July is National Blueberry Month. No, really...its National Blueberry Month. Granted anyone can nominate any month, day or year to be a national something or other but Blueberries and July certainly fit. Did you know blueberries are high in vitamins, anti oxidents and are just plain good for you! They can be frozen and enjoyed all year long too. Try them on cereal, ice cream, in pies, muffins or cakes. All sorts of recipes are out there on what to do with blueberries. Pick Your Own blueberries is open 7 days a week 9am to 4pm and generally runs now thru August. They are also availabel pre picked in the farm stand. As a reminder, kindly pay for all you pick...granted blueberries do grow on bushes but they cost money to grow!
Thanks and hope to see you soon.
CN Smith Farm
Friday, July 8, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
June 2011 Pick Your Own Strawberries
Well summer is finally upon us and the strawberries are in! We were very lucky to avoid any serious late spring frosts so the crop is looking very healthy. Why settle for tasteless supermarket berries from who-knows-where when you can pick your own fresh ones right here in your own back yard? If you don’t feel like picking your own, we pick daily for the farm stand where you can grab a box and not even get dirty! If you can however, I recommend picking your own at least once for the experience. Its hard work but fun to see just how things grow and where they come from. We grow over 3 acres of berries so come do some picking!
Now for a few picking and storage tips: There is a minimum amount required for pick your own (you must pick at least 2 quarts). If you would like less they are available in the farm stand already picked. When picking strawberries you want to handle them like eggs…you simply cradle the berry in your last three fingers while pinching the stem between your thumb and first finger to break the stem. If you grab and tug on the berry itself you're only going to squish it. Be sure to move the plant leaves to find the berries hidden underneath – sometimes these are the best ones, especially as the season winds down later in June. Strawberries require a lot of sun and are therefore planted in wide open fields - we open at 9am and start picking before it gets too hot! Berries can be frozen and enjoyed all season long and even into next spring. Simply rinse in a strainer, cut off the stem and if desired, cut in half, and store in ziplock type freezer-rated bags. When freezing berries its best not to pick them over-ripe as they do not freeze well. Ripe but firm berries freeze the best while riper berries should be eaten fresh.
Also, its not too late to plant your own garden. The warm spring has everyone thinking gardens should be planted by now but you have until June 15 in general to get your veggie plants in. We have plenty of plants started and ready for transplanting plus seeds, natural and organic (our own) fertilzers, and pest supplies. Stop by the greenhouses and farm stand for all your gardening needs.
Happy Gardening and Picking!
Now for a few picking and storage tips: There is a minimum amount required for pick your own (you must pick at least 2 quarts). If you would like less they are available in the farm stand already picked. When picking strawberries you want to handle them like eggs…you simply cradle the berry in your last three fingers while pinching the stem between your thumb and first finger to break the stem. If you grab and tug on the berry itself you're only going to squish it. Be sure to move the plant leaves to find the berries hidden underneath – sometimes these are the best ones, especially as the season winds down later in June. Strawberries require a lot of sun and are therefore planted in wide open fields - we open at 9am and start picking before it gets too hot! Berries can be frozen and enjoyed all season long and even into next spring. Simply rinse in a strainer, cut off the stem and if desired, cut in half, and store in ziplock type freezer-rated bags. When freezing berries its best not to pick them over-ripe as they do not freeze well. Ripe but firm berries freeze the best while riper berries should be eaten fresh.
Also, its not too late to plant your own garden. The warm spring has everyone thinking gardens should be planted by now but you have until June 15 in general to get your veggie plants in. We have plenty of plants started and ready for transplanting plus seeds, natural and organic (our own) fertilzers, and pest supplies. Stop by the greenhouses and farm stand for all your gardening needs.
Happy Gardening and Picking!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Spring 2011
Well April showers should bring May flowers...if they dont wash them away. We've put away the snow plows and re-opened with gardening supplies and spring flowers. We'll be growing all kinds of flowers and early garden plants like peas, lettuce, etc and continuing later with tomatoes, squash and cukes all ready to plant in your own home garden. We also have compost, fertilizers (natural and 5-10-10, 10-10-10 etc), lime and more. Stop in for quality plants and help support your local grower!
Thanks and hope to see you soon.
~C. Smith
Thanks and hope to see you soon.
~C. Smith
Sunday, February 27, 2011
March 2011
We will be at the Boston Flower and Garden Show March 16th thru 20th (http://www.paragonexpo.com/index.php/BFS-General/)
Also note the Farm Store re-opens April 1st!
Did you know March 11 is Johnny Appleseed Day? Me neither, until I was reading the Farmer’s Almanac recently. No, apples are not ready in New England in March, but it is the time to prune apple trees. Fruit trees must be dormant when pruning. At Smith Farm we have several thousand trees to prune and there is no “pruning machine”. Although air pruners and pole saws reduce the work, one must still circle each tree on foot; decide what needs to go and what will produce the most and best fruit for the season. Broken or diseased branches are easy to spot and remove but what about pruning for the future? The orchard manager must decide how the tree wants to grow, what branches he wants to remove, and how to get the best fruit.
So what does Johnny Appleseed have to with all this? When settlers first arrived in the new world, there were no cultivated fruit trees except a few wild crab apple, cherry and plum plantings. For a hundred years or more apple trees were grown from seed. Johnny Chapman (aka Johnny Appleseed) was an eccentric but resourceful Massachusetts native who travelled routes most likely to be settled in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana and other states purchasing land and planting seedlings. By the 1840s he owned 1200 acres of land for nurseries and hundreds of varieties of apples were grown. Most of these varieties are now only notations in old books. Who has recently perused their local Walmart and found a Ben Davis? How about a Limbertwig or Duchess of Oldenburg? I didn’t think so. These “antique” (or heirloom as its commonly referred to now) varieties are mostly extinct. Many didn’t taste very good anyways and were used for cider (refrigeration not yet being invented for long term storage).
Trees are now propagated by grafting, a technique done in March by joining a twig from one tree (called a scion) to a host root stock. The result is a tree true to the variety of the scion. Trees from seeds result in a “chance seedling” – a cross between whatever varieties were pollinated to produce the apple the seed came from – the result is sometimes good and sometimes not so good. At Smith Farm we are lucky enough to grow several antique varieties and even a chance seedling that actually tastes good. Our antique varieties ripen mostly in late October and include Baldwin, Russet, Northern Spy, Spencer, Rome and Winesap. Our chance seedling is called “Cue’s Favorite”, so called for the nickname of the person who’s field in central MA it was found growing. Cue’s Favorite is in limited supply and available only at Smith Farm sometime near the end of September to mid October.
So if you’re in the mood to taste something different and feeling as adventurous as Johnny Appleseed, come to Smith Farm in the fall. If you’re feeling as ambitious (or maybe eccentric) as Johnny and would like to plant your own home orchard, visit us in the spring. We have a small but nice selection of commonly grown varieties potted and ready to plant and can order other varieties as well…remember you need two different variety trees if you want fruit (or a crabapple tree in the yard will suffice too.)
PS. A note to our Facebook friends…due to the limited amount of time we have for updating the web page and blog and the upcoming busy planting season, we cannot always answer questions posted to Facebook. It is best to call the store once we open. Thanks.
Also note the Farm Store re-opens April 1st!
Did you know March 11 is Johnny Appleseed Day? Me neither, until I was reading the Farmer’s Almanac recently. No, apples are not ready in New England in March, but it is the time to prune apple trees. Fruit trees must be dormant when pruning. At Smith Farm we have several thousand trees to prune and there is no “pruning machine”. Although air pruners and pole saws reduce the work, one must still circle each tree on foot; decide what needs to go and what will produce the most and best fruit for the season. Broken or diseased branches are easy to spot and remove but what about pruning for the future? The orchard manager must decide how the tree wants to grow, what branches he wants to remove, and how to get the best fruit.
So what does Johnny Appleseed have to with all this? When settlers first arrived in the new world, there were no cultivated fruit trees except a few wild crab apple, cherry and plum plantings. For a hundred years or more apple trees were grown from seed. Johnny Chapman (aka Johnny Appleseed) was an eccentric but resourceful Massachusetts native who travelled routes most likely to be settled in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana and other states purchasing land and planting seedlings. By the 1840s he owned 1200 acres of land for nurseries and hundreds of varieties of apples were grown. Most of these varieties are now only notations in old books. Who has recently perused their local Walmart and found a Ben Davis? How about a Limbertwig or Duchess of Oldenburg? I didn’t think so. These “antique” (or heirloom as its commonly referred to now) varieties are mostly extinct. Many didn’t taste very good anyways and were used for cider (refrigeration not yet being invented for long term storage).
Trees are now propagated by grafting, a technique done in March by joining a twig from one tree (called a scion) to a host root stock. The result is a tree true to the variety of the scion. Trees from seeds result in a “chance seedling” – a cross between whatever varieties were pollinated to produce the apple the seed came from – the result is sometimes good and sometimes not so good. At Smith Farm we are lucky enough to grow several antique varieties and even a chance seedling that actually tastes good. Our antique varieties ripen mostly in late October and include Baldwin, Russet, Northern Spy, Spencer, Rome and Winesap. Our chance seedling is called “Cue’s Favorite”, so called for the nickname of the person who’s field in central MA it was found growing. Cue’s Favorite is in limited supply and available only at Smith Farm sometime near the end of September to mid October.
So if you’re in the mood to taste something different and feeling as adventurous as Johnny Appleseed, come to Smith Farm in the fall. If you’re feeling as ambitious (or maybe eccentric) as Johnny and would like to plant your own home orchard, visit us in the spring. We have a small but nice selection of commonly grown varieties potted and ready to plant and can order other varieties as well…remember you need two different variety trees if you want fruit (or a crabapple tree in the yard will suffice too.)
PS. A note to our Facebook friends…due to the limited amount of time we have for updating the web page and blog and the upcoming busy planting season, we cannot always answer questions posted to Facebook. It is best to call the store once we open. Thanks.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Winter Update 2011
Winter in New England…if you’re as tired as I am of the snow and cold then I know you’re thinking about spring flowers, summer veggies and even fall fruits. So I thought I’d share some thoughts to get your mind on the warmer months ahead instead of fretting about the latest snow storm to end all snow storms. Since spring is next in line, let’s start there.
The seed and nursery catalogs have been filling up the mailbox over the last week (hopefully this helps keep the USPS in less red ink than usual) so if you’re thinking of starting your own garden this year, or are continuing an existing garden, then now is a good time to start planning for spring. ‘What’s to plan?’ you might ask…’ just throw the seed in the ground and it grows right?’…well not exactly. Soil preparation is most important to a successful crop, whether it be a large garden or just a few tomato pots on the back porch. First, soil pH is crucial to plant health. Blueberries and Strawberries for example prefer slightly acidic soil (add sulfur or blueberry specific fertilizers) while vegetable and fruit trees prefer a more neutral pH (add lime). Inexpensive soil test kits are usually available in garden centers or nurseries. Soil samples can also be sent to the University of MA in Amherst (small fee) for a more extensive analysis. Next up is organic matter. If you have sandy or heavy clay soil then you’ll want to add some organic matter like composted leaves, grass clippings etc. If you use this type of compost it should be well broken down and look like soil itself. Cow and chicken manure are excellent soil enhancers and good organic fertilizers but should be mixed well in the existing soil to avoid burning tender seedlings and roots. Finally starting your own seeds is fun but be sure to check the packaging for the time it takes to from start to harvest as you don’t want to still be waiting for that fresh melon when the leaves are falling in October! Also beware of late spring frosts that can kill tender young plants. Cultivation, weed control, fertilizing, pest control and watering will all be important steps as your garden continues to grow. So visit CN Smith Farm this spring for seeds, seedlings, fertilizers, pest control products, organic compost/manure and good old fashioned advice from experienced growers. You’ll have to excuse me now while I go out and shovel the latest gift from mother nature off the driveway. Don’t forget that all this snow is really nutrient laden water that will recharge our lakes and streams and even our gardens for a bountiful new season.
The seed and nursery catalogs have been filling up the mailbox over the last week (hopefully this helps keep the USPS in less red ink than usual) so if you’re thinking of starting your own garden this year, or are continuing an existing garden, then now is a good time to start planning for spring. ‘What’s to plan?’ you might ask…’ just throw the seed in the ground and it grows right?’…well not exactly. Soil preparation is most important to a successful crop, whether it be a large garden or just a few tomato pots on the back porch. First, soil pH is crucial to plant health. Blueberries and Strawberries for example prefer slightly acidic soil (add sulfur or blueberry specific fertilizers) while vegetable and fruit trees prefer a more neutral pH (add lime). Inexpensive soil test kits are usually available in garden centers or nurseries. Soil samples can also be sent to the University of MA in Amherst (small fee) for a more extensive analysis. Next up is organic matter. If you have sandy or heavy clay soil then you’ll want to add some organic matter like composted leaves, grass clippings etc. If you use this type of compost it should be well broken down and look like soil itself. Cow and chicken manure are excellent soil enhancers and good organic fertilizers but should be mixed well in the existing soil to avoid burning tender seedlings and roots. Finally starting your own seeds is fun but be sure to check the packaging for the time it takes to from start to harvest as you don’t want to still be waiting for that fresh melon when the leaves are falling in October! Also beware of late spring frosts that can kill tender young plants. Cultivation, weed control, fertilizing, pest control and watering will all be important steps as your garden continues to grow. So visit CN Smith Farm this spring for seeds, seedlings, fertilizers, pest control products, organic compost/manure and good old fashioned advice from experienced growers. You’ll have to excuse me now while I go out and shovel the latest gift from mother nature off the driveway. Don’t forget that all this snow is really nutrient laden water that will recharge our lakes and streams and even our gardens for a bountiful new season.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Winter Update 2010
Well winter is defintely upon us. The strawberries are bedded down under a nice blanket of straw for the winter, the equipment is put away and the wood is chopped and split. We are now open weekends until Christmas. We have fire wood available by the cord, bin, or lesser amounts. For large orders please call the store and leave a message (508-378-2270). We also have some apples left, potatoes, winter squash, jams-jellies and our own cider - yes we are still pressing cider! So stop in some weekend and warm up in the barn...maybe even contemplate next year's garden. Merry Christmas and Happy New year !!
Friday, November 5, 2010
Fall Update November 2010
November is here! But before you drag out those Christmas decorations and untangle the lights (or maybe they're still up from last year?), dont forget about Thanksgiving! We still have a great selection of late season apples, sugar pumpkins, winter squash and potatoes. As always, we grew it right here on the farm! Also local honey, jams, jellies and dont forget our own fresh pressed cider. A cup of warm mulled cider really helps ward off the cold November nights. We also sell rye seed, lime and other essentials to put your garden to bed for the winter. Additional we sell cut and split wood from our own woodlots (buying wood from other parts of the state may introduce unwanted tree insects into the local area).
To all those who came out and enjoyed the Hallowlantern Hayride - thanks so much! This year was a great success thanks to the nice weather late in October. Hope everyone enjoyed the spookie greenhouse display and liked the carved pumpkins.
Thanks again!
To all those who came out and enjoyed the Hallowlantern Hayride - thanks so much! This year was a great success thanks to the nice weather late in October. Hope everyone enjoyed the spookie greenhouse display and liked the carved pumpkins.
Thanks again!
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