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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
The first planting of spring onions is in the ground. The first sugar snap peas have been transplanted from the plugs into the ground with black plastic laid and row cover over the top to keep them snug and happy and hopefully early for harvest. The first broccoli will be put in the ground by the end of March along with the first cabbage.
The peach, nectarine, plum, and pear trees are being pruned now. We will not complete this large job this month, but it will be continued into April.
We have also directed seeded snow peas and red beets.
The Tunnels
We are still growing and selling kale, chard, spinach and a bit of lettuce. The young lettuces are coming up, but slowly because of the colder temperatures in March. But that is fine, since the colder temperatures have been a blessing by keeping the fruit trees from budding too early.
We are picking lots of radishes right now from the tunnels. We have some beets, but not many. Before we plant any more beets into the tunnel, we will need to add some boron to the soil. That will help them grow better. We have some new arugula and spinach coming up as well.
The tomato tunnel is full of beautiful tomato plants. The wood-fired outdoor furnace is keeping things nice a warm in there for them. They are looking great.
Greenhouse Seeding
The seeding in the greenhouse is going strong. Gregg has been handling all of it so far. He is seeding a lot of flowers and herbs for spring sales at the markets. He has seeded two batches of tomatoes for the field as well as peppers and eggplant.
When any of these seeds get planted, they first go into a small 8×8 baking pan or in very small plugs. They are put into a germination booth which has the proper temperature and the proper humidity for germination. When they emerge out of the ground they are placed on a table in the sun. When the first true leaves appear they are potted up to a bigger size plug so that they can grow to the proper size before going into the field. The tomatoes are in the plugs for 8-12 weeks before they go into the field and the eggplant and peppers are in the greenhouse for 6 – 8 weeks before they go into the field. So it can get pretty crowded in the greenhouse by the time we get to May. None of these plants will go into the field until May.
We are also growing tomatoes, peppers and eggplant for sales in May as well. So these can also add to the chaos. Believe me, it is a joyous time when they are out and either sold or in the field.
CSA
Thank you to all who have signed up already for the CSA for 2025. Your early payments in the cold months really help us with buying and preparing fields, tunnels, buildings and vehicles for the spring plantings and the starting of the markets.
The first pickup dates for the CSA is June 5 and 7. That is not that far away! Now the big question? Will we have strawberries ready by then? That is always our wonder. Last year we had strawberries May 20 and by the time the CSA began the strawberries were in mid-season, but this year is colder and I doubt that we will have strawberries so early. We have plenty of apples still stored for the first week of CSA, if the strawberries aren’t ready, but we hope they will be.
The beginning weeks of the CSA can be full of surprises. We hope that we will have tomatoes by then and sugar snap peas, spring onions and ASPARAGUS! Last year it had been so warm , that the CSA only had one week of asparagus! That was unusual. This year seems more normal with cooler spring weather. So hopefully at least two weeks of asparagus for the CSA.
If you would like to subscribe to the CSA for 2025, April is the last chance to sign up for the full 24 weeks for the $725 price. After April you would need to sign up for the 12 week sessions individually @ $395 each. So if you want the full 24 weeks of fruits and vegetables to be picked up at your market location, sign up before April 30. If you have any questions about the CSA , please send an email.
Canning, Gardening, Grilling and Preserving
We have been rushed this month which is not good for the soul, but I have been making bread consistently. Gregg really likes honey oatmeal bread with one cup of whole wheat flour thrown in for good measure.
I have also been using a lot of the canned goods that I “put up” last summer. When we are not able to make any dessert (Coming from good Pennsylvania Dutch stock we always have dessert for every meal!) I have been bringing up from the basement, jars of canned peaches, pears, and cherries for desserts. We have almost used all the blueberries which I have been using in coffee cakes for breakfast and tea.
I must confess that I did make a trifle and a cherry pie two weeks ago when our daughter, Virginia, came down from New York with her four little girls for a visit. When they came I made a turkey with stuffing. I put bread, dried cranberries and lots of onions in it. The stuffing made the turkey so moist and very tasty. It was the last turkey from the freezer, so it was very special.
I have brought a few daffodils into the house from the yards and gardens. They are lovely! They sure can brighten up the house. I had cut five sprigs from the pussy willow bush and brought them into the house in March. They began to root and I gave two of them to our daughter, Martha to plant and I planted the others near the two bushes that I already have. They are doing well and look lively.
I am making lots of plans for the yards and flowers and shrubs for this spring. I hope you are able to get out and do some planting even if it is on a deck or balcony. Plant something and watch it grow and change. It will do wonders for your perspective on life. Spring has sprung!
Farm Stands and Markets
The St Luke’s Farm Stand is open every Saturday from 8 – 1 pm. Come out and support the local farm on Saturdays!
The Belle View Condos Farm Stand will be opening on May 1 from 2 pm – 7 pm.
The East Columbia Library Farm Stand will be opening on May 1 from 12 noon until 6 pm.
The Fairfax Community Market is closed until May 10.
Come out and support our farm in Alexandria at St Luke’s Episcopal Church.
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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1410 Goodyear Road
Gardners, PA 17324
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