What’s Happening on the Farm
Markets
We have had a busy year. All our markets have been up – meaning there have been more customers and naturally more money. Folks were interested in buying fresh local produce in an outdoor setting this year. We have tried to follow all the regulations and proper distancing requirements in order to keep folks safe and comfortable. This has been a challenge especially at some of the busier markets. We are so glad for you folks who have been thoughtful and understanding throughout the year.
We intend to come back to all the markets next year.
We have one market that will be open all winter.
St Luke’s Episcopal Church on Saturdays from 8 – 1 pm. We will be there each week except December 26 and January 2.
CSA
Our CSA was up in number this year from the previous years. Again we believe that folks like to get their fresh produce and fruit without having to go to a store. Thanks to all of the folks who has been CSA subscribers for years and also for those of you who took a chance on us this year and joined. We appreciate your trust in us.
We will offer the CSA again next year – same prices and same market locations. I will be changing the dates to reflect the 2021 calendar.
Farm News
We have added 10 tractor trailer loads of compost to all the fields this year. Last year we added 5 loads and in each location where the compost was added we noticed significant gains in production.
We have had great success with new varieties of tomatoes. We have great tomatoes well into October. The weather was very cooperative as well with warm temperatures. We have lots of zucchini, yellow squash and cucumbers – too many – actually. We had to sell some to the produce auction. We do not like to do this because we cannot make very much money on auction sales. We think the surplus was due to the compost.
We are growing and picking a lot of spinach, radishes, Swiss chard, Bok Choi, and kale from the high tunnels. We are picking lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts from the field. We have lots of sweet potatoes and winter squash in storage.
We are working to fix up some of the infrastructure and buildings. We are cleaning and fixing the barn for better keeping of hogs and chickens and also improving things in our washing station and storage areas.
We are making jam – strawberry, peach and raspberry are the varieties right now and also lots of bread and butter pickles. We are mulching berries and planning for spring planting of new plum and Asian pear trees.
We will be getting another 125 fresh layers in February. Then we will be back up to our 250 layers. We are butchering new broilers every six weeks throughout the year.
We have had a great year and we are looking forward to 2021 selling season. Our 2021 growing season will begin in February in the greenhouse.
Enjoy your holidays and the quiet time of peace and thankfulness.
Gregg and Louise Keckler
Oliver and Elizabeth Keckler
Isabelle and Remington, too
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc
1410 Goodyear Rd
Gardners, PA 17324
717-486-4653
ocp@orchardcountryproduce.com
