This is the final farmstand column for the season. For the most part, it’s been a good one, despite the moderate drought that has plagued this area since the latter part of summer. The season was not without its difficulties. A hailstorm hit one of the town’s orchards in June, leaving its calling card on some of the apples and peaches there. A smaller-than-usual apple crop this season resulted in pick-your-own ending early at most orchards, especially for some varieties. And there seemed to be an anecdotal consensus that tomatoes were smaller than usual this year, perhaps due to the drought.
But next year it all begins again, and we should keep our fingers crossed that the coming winter and spring weather will be kind to our farms and orchards. In the meantime, only Old Frog Pond Farm has closed for the season. Most of the other stands will remain open through at least late fall selling apples, winter squash, and whatever else is harvestable before Mother Nature shuts it all down. See the stands’ individual listings for their status over the next few months.
Carlson Orchards, 115 Oak Hill Road, 978-456-3916
Pick-your-own apples is over for the season. Available in the store are Golden Delicious, McIntosh, Macoun, Cortland, Gala, Empire, and Honeycrisp apples, as well as Carlson’s apple cider (regular, Honeycrisp, and Gala). Also in the store are an assortment of winter squashes from Brookdale Fruit Farm in Hollis, New Hampshire.
Store is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, year-round.
Doe Orchards, 327 Ayer Road, 978-772-4139
Pick-your-own apples has ended for the season. At the stand are Honeycrisp, McIntosh, Ruby Mac, Pink Lady, Macoun, Fuji, Golden Delicious, and Cortland apples, as well as a couple of heirloom varieties. Lots of gourds and pumpkins are also at the stand, along with Box Mill Farm’s apple cider (with Doe’s apples in the mix).
The stand is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Choose-and-cut Christmas tree sales start the Friday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 28, and end when the trees are sold out (usually very quickly). The stand closes after that until next summer.
Good Spirits Farm, 106 East Bare Hill Road
At the self-service farmstand (and adjacent shed) this week: end of the season field tomatoes and pattypan squash, along with (no-spray) Redfield cider apples, Kieffer pears (an American heirloom, good for baking and canning), winter squash (including acorn, butternut, delicata, and honeynut) Russian, Scotch, and Italian Lacinato kale, and spinach. Also at the stand are bouquets of dried hydrangeas, fall-themed table top arrangements, as well as the farm’s own honey, berry jams, teas made with the farm’s dried herbs and wildflowers, lip balm, and hand cream. Fresh Chip-In Farm eggs in the fridge.
Self-serve stand is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily until Dec. 24. Festive holiday greenery will be available during the holiday season.
Westward Orchards, 178 Massachusetts Avenue, 978-456-8363
Pick-your-own apples is still open, but will likely be ending soon; check the website or call for updates. Available in the store: Empire, Baldwin, Macoun, Honeycrisp, Jonaprince, Red Jonathan, Gala, Roxbury Russet, Golden Russet, Golden Delicious, Ginger Gold, McIntosh, and Cortland apples as well as Bosc pears. Also Westward’s own tomatoes (including heirloom and cherry), lettuce, kale, winter squash, peppers, beets, cabbage, carrots, mixed potatoes, mixed herbs, and apple cider from Bolton Orchards.
The store will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (except Thanksgiving and Christmas) until Dec. 31; pick-your-own apples is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily until it ends.
The annual holiday open house is scheduled for Dec. 5 through Dec. 7, and the end of season sale will run from Dec. 27 through Dec. 31.
Willard Farm, 218 Still River Road, 978-456-8291
218 Still River Road, 978-456-8291
Things are winding down at the stand, but there are still plenty of pumpkins (including sugar pumpkins) and gourds of all sizes. Other produce includes Yukon gold potatoes, yellow and red onions, shallots, scallions, and winter squash. All produce is from Cucurbit Farm in Acton except for the gourds (large and small) and white pumpkins—those are grown by Harvard’s own “Grumpy Farmer Willard” (according to the signage).
Self-service stand is open daily until it closes.
Old Frog Pond Farm, 38 Eldridge Road
www.oldfrogpondfarm.com
Closed for the season.
All produce listed is Harvard grown unless otherwise noted.
—Compiled by Joan Eliyesil
