, asparagus or summer squash.
I made a strawberry shortcake early on and lately I made a strawberry pie. I froze some rhubarb for next winter’s jams and I will can some rhubarb for fruit compote in the winter.
But right now, I hate to admit it, but we are eating whoopie pies! Gregg loves them and so do I, but I must be more moderate with them – None for breakfast!
Have you noticed the growing grass? Wow! You can mow on Monday and by Wednesday it looks like you did not do anything. I am weeding all my flowers. The bell flowers are beginning to bloom. The calendula, coneflowers, lupines, sweet William, and marigolds are all in bloom. The first wave of roses is over, but I deadheaded them and am waiting for the next wave.
I hope you are able to get out and work in the soil. Either gardening or flowering will do. I like a nice mix of both.
Farm Stands and Markets
Tuesdays
The St Luke’s Tuesday Farm Stand will be opening on Tuesday, July 1 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.
Come out and support our farm and get some fresh tomatoes and peaches!.
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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