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.