December 2013 Update

The farmstand is still open on weekends from 9-5 up until Christmas or until stock runs out. We have fresh pressed cider, late variety apples, and winter squash. We will be closed for good after Christmas and looking forward to seeing you at the spring flower show in Boston! Warm weather and blooming flowers are only a few months away!

November 2013 Update 2

Thanksgiving is almost here and so is the time to start baking all those delicious pies, sauces and whatever else you love to eat! Our farm stand is open 7 days a week and we have a HUGE selection of apples for eating and baking. We have winter and butternut squash, pumpkin, kale, potatoes, cider, jams jellies, and honey. We even have some of our own tomatoes still available and homegrown garlic. For you gardeners out there its not too late to plant your own garlic – you can plant right up until the ground freezes, fertilize and mulch for the winter. Your garlic will sprout in the spring. Thanks and hope to see you soon. ~ CN Smith Farm

November 2013 Update

Apple Pick Your Own has ended. Thanks to everyone for a great season! But just because you can’t pick your own doesn’t mean you can’t get fresh apples! Our farm stand is open 7 days a week and we have a HUGE selection of apples – some of which were not available for pick your own. We also have utility (pie) apples, winter and butternut squash, kale, potatoes, cider, jams jellies and honey. For you gardeners out there now is the time to apply lime and compost to your gardens. Lime helps make nutrients available to the plants next season and sweetens or neutralizes acid soils. Applying aged compost or manure helps replenish microbes in the soils lost over the growing season. We also have winter rye seed for a fall cover crop. Rye will sprout on warm November days and help hold the soil for the winter. Turn it under in the spring when its about 4-6 inches tall to help add organic matter to your soil. Thanks and hope to see you soon. ~ CN Smith Farm

October 26/27 2013 Update

This weekend (Oct 26/27) will be the last for Apple Pick Your Own! We have a few varieties left such as: Empire – this Red Delicious/Mcintosh cross is an excellent eating and dessert apple. Spencer – this Yellow Delicious/Mcintosh cross is sweet and juicy. Excellent for eating. Northern Spy – the old adage says “Northern Spy makes a good pie.” Similar to Cortland when baked. Mutsu – a Yellow Delicious/Pippin cross, this large apple is great for baking and eating as well. Golden Russet – Tart skin and pear like flavors. Good for pies if mixed with any other variety. Other varieties may also be available in limited quantities. Also this weekend bring the kids for our “Not too haunted hayrides”…these daytime hayrides are perfect for younger kids and parents alike – jump off the wagon to pick your own pumpkin just in time for Halloween! Visit our farm store spooky greenhouse, pick up some of our own fresh winter vegetables like potatoes and squash, our own apples and apple cider and for your sweet tooth – our own fresh made cider donuts! Thanks for supporting your local family farm!

October 19/20 2013 UPDATE

Apple Pick Your Own continues until we get picked out! For the weekend of October 19 and 20 we have a number of varieties such as: Empire – this Red Delicious/Mcintosh cross is an excellent eating and dessert apple. Spencer – this Yellow Delicious/Mcintosh cross is sweet and juicy. Excellent for eating. Northern Spy – the old adage says “Northern Spy makes a good pie.” Similar to Cortland when baked. Mutsu – a Yellow Delicious/Pippin cross, this large apple is great for baking and eating as well. Golden Russet – Tart skin and pear like flavors. Good for pies if mixed with any other variety. Also available in limited quantities are Red Delicious, Fuji, Breaburn, and Yellow Delicious. Also for the next few weekends bring the kids for our “Not too haunted hayrides”…these daytime hayrides are perfect for younger kids and parents alike – jump off the wagon to pick your own pumpkin! Visit our farm store for our own fresh winter vegetables like potatoes and squash, our own apples and apple cider and for your sweet tooth – our own fresh made cider donuts! Check out the ghoulish greenhouse and Halloween fun! Thanks for supporting your local family farm!

October 13/14 2013 Update

UPDATED FOR 10/13....APPLE Pick Your Own for Columbus Day Weekend October 12, 13 and 14 (9am-4pm): Our annual Harvest Hoe-down Weekend: live music with Dale and the Dudds, hayrides, pumpkin picking, pony rides, and more! Varieties ripe for pick your own are Empire, Delicious (Red and Yellow), Northern Spy, Spencer, Fuji, Breaburn, Mutsu, Granny Smith, Golden Russet. NOTE! While we have alot of apples to pick still, not all varieties may be available when you come as some may get picked out partly thru the day. We will attempt to keep the blog updated or you can just take a ride over and see as there are plenty of other things going on! Some useful picking hints: For some varieties the best picking is at the ends of the rows (not the back of the orchard). Also, apples are not just at the top of the trees – they also can be found under the leaves and lower branches! Apples in the shade may have less color than those in the direct sun but all are ripe! You are expected to pay for what you pick and pick only what you paid for! Please remain in designated areas only. We have plenty to reach with your two feet on the ground and do not allow tree climbing. It may be crowded so please be patient and considerate of others when parking, picking, in the store and elsewhere (like the portable restroom facilities!). Due to the need for extra parking lot help, a small parking fee is required for the festival. Venture over to our farm stand where you can get additional apple varieties not available for pick your own, pears, garlic, fresh veggies, cider, donuts, pumpkins, mums, Halloween decorations and more! Thank you for supporting your local family farm! ~CN Smith

October 5/6 2013 Update

APPLE Pick Your Own Update for October 5/6 (9am-4pm), as well as Wed-Fri Oct 9, 10, 11 (10am-4pm): Varieties ripe for picking are McIntosh (limited availability), Macoun, Cortland and Empire varieties. Last weekend was a record crowd and If the weather is decent we anticipate another one this weekend. Please be patient and considerate of others when parking, picking, in the store and elsewhere (like the portable facilities). Some useful picking hints: In some cases the best picking is at the ends of the rows (not the back of the orchard). Also, apples are not just at the top of the trees – they also can be found under the leaves and lower branches! The may have less color than those in the direct sun but all are ripe! Lunch and snacks from our food trailer includes fresh baked CIDER DONUTS and HOT APPLE FRITTERS! If you do not want to pick your own, just continue past the orchard entrance until you come to our farm stand where you can get our own apples, peaches, garlic, fresh veggies, cider, donuts, pumpkins, mums, and Halloween decorations! Thank you for supporting your local family farm! ~CN Smith

September 28/29 2013 Update

APPLE Pick Your Own Update for Sept 28/29 (9am-4pm), as well as Wed-Fri Oct 2, 3, 4 (10am-4pm): Varieties available are McIntosh, Macoun, Honey-Crisp (EXTREMELY LIMITED availability, weekend only), and Cortland. We continue to serve a great lunch and snacks from our food trailer including top quality burgers, hotdogs, pizza, fresh baked CIDER DONUTS and HOT APPLE FRITTERS! Apple picking hint: Not all the apples can be at the beginning of the rows - sometimes the best picking is at the end of the row where no one has gotten to yet!! If you do not want to pick your own, just continue past the orchard entrance until you come to our farm stand where you can get our own apples, peaches, garlic, fresh veggies, cider, donuts, pumpkins, mums, and Halloween decorations! Also for the weekend are hayrides to the pick your own pumpkin patch! If the weather is decent we anticipate a large crowd. Please be patient and considerate of others when parking, picking, in the store and elsewhere. Thank you for supporting your local family farm! ~CN Smith Farm

September 21/22 Update 2013

APPLE Pick Your Own this weekend (Sept 21/22 9am-4pm) will include McIntosh, Macoun, Honey-Crisp and Cortland varieties. Fresh pressed APPLE CIDER and fresh baked CIDER DONUTS are available at the orchard food trailer or in the farm stand. If you do not want to pick your own, just continue past the orchard entrance until you come to our farm stand where you can get our own apples, peaches, garlic, fresh veggies, cider, pumpkins, mums, and other fall decorations! Also for you gardeners, now is a good time to pick up winter rye, lime, and straw for mulching plants as well as cool weather crops like lettuce and mums. Early fall is still a good time to plant fruit trees and we still have a nice selection available. Your local family farm helps preserve open space and provides locally grown sustainable food crops - thanks for your support! ~CN Smith Farm

September 14/15 2013 Update

Apple Pick Your Own this weekend (Sept 14/15) will include McIntosh, Macoun, Honey-Crisp and Cortland varieties. Cortland is limited in supply until more ripen next weekend. We have also started pressing our APPLE CIDER. What says “Fall” in New England better than fresh cider and a fresh made CIDER DONUT? The farm stand remains stocked with fresh veggies right from our own fields as well as pears, peaches, apples, pumpkins, etc. Also check out the Halloween display and spooky greenhouse. A note on policies – we have had some comments recently regarding our policy of monitoring of the apple orchard…unfortunately over the last several years a number of people were caught trying to take significantly more apples than they paid for (not talking one or two apples here but 10 or 20 pounds more). While this may not seem critical at first glance, it does add up and affects what we need to charge everyone. We do remind employees to be respectful of the customers and hope for the same in return. Thank you to those who are honest and support local agriculture and come back year after year. It’s a busy time of year and we cannot always extend that personal “thank you” so I will take the opportunity to do so here. ~Smith Farm owners and staff.

September 2013 Update 1

It’s Apple Time! Summer varieties like Paula Red and Early McIntosh are available in the farm stand right now. Pick Your Own Apples McIntosh RESUMES THE WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 7/8 9am-4pm. This is also the last weekend for Pick Your Own Peaches (supplies limited). Apple PYO is also scheduled on weekdays Wed, Thur, Friday 10am-4pm. McIntosh starts the season tart with a nice crunch and the longer it remains on the tree (several weeks) the flavor will sweeten and the flesh will soften. This holds true for most varieties. The ripening process is accelerated once the fruit is picked and stored. To keep the fruit longer be sure to refrigerate it in the produce drawer (apples will absorb “fridge odors” and their taste can be affected). Generally “PYO” runs thru Columbus Day, however so much depends on the weather that we could extend picking into October and even November if the conditions are right. Check back here for updates or visit the Apple Picking page at www.cnsmithfarminc.com for more info on when to pick your favorite variety, how to pick apples, recipes, policies and other information. Also be sure to stop in the FARM STAND for fresh veggies, homegrown garlic, jams, honey, and other goods. Also new this year is our Farm Kitchen...fresh cooked lunch menu items featuring our own corn on the cob, fresh veggie toppings, and CIDER DONUTS!

August 2013 Update 2

We now have our home grown GARLIC in the farmstand! Our garlic is hand planted in small quantities, hand-picked, pesticide-free and cured for several weeks giving it a robust natural flavor unmatched by “supermarket” garlic. Three varieties are available this year: German White, Italian Purple, and Martin Heirloom. All have a nice flavor and are good for roasting. Martin Heirloom probably has the most intense flavor of the three. You can buy one bulb, several, or by the pound…you’ll never go back to generic garlic again! The first day of Fall isn’t until September 22 but APPLE Pick Your Own starts Labor Day Weekend {10am-4pm}! We’ll kick off the season with free hayrides around the orchard too (weather permitting). Despite the weather extremes this year, the apple crop looks to be a good one. We have summer varieties available right now in the farmstand if youre really craving fresh picked apples, otherwise we will start pick your own Aug 31 with McIntosh. Macs, as they’re more commonly known, will continue for several weeks. Additional varieties will be announced as they become available (we have approximately 18 varieties which ripen as the season progresses and will be available for pick your own until approximately Columbus Day). Check out the Apple Picking page at www.cnsmithfarminc.com for more info on what to do, how to pick, variety descriptions and recipes. We also are continuing to harvest our own peaches, pears, plums, raspberries, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, etc. Try our own CN Smith Bread and Butter Pickles! The Gardening Dept. now has lettuce, kale, cabbage and other fall vegetable seedlings available for your garden. If your cool weather crops failed due to the rainy spring, now is your chance to try again. Hope to see you at the farm. ~Smith

August 2013 Update

Finally a break in the weather! Cooler dryer air makes it perfect for Blueberry Raspberry and Peach Pick Your Own !! Blueberry and Raspberry picking is all week but Peaches are on Weekends ONLY. Everything is available in the farmstand now including our own corn and other fresh veggies. Be sure to visit our new lunch wagon which is open 11-2:30. Next weekend (Aug 10/11) is our corn festival with fresh corn, free samples, hayrides and the regular Pick Your Own crops. Hope to see you at the farm!

July 2013 Update

Pick Your Own Blueberries starts July 9th. Follow signs to the blueberry picking where you can get your containers and pay for what you pick. There is a 3lb minimum. Blueberries are also available by the quart already fresh picked at the store. Pick Your Own Strawberries has ended. In other growing and gardening news, all of this rain has certainly helped in some ways and hurt in some ways. While you haven’t had to water the lawn or garden much, we also haven’t had a lot of sunshine which plants need in order to process the soil nutrients and grow. You may have noticed brownish-red splotches in your lawn. This is most likely due to the heavy rains leaching nutrients from the soil. An application of 10-10-10 or organic fertilizer will help replenish those lost nutrients. We carry both conventional and organic fertilizers and compost products in our farm store. The red splotches can also be a fungus known as Red Thread for which fungicide applications may be necessary and require consultation from a turf grass professional. Your garden may also be suffering from too much water. Is your soil now saturated and heavy? You’ll need to cultivate and loosen up the compacted soil to help aerate the plant roots (don’t dig too deep or too close to the plant which can damage roots, just a gentle soil loosening with a cultivating tool). You may also need to work in some light fertilizing to help replenish diluted nutrients. Damp wet weather is also a recipe for plant fungus problems. Tomatoes, potatoes, squash and pumpkin plants may need fungicide applications to ward off blight and powdery mildew problems. Fruit trees may need extra fungicide applications as well. We carry several fungicide products in our farm store for home garden use. So just because you haven’t had to water your lawn or garden doesn’t mean there isn’t work to be done! Good luck and happy gardening. ~Smith

June Update 2

Over 3 acres of Strawberry Pick Your Own starts June 9th, 7 days a week, 9am to 4pm, weather permitting. If in doubt call the farm store for picking conditions at 508-378-2270. Follow signs to the strawberry picking shack for information, picking containers and for payment. Note there is a 3 pound minimum amount for pick your own. You can of course pick as much as you like. There is no entrance or parking fee. Please pay for all you pick. Single qt boxes can be purchased in the farm store already picked. Thank you and happy picking.

June 2013

Early STRAWBERRIES are now available in the FARM STORE already picked. Stay tuned for Pick Your Own dates... Is it summer already? The temperature sure seems to say so. The threat of spring frosts has passed and its now time to plant your garden. We still have plenty of flower and vegetable plants and seeds available. With temps in the 90s and 80s though, your plants can end up with transplant shock. Its best to cycle them in and out of the sun for a few hours each day for a couple of days to acclimate them to their new environment outside of the greenhouse and plant in the evening or on a cloudy day and water well. Monitor your potted plants or seedlings for adequate moisture. Potting soil can dry out quickly in the hot sun and wind and we are not responsible for your plant dying if you forget to water it!! We also carry fertilizer (organic and inorganic), compost, insecticides and other gardening items.

April 2013

It looks like spring has finally sprung here in south eastern MA. Although we are still susceptible to frost/freezing temps well into May, the daffodils and forsythias are blooming, the fruit trees are budding, the garlic cloves planted last fall are sprouting and soon it will be time to plant your flower or vegetable garden. We are open for gardening supplies, plants, onion sets, seeds, seed potatoes, and more. Also, we are trying out a new donut making machine and will be having FREE CIDER DONUT SAMPLES AVAILABLE ON WEEKENDS!! (*while supplies last*). Why wait for the fall apple season to enjoy one of these classic New England treats? ~Smith

Spring 2013 Store Opening

The farm is opening Thursday, March 28, 2013, 9:00 am- 5:00 pm. There will be an Easter Egg hunt Friday & Sat. 11:00- 3:00 pm. We will be closed on Sunday for Easter, re-opening Monday at 9:00 am and regular hours from then on. Hope to see you soon!

March 2013

Another winter storm is howling outside as I write this but daylight savings time begins this weekend so the end of winter is in sight. Since you probably have a severe case of the winter blahs, why not cheer yourself up by visiting us at the Boston Flower Show this March 13 thru 17? By now you’ve hopefully got your flower or veggie garden planned and are itching to get dirty. Before you get started however you need to consider several things. First is indoor seed starting and how long it takes for seeds to germinate. You don’t want to start plants too early, which makes for difficulties transplanting into the garden, nor do you want to be so late that you don’t even have a crop before the first fall frost! Timing is also important for the first outdoor planting. You need to keep in mind soil temperatures, moisture and nutrient levels (including pH) and spring frosts. Soil testing is available via the UMass Extension service and pH meters can be found at your local hardware or garden center. Be sure to keep an eye on the weather report for frost warnings once your plants are outside. We may be a bit premature in talking about outdoor planting since the ground is hardly even thawed in some places but March is the time to get outside and prune your fruit trees and blueberry bushes! Instructional videos are available on the UMass extension website as well as in numerous books and online writeups. There are numerous methods and theories on pruning and depending on the type of tree some methods work better than others. It is best to do as much research as you can since over- pruning or incorrect pruning can, in extreme cases, weaken the tree/bush and lead to its premature decline. We carry a selection of fruit trees ready for home planting should you wish to start your own orchard. Keep in mind you need two different varieties of apple trees (and most other fruits) in order for pollination to work and produce a crop! Happy Spring and hope to see you soon. ~Smith

Winter 2013

Happy 2013! So far this winter has been pretty good weather-wise. Its certainly not as nice as last winter when temps were mild and no snow fell at all, but compared to some recent years , we’ve been pretty lucky. However the fact remains, you cannot go out in the garden and pick a nice fresh tomato – so what can you do? Well, my mailbox has been full of seed catalogs lately so its obviously a good time to plan this year’s garden. Also, consider attending a gardening conference – SEMAP has a nice program coming up in February (semaponline.org). The UMass Extension service usually hosts winter meetings/demonstrations for home gardeners’ as well so check out their website for more info. On the farm we will be maintaining our equipment, planning our fields and orchard expansion/renovation as well as ramping up our seed starting in the greenhouses. We still have fire wood for sale, winter squash, apples, cider, jams, jellies, and honey (while supplies last). So stop by and say “hi” and thank you for your support of local agriculture. ~CN Smith Farm