Category: Farm

Fall Harvest Pick Your Own Apples & Pumpkins plus Fall Fun!

9/18/2016

Fall Harvest Pick Your Own Apples & Pumpkins!
By: Amy

Fall is my favorite time of year and it starts this week! As the temperature cools off and the leaves begin to drop, I get excited about picking apples, pumpkins and other fall harvests. I start planning all my fun meals that I can incorporate all the delicious foods in. I get my camera ready to take lots of fun family photos for when we go exploring the fields together, picking just the perfect pumpkin or the shiniest apple. I also love the opportunity to engage in some fun, simple, low cost family activities that will leave lasting memories with my children.

Below we have compiled a list of apple and/or pumpkin picking farms which have been recommended to us by other Cape Cod Moms as well as a few places where you can just enjoy some fall fun. Some are on Cape Cod, some are close and some require some driving. Do you have any other spots that you recommend that we may have missed? Let us know by leaving a comment and we will be sure to add it to the list for other families to enjoy!

Belkin Family Lookout Farm
89 Pleasant St S, Natick, MA
(508) 651-1539
Open daily from 10am-5pm
Train rides, farm animals, children’s caterpillar rides, moon bounce, farm maze, and more! Saturdays and Sundays also include live children’s entertainment, hayrides, children’s face painting, and BBQ snack bar. Admission Mon-Fri: $9/person, children under 2 are free. Admission Sat, Sun, Labor Day and Columbus Day Monday: Adults-$15, Children under 12-$13, Children under 2 are free. Check their website to see what apple varieties are ready to pick.

Carver Hill Orchard
101 Brookside Avenue, Stow, MA
(978) 897-6117
Open most days 10am-5pm. Check Facebook page for updated hours before visiting.

Coonamessett Farm
277 Hatchville Rd. East Falmouth, MA
(508) 563-2560
Open Sun-Sat 9-5pm
Pick your own pumpkins and other delicious vegetables as well as wild flowers. Enjoy the new updated children's area and the animals. No apple orchards.

C.N. Smith Farm
325 South St, East Bridgewater, MA
(508) 378-2270
PYO apples starting Labor Day Weekend, September 3-5, 9am-4pm, weather permitting. Mon, Tues – ORCHARD CLOSED, Wed, Thurs, Fri: 10am-4pm, Sat, Sun: 9am-4pm. Orchard is open Monday of Labor Day and Columbus Day Weekends. Cider donuts available on the weekends through November 22-23. Visit the farm animals while you’re there!

Connors Farm
30 Valley Rd, Danvers, MA
(978) 777-1245
Open daily from 8am-6pm
7 acre Corn Maze, Apple Picking, Barnyard Animals, Barnyard Twister, Black Mamba, Campfires, Corn box, Corn Hole, Corn Tunnel, Cornball, Cow milking, Cow Train, Corn cannon, Sling shots, Pumpkin blaster, Duck Races, Face Painting, Gemstone Mining, Giant Rocking Chair, Giant Tires, Grain Train, Hay jump and slides, Hay Mini maze, Hayrides, Horse Swings, Jumping Pillows, Lincoln logs, Live entertainment (scheduled shows), Mechanical bull, Mini Tractors, Pedal Carts, Pig Races (scheduled show), Pipe Slide, Hop Along Rodeo, Pumpkin bowling, Pumpkin checkers, Pumpkin Chucker (scheduled shows), Pumpkin Picking, Pumpkin Tetherball, Pumpkin Tic Tac Toe, Rat Rollers, Ring the Bell, Sand Box, Steer Roping, Spider Web and Trikes & more. Some attractions available on weekends only. Call ahead for picking conditions.

Crow Farm
192 MA-6A, Sandwich, MA 02563
(508) 888-0690
Starting on Sunday Sep. 25 from 11 to 4pm. There will be Mac's Cortlands and Macouns available. The price will be the same as last year 23 dollars for a peck and 45 dollars for a half bushel. This year they will also have pumpkins to pick. The tractors will be ready behind the stand.

Honey Pot Orchards
138 Sudbury Rd, Stow, MA
(978) 562-5666
Open daily for pick-your-own daily from 9:30am-5pm
Visit the farm animals, try three different hedge mazes, and go on a hayride (weekends only from 10:30am-4pm)

Parlee Farms
95 Farwell Rd, Tyngsboro, MA
(978) 649-3854
Feed and pet the animals at Annie’s Animal Barns, Play in the (free) Hay Play Area, and drive on Farmer Mark’s Tractor Training Course.

Russell Orchards
143 Argilla Rd, Ipswich, MA
(978) 356-5366
Pick-your-own hours 9am-5pm
Visit the Barnyard Animals. Wine tastings every Friday-Sunday from 12-6pm.

Silverbrook Farm
934 Main St. Acushnet, MA 02743
No apple or pumpkin picking but they do give a free sugar pumpkin with admission. 2016 Harvest Festival beginning September 24, 2016 and continuing through October 2016! Horse or Tractor Drawn Hayrides, Mother Goose Storytime, Face Painting and much much more! Keep watching for ticket sales and discounts as they become available and if you have any questions shoot them an email at thesilverbrookfarm@gmail.com!

Smolak Farms
315 S Bradford St, North Andover, MA
(978) 682-6332
Apple picking opens on Labor Day weekend. Open Saturday, Sunday & Monday. Weekend PYO Hours: 8:30am-4:30pm, weekday PYO Hours: 9am-4pm. Fall Festival Time every weekend in September & October – Corn Maze, Pumpkin Patch, Hay Rides, Amusement Area, Farm Animals, Apple Cider Donuts, Candy Apples & more.

Tougas Family Farm
234 Ball Street, Northboro MA
(508) 393-6406
Open Labor Day Weekend (Sunday and Monday) from 10am-5pm. September and October Fall Hours – Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am-5pm. Closed Mondays except Labor Day and Columbus Day Monday (closed the Tuesdays after). Barnyard, playground, farm kitchen.

Where is your favorite farm to go for apple picking
as well as pumpkins?

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Drumlin Farm Adventures

6/6/2016

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Drumlin Farm Adventures
By: Molly

I grew up going to Drumlin Farm and have many fond memories of the time spent there. Drumlin Farm is an Audubon Sanctuary located in Lincoln, MA that is a working farm. They are open everyday from 10am-5pm (March-October in colder months there are reduced hours). Admission is free for Audubon members otherwise it is $8 for Adults, $6 for Children (2-12) and $6 for Seniors (65+). I like getting there around 10:30 and allowing about 90 minutes to enjoy the farm then have a picnic lunch.

Today my three year old son and I arrive a little before 10:30 and got a parking spot right by some of the small glacial boulders. So my billy goat of a son spends a few minutes climbing on them before we head to the farm entrance. My son enjoys climbing on the rocks and logs throughout the farm as much as he likes seeing the animals.
The Farm is large and spread out so if your child(ren) are not good walkers I recommend bring a stroller (or borrowing one of the strollers Drumlin has to loan out). After entering the first animals you can see are the sheep and there are lots of them so usually you can even pat them if you want; every spring lots of baby lambs are born which is a fun time to visit. Once you get to the bottom of the hill there are four different directions you can go. If you need a snack or bathroom you can head to the left to the picnic area which also has a bathroom. Or head up Bird Hill to see the rescued Great Horned Owl, Pheasants, Turkey Vultures, American Kestrel, Broad-winged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl or my favorite the Fisher. Want to see the sheep barn or the three deer that were rescued as fawn many years ago head to the right. Otherwise head straight ahead to see the goats, pony, cows, pigs and bunnies in the lower farm. In the largest barn (the cow barn there are bathrooms too) you will find a bunch of cows, the pony and the Tack Room. The tack room is an interactive exhibit where kids can pretend to ride on horses on a real saddle, see what a milking station looks like and pretend they are milking a cow, brush a pony's tail, and horse around in the “horse around pen”. The pigs, goats, and chickens all have their own building spread across the lower end of the farm with the big barn being the furthest away. If your little one is getting tired remember to save some energy to climb the drumlin (a drumlin is a low oval mound or small hill, typically one of a group, consisting of compacted boulder clay molded by past glacial action ) and back to the main entrance!

If after all that walking you need a treat head down 117 to Dairy Joy in Weston. As a kid we use to always hope after a trip to the farm the car would become magic and take us to Dairy Joy for soft serve. Since I have such great memories of these “magic” trips I decided to take my son after our farm trip. We got a medium cone of chocolate and vanilla twist which was pretty big for $4.70. My son thought it was great and was thrilled by the size. Dairy Joy also offers seafood, burgers, sandwiches, chicken tender, salads, fries and ice cream specialties incase you want more to eat. I do have to say the chicken tenders were pretty good last time I had them back in 2010.

Have you been to a farm or Audobon sanctuary this Spring; where and how
was it?

Molly Hubner
Usborne Books & More Independent Educational Consultant
I am always looking for people to join my Usborne team, host parties (Facebook or home), or just share these wonderful books! For more information visit my website or contact me at mollyhubner@gmail.com. Plus follow me on Instagram www.instagram.com/mollyhubnersusbornebooks/

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A Tour of the Green Harvest Organic Farmer’s Market and Artisan Fair

7/2/2013

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By: Emily

When Stan and Cynthia began the Green Harvest Organic Farmer’s Market three years ago they were attempting to fill a gap in the availability of purchasing locally-harvested organic produce in the area. Since then, the market has expanded to include year-round artisans and vendors, all of whom honor the market’s philosophy of sustainability.

The uniqueness of this market compared to other farmer’s markets in the area is the addition of artisans selling everything from handmade greeting cards to screen printed shirts and jewelry. So bring the kids, get something for lunch, stock up on your organic produce and then spend some enjoyable time talking with the
artists.

My first stop was Treasure by the Sea, where I got to meet Joe and Jeanne. They have a wide variety of jams and jellies, some familiar (strawberry rhubarb) and some unique (autumn berry). They make every effort to wild pick the fruit used to make their jams and all of the recipes have been handed down from Jeanne’s English family.

They are obviously doing something right because she has been invited to participate in the 2014 American Made event hosted by Martha Stewart in New York City. Stop by and taste the autumn berry jam. I really enjoyed how you could taste the fruit as some jams are just too sweet for my taste preference.

Next I had a lovely conversation with Roberta and Mark Sherwin of Atlantic Artworks (formerly Sherwin Studios). Roberta was a scientific illustrator and Mark worked as a master engraver prior to embarking on their joint effort of creating screen printed shirts by hand. Many of the designs use Roberta’s illustrations and they are simply stunning. They offer printed shirts in both adult and children’s sizes so I couldn’t help but pick up a t-shirt for my son, who after spending several days at the beach this season is currently obsessed with all marine life. The shirts are printed with soy-based inks and Mark assured me that they use citrus-based cleaners to wash the screens (all of which he makes!). What I loved most about the designs (and Roberta is quite prolific, there were so many beautiful ones to choose from) is that they are true works of art that are pleasing to look at, but they also happen to accurately depict the animal. They accept both cash and credit cards (so you can stock up on gifts!).

My next stop was Mother Turtle Herbals. For those readers not yet familiar with Jennifer DelSignore’s shop, you are missing out. She really is the poster child for the Green Harvest Market, as she first began selling her hand made, natural skin care products here. Jennifer began making her own skin care products when her son (did I mention she has five kids?) developed a strong sensitivity to artificial
dyes. Boy was I glad she accepted
credit cards! I stocked up on a shampoo bar (perfect for packing in your carry-on luggage since it is solid), some lavender and rosemary soap (a gift), and a push-pop style tube of non-nano
zinc sunscreen combined with a variety of herbs and oils known to deter bugs. The sunscreen was a huge hit with my son who has a tendency to forcefully resist my attempts at sunscreen application. In the past I have tried having him “help” by applying the lotion himself, but that resulted in me being covered in several toddler-sized handprints of lotion and both of us in tears. This push pop is great because I was able to push it up just enough to dispense the appropriate amount of sunscreen, and he had full control of rubbing it on his arms and legs. It was rather easy to rub in too (especially for zinc-based lotion). Jennifer’s selection of products is impressive and now that I have had some time to try out a few I can say with confidence that I will be a repeat customer.

These are just a few of the vendors you can interact with. I had a nice chat with Marie at Cape Cod Saltworks, which is harvesting sea salt the old fashioned way. I sampled some gluten-free (and delicious) crackers at the White Lion Bakery (which will soon be stocked on shelves in Whole Foods) and had an
enjoyable time learning all about the container gardening systems for sale at Victory Garden.

So, in addition to hitting up the market for organic fruits and veggies you can get fresh eggs, wild harvested jams, unrefined sea salt harvested right here on Cape Cod, gluten-free baked goods (which also happen to be free of refined sugar), and a nice variety of organic soups, sandwiches and brick oven pizza.

The Green Harvest Organic Farmers' Market & Artisans' Fair is held every Tuesday from 12-4 at the Cape Cod Fairgrounds (formerly called the Barnstable County Fairgrounds) located at 1220 Nathan Ellis Hwy, East Falmouth. You can sign up for their newsletter to get a weekly listing of which vendors will be participating by sending an email to: greenharvest@comcast.net.

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Green Harvest Organic Farmers' Market & Artisans' Fair

6/6/2013

4 Comments

Green Harvest Organic Farmers' Market & Artisans' Fair - Tuesdays: noon - 4 p.m. through October 15, then Sundays: noon - 3 p.m. thru December 15, 2013. Main parking lot of Cape Cod Fairgrounds (formerly Barnstable County Fairgrounds), Route 151 at the Falmouth/Mashpee line (GPS 1220 Nathan Ellis Hwy, East Falmouth).

Foods: Local, organic & sustainably grown veggies, greens, herbs & fruits; herb & flowering plants; dried
herbs & herbal teas; farm-fresh eggs; wild picked local berry jellies & jams; local honey; organic soups, sandwiches & pastas; organic olive oils & vinegars (in Autumn); organic baked goods (gluten-free/paleo); granola snacks for the kids; organic fruit tarts; sea salt from Cape Cod; organic/fair trade coffees; organic brick oven pizzas, green and solar energy options, more to come...

Artisans will be with us the full season this year! Handcrafted soaps with fresh-picked botanicals, plants & herbs; organic skin care balms & herbal toners; varied handcrafted jewelry including wire-wrapped selenite
crystal & bead, fused & dichroic glass; fabric & knitted wares, felted & woven Shetland fleece rugs/wall hangings; hand painted greeting cards & stationery; paintings; clutch & pouch purses; organic cotton baby blankets & hats; More to come!

Bring the kids & the doggies!! Come support your local farmers, artisans and vendors! SHOP LOCAL!

Please join our EMAIL LIST for weekly updates at GreenHarvest@comcast.net and follow their Facebook page for posts and pictures!

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Hidden Freebies Around the Cape ~ Hawk's Wing Organic Farm

6/18/2012

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This past Sunday, a fellow Cape Cod Mom and I decided to brave a lengthy drive from isolated Falmouth up to Yarmouth Port to checking out Hawk's Wing Organic Farm! We were intrigued by the promise of fresh strawberry picking at prices better than local markets! Most local farms usually have you pay a membership fee to belong and then you have to stand in line when you go to get your bracelet or some other method before you can pick and buy your own produce, but not this farm! Although they are a CSA, which you can pay to belong to, they also allow anyone to come by for FREE and pick their own items. So even if you don't belong as a member, you can still enjoy the farm and animals!

Hawk’s Wing Farm is a local family-owned Cape Cod CSA farm and orchard, located on 4 acres and nestled in a pocket surrounded by 300 acres of Yarmouth conservation land, that seeks member-supported contributions to support the farms efforts to raise naturally grown, organic fruit and vegetables. They have planted 1,000 apple trees, 8 varieties, and peach, pear, and cherry trees. There is a 96’ greenhouse and another 90’ hoop house so they can grow organic produce year round!

We decided the long drive would be worth carpooling together so we could tag team the napless toddlers who were testing their exhausted mothers. So we plugged the address into our GPS and off we went. The GPS did bring us there however it was deceiving to find since it is actually located in a neighborhood called Hawk Wing Estates. We drove past a few times because we didn't think that it was back in the nieghborhood. After driving up the dirt driveway and being waved on by owner and farmer, Billy Snowden, we were enthusiastically greeted by farm dog Buddy!

Mr. Snowden immediately welcomed us and gave us free reign of the animal pen! The kids were fascinated with the goats, ducks and chickens that
milled about. We were even allowed to feed the friendly goats some grass and clover, much to the delight of the happy toddlers!
After Buddy the dog walked with us over to talk to Mr. Snowden. He was very excited that we had made the drive from Falmouth and was eager to share his knowledge with us. A few strawberry bags later, he told us to let the kids eat some berries while down there and sent us on our way to gather some red berry goodness!

As the moms got to work picking berries for our bags, the kids promptly began picking and eating as many berries as their little tummys could handle. Teaming up and taking turns picking while supervising was a great idea! We did have a few close calls with berries that were almost ingested before they were ripe, but those were quickly swatted away. The ripes ones were juicy and so sweet, much better than store bought strawberries. And though most were smaller than ones we buy in stores, that did not affect the taste or experience in any way. Thirty minutes, two bagfuls and two satisfied toddlers (note the red stains around their mouths) later we journeyed back up to the greenhouse to pay for our berries and chat with Farmer Billy!

Overall this trip was a great learning experience, a fun free outdoor activity for the kids, and we were able to get our own strawberries and produce that are chemical free! Everything about this farm is a learning and tactile experience, sure to please any child! To be able to go into the pen and pet he goats and experience the chickens first hand was a great experience. It was also fun to expose the kids to the farm experience it was reassuring to know they could pick fruit and pop it right into their mouths without fear of outside substances on it

So if you are looking for something to do, take the drive and visit Farmer Billy, Buddy the dog and the farm. I recommend wearing comfy sneakers and long pants (incase you want to kneel while picking), and bringing a friend. The prices are definitely comparable, only $4.50 for a pint of strawberries, which you get more of since they are smaller in size. Farmer Billy also recommended making our own spread with the bruised and less desirable ones sincethey are just as sweet. Last night I whipped up a little spread myself and this morning, my son and I enjoyed some jam toast with our eggs and blueberries! It was amazing! If you want to know more about this hidden freebie, check out their website at: http://hawkswingorganicfarm.com/ or visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/hawkswingorganicfarm And please make sure you tell Farmer Billy that you heard about his farm from Cape Cod Mommies!

If you know of ahidden freebie on Cape Cod that you want Cape Cod Mommies to visit, please email us at info@ccmommies.com

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Fall Harvest Pick Your Own Apples & Pumpkins plus Fall Fun!

Where is your favorite farm to go for apple picking
as well as pumpkins?

Drumlin Farm Adventures

A Tour of the Green Harvest Organic Farmer’s Market and Artisan Fair

Green Harvest Organic Farmers' Market & Artisans' Fair

Hidden Freebies Around the Cape ~ Hawk's Wing Organic Farm

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