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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 field are mostly empty. Oliver planted cover crops and tilled the strawberries. The garlic has been planted and all the plastic has been pulled. The only crops left in the ground are broccoli and cauliflower.
The peach trees were sprayed with sulfur and ready for the winter weather to come.
The Tunnels
The tunnels are full of winter greens – kale, Swiss chard, spinach and beets and bok choy and lettuce. We are picking bok choy, lettuce, spinach and kale from the tunnels. Today we covered everything in the tunnels for the winter. Since we are supposed to have some cold nights, we decided to shut them up tight with zips on the ends and all the fans sealed for the winter. We can open the dors if the weather would get too warm.
Greenhouse Seeding
Gregg seeded some radishes for planting in mid-December in the tunnel.
CSA
The CSA is over for the season. We had a good year with lots of tomatoes , sweet corn and peaches. In the fall there was broccoli and cauliflower in abundance. We added some new pictures and did some changes to our website. Check it out if you get a chance. We will be taking new subscriptions for 2025 beginning in January. I will be changing all the dates on the website in December.
Canning, Gardening, Grilling and Preserving
November has been busy with cleaning up my flowers and yard for the winter. I leave my flower beds looking rather unkempt in the winter. I like to see the snow and frost fringing the stalks and I like to see if anything will over- winter or come back from seed next year.
If you have been following the market emails that I have been sending you know already that Oliver and Lizzie had number 4 baby and number 2 son on November 7. He was a bit early, but both baby and mom are healthy and well. This is number 29 grandchild for Gregg and I.
We have been making everything pumpkin lately, pies, desserts, cookies… Pumpkin is seasonal and I have especially been enjoying the cookies. They are a soft cake drop cooky with bittersweet chocolate chunks.
Gregg sauteed some Brussels sprouts this week. They were delicious and buttery. I made a spinach and bacon souffle with goat cheese. We have had fresh lettuce from the tunnel every day.
I hope that everyone had a wonderful relaxing Thanksgiving holiday. We enjoyed a walk around the acreage with Chula, the watch dog who likes to play ball. I hope you were able to get outside. We have straw flowers, calendula, and foxglove still blooming. I saw a few juncos today wondering why the bird feeders are empty. I need to start filling them every day. We had a snow shower this morning! Enjoy the holidays and the slower time.
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!
Markets for December: Saturday, December 7, 14 and 21.
The Belle View Condos Farm Stand is closed until May.
The East Columbia Library Farm Stand is closed until May.
The Fairfax Community Market is closed until May.
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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Orchard Country Produce
1410 Goodyear Road
Gardners, PA 17324
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