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
Monday, April 4, 2011
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!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Fall Update "More to do in October" 2010
Well another successful apple harvest has ended. To all those who came out and enjoyed themselves and respected our orchard thank you for picking at Smith Farm! If you missed out on apple picking, remember next year we start apples in September on Labor Day Weekend !! We can only keep the apples on the trees for so long (especially when some insist on knocking them all off !)
Is this the end of things to do a Smith Farm you may ask? Heck no! We still have:
Is this the end of things to do a Smith Farm you may ask? Heck no! We still have:
- Pick your own pumpkins (weekends via hayride), and the pumpkin pile at the farm stand every day.
- Hallowlantern Hayride October 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29 & 30...a night time 30 minute hayride (not haunted) to view hundreds of expertly carved jack-o-lanterns. Catch the hayride on Wed, Thur and Sunday dates from "Dark" until 9 pm and on the Fri and Saturday dates from "Dark" until 10 pm. Adults $14.00 Children 12 and under $12.00 or Ride twice for $20.00 Adults/$18.oo Children.
- Farmstand remains open until winter with all of our own apples, our own potatoes, our own fresh pressed cider, Halloween display and sales, jams, jellies, baked goods, squashes, mums, and more !!
Hope to see you soon !!
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Fall Update Columbus Weekend
Apple Picking Conditions Saturday 10/9 3pm - very limited. Yellow delicious and Northern Spy varieties left - very limited. We will be open until 4 pm today. There will be no more pick your own apples after today.
Pick your own pumpkins will continue (hayride required) this weekend and until Halloween. Pumpkin piles at the farmstand every day.
Framstand open until winter! All our own apple varieties, our own cider, pumpkins, donuts, etc etc.
Harvest Hoedown (music, kids fun) continues thru Monday.
$5 Parking fee for all entry this weekend only due to the festivities.
Thank you!!
Pick your own pumpkins will continue (hayride required) this weekend and until Halloween. Pumpkin piles at the farmstand every day.
Framstand open until winter! All our own apple varieties, our own cider, pumpkins, donuts, etc etc.
Harvest Hoedown (music, kids fun) continues thru Monday.
$5 Parking fee for all entry this weekend only due to the festivities.
Thank you!!
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