Halloween is right around the corner!!!

The excitement builds as Halloween is less than a week away.  Kids have been having a great time in the corn maze and pick your own pumpkin patch, barnyard adventure area.....

Finally the weather is co-operating.

This is our last weekend for our Harvest Festival and each day has a special event.  Saturday meet Sandra from Mom's Cookie Jar.  You've been enjoying their gingerbread cookies for years.  She is here Saturday to lead you through cookie decorating.  For a small charge you can choose and decorate your own cookie to take home... mmmmm  sweet memories

Sunday-  Join us as the Geissberger brothers press our apples into cider from 10 till 2.  Their process is bag in the box packaging where the cider keeps for a year, unrefrigerated and 3 months once you open it.  Their trailer has won the Ontario Innovation award and was also featured on Dragons Den.

Sample and you couldn't resist taking home the fruits of their labour.

Come on out and enjoy the farm.  We've got some delicious specials in our market,   The air is fresh and the view is beautiful.  A great way to relax.

Pumpkins, Apples, Food and Fun equals Fall

Fall is not only beautiful with the leaves changing colour, it is fun and delicious.  The colours are at their peek and driving down our lane takes you back to the beauty of the country.  Traffic and worries can be left behind.

The apple and pumpkin crops have been good this year.  The Mutsu and Fugi apples are now available, fresh picked, in our market making for over 7 varieties to choose from.  These two varieties are my favorites and well worth the wait.  The Mutsu also make a fantastic apple pie.

Time to stock up on Honeycrisp apples, we have them on special for $1.95/lb.  They are one of our most popular varieties - juicy and sweet.

Our Harvest Festival continues.  We've had great reviews about our home farm.  "It feels like a farm and is beautiful".  Enjoy time with family and friends.  Take a breath of fresh air and relax.

Come for some fun and good food!

Giving Thanks for the Harvest

Each season has it's own special crops that we look forward to with eager anticipation.  Nothing quite compares to the fall.  

The cooler weather stimulates our appetite and we look forward to cooking all our comfort foods once again.  The gleam is evident in children's eyes when they see the pumpkins in the patch and around the barns.  Decorating is so easy with all the colours found in the gourds, Indian corn, garden mums and squash.   

Who wouldn't like the fall. 

Our Thanksgiving holiday gives us the opportunity to reflect back on the year, to celebrate the successes and put the failures behind us.  It's an opportunity to gather with family and friends enjoying the many traditions developed over the years.  

Here on the farm, our traditions are helping us stay focused in our transition from Markham to Greenbank.  You'll find some changes but there is still a lot that is the same including most of our staff. We're working hard to keep the well loved activities and fit them in to new surroundings so familiar traditions will continue.  We've been told we're off to a good start.

The farm and countryside up here is really beautiful and relaxing.  We've got space and fresh air.   

Come for a visit.  We are open daily in October including Thanksgiving Monday.  

Check our Harvest Festival page for detailed information on our hours open and activities available.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Summer - Where has it gone?

This summer may have been not have been the warmest but for us it has been the fastest.  I don't wish time away, each year it just seems to be speeding up.  Now we are at Labour Day weekend and planning for the fall season.  Our Harvest Festival will be happening each weekend in October.  Our pumpkin crop is looking great.

Our farm is open Saturday, Sunday and Labour Day Monday.

Our corn maze opens this weekend, a tradition that goes back over 20 years.  Come and get lost.  The corn is at least 10 feet tall.  Wagon rides to our Fairy Tale Lane and Forest Trail will be available Labour Day Monday from 11 till 4

The cool and occasionally(like almost every Tuesday) wet summer days have been comfortable to work in and have had good and not so good effects on our crops.  It benefited our strawberry crop, extending it into late July but has destroyed our tomato crop - blight has turned our tomato plants black.  This happens on the first year we were planning our first annual Celebrate Tomatoes weekend, September 6th and 7th.  We won't have pick your own this year but we will still have some tomatoes, thanks to the southwestern Ontario weather being more co-operative.  Look for some of our favorite recipes using them.

Come on out for a visit.  There is always lot's of fun on the farm.  We are open weekends in September - Saturdays 9-5, Sundays 10-6, and this Labour Day Monday 9-5.

Admission Saturday and Sunday $3.50/person 2 years plus, Labour Day Monday $5.50 + HST includes the wagon ride and trails.

October Harvest Festival Happenings

Fall is now in the air with the cool breezes and cold nights.  Halloween is quickly approaching and the fun continues.  Our pumpkin crop has been amazing this year - in quality, size and numbers.  Our pumpkin corral just keeps filling up to give you a great selection of pumpkins.

This will be the last weekend for our October Harvest Festival.  Weather permitting we will have all our activities happening including pony rides and horse drawn wagon rides.  Dress for the weather, dress to have fun. We are cooler on the farm with the open fields.

Sunday October 27th is special with Geissbergers Farmhouse Cider arriving with their award winning mobile cider press.  We have over 4 bins of apples to press into cider and you can view the process. Come see how it is done.  The fresh cider will be available for purchase at the farm.

The apples are fantastic this year.  We now have over 7 varieties available in the market, fresh picked, including Honey Crisp, Ambrosia, Jona Gold and Fugi to name a few.  We also have some incredible Bosc pears.

Come and enjoy.  Our farm will be open until December 24th.

FUN and FOOD defines Labour Day Weekend

Labour Day weekend - The defining weekend between summer and fall when we get back to our regular routines after the summer break.

For us on the farm it means the tomato crop is coming on strong, fresh picked apples have arrived and the bins of squash are coming in filled from the field.  Many of the summer crops such as beans and sweet corn are still available, but the farm is definitely taking on the look of fall with the pumpkins ripening in the field and the garden mums giving us colour in our courtyard.

Our ENCHANTED FOREST AND 2 ACRE CORN MAZE ARE NOW OPEN
You've been watching the corn grow all summer, now it is ready for you to enjoy and I don't mean by eating it.  Feed corn can be a very tall plant and we use it for our maze because of it's strength and height.  Farmer Jim enjoys making the maze as challenging as possible, we make it harder by adding 5 stations for you to find so you can find your fortune with your fingers.

Our Enchanted Forest has changed over the years.  The storybook scenes have always fascinated and enchanted you on the walk, now with close to 20 years of growth the forest has taken on an enchantment of its own. There are few things more peaceful than walking in the woods.

JOIN US THIS LABOUR DAY WEEKEND.  

We are open Saturday, Sunday and Monday 9 till 6 

Halloween is coming soon

Although the pumpkin is closly linked with Halloween, it is also a symbol of the fall harvest - an edible and  fun one.  We've had a great pumpkin crop this year and supply in the fields and our Pumpkin Corral is good.  There are some real beauties out there.

Weather forcast for the weekend doesn't look exceptional but if you dress warmly with a raincoat and boots you'd be amazed at how pleasant it can turn out.  This weeks rain has made for some mud but you don't have to get dirty, the Pumpkin Corral is on grass.

This will be the last weekend for our Harvest Festival with all our extra activities (weather permitting) so come on out and enjoy.  Check out our festival page for complete details.

The corn maze, pedal karts and Enchanted Forest will still be available the first weekend in November. The corn maze is up until it is combined and there is no set time as of yet. 

Our farm is open Thursday till Sunday 9-5 in November then daily again with beautiful, fresh cut Christmas trees until December 24th.

Ontario Apples are Here

Some farmers in Ontario do have an apple crop. Jim is on his way today to pick up some Ginger Gold apples, a delicious, sweet and crunch early apple from a farm in Simcoe County that escaped the major freeze in April that affected much of the apple, cherry, plum and peach crops in Ontario, New York state, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

We had the pleasure of touring Watson Farms in Bowmanville yesterday along with fellow members of Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association for our annual social. Paul and his family told us of the sleepless nights in late April spent burning hay and straw in their orchards to ward off the freeze. It worked and they managed to save the majority of their apple crop. They have a beautiful orchard and the trees we saw were loaded with apples. We snacked on a Ginger Gold apple right off the tree, mmm.. tasty.

Many growers were not as fortunate in saving their crop. The prevailing mood among the members was not of defeat but in determination to make the best of a bad situation. They are channeling their creativity into how to tell their story and present an exciting outing to their farms this fall. Check with your favorite pick your own apple orchard and find out what they're doing.

Farmers are a resilient group; not all news about the weather is bad. The province is so variable in it's weather patterns that not all farms have been devastated by drought or the late frost. Our pumpkin crop is looking fantastic and we are getting ready for the fall season. Our school tour program is booking up and our Harvest Festival will be happening each weekend in October.
Crops we are harvesting right now - tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant and spanish onions.

We'll be supporting Ontario apple growers by selling only Ontario apples, even though some varieties might be missing. We ask for you to support Ontario farmers; look for and buy Ontario apples. Get outside, visit a farm this fall. Check out www.ontariofarmfresh.com We'll all be happy to see you.

Countdown to Halloween

Wow... 3 more days or sleeps (whichever way you want to look at it) to Halloween. We've got some special activities planned to make the last weekend of our Harvest Festival special. Come on out and enjoy. We've still got a good selection of pumpkins in our Pumpkin Corral and field.

The farm is much better when you dress for the weather - boots, warm coats, hats and mitts are recommended. We have had rain this week but most of the farm isn't mucky, just in some spots. Being open to the wind you'll also find we're a few degrees cooler than the city. There is lots of fun to be had so don't let the weather spoil it.

Northern Spy Apples are here!

We waited till after the frost and now spy apples along with russet apples are available in a limited supply in our market. Get them before they're gone.

We're open until December 24th

Enjoy the peacefulness on the farm following the festivities of October. Our farm animals love to visit and the wagon rides and Enchanted Forest are open the weekend of Nov 5th and 6th. Our farm is open Thursday to Sunday 9-5 in November except for Sunday November 6th we are open 1:00pm till 5. Kennedy Rd is closed that morning for a fund raising marathon run.

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins

Wow, too bad the Thanksgiving weather hasn't stuck with us. The weather isn't that bad if you dress for it, so don't let it stop you from enjoying the farm. Our pumpkin corral is filled with pumpkins of all sizes; so many to choose from.

Our Harvest Festival is in full swing each weekend in October. We put last weekend with the rainy Saturday to good use and TA DA we now have a NO LEFT TURN MAZE for your enjoyment. So come on out, there is lots to do.

It's Party Time October 29th and 30th
Join us the last weekend before Halloween for some extra special party fun. We've got some extra special activities for the kids planned for this weekend along with the special Harvest Festival activities. Let's end October on a high note and party, party, party!!!!!!

Thanksgiving

is just around the corner. Get your order in ASAP for your fresh, free range, grain fed turkey. We still have some available but don't delay.

OCTOBER HARVEST FESTIVAL

Our festival begins this weekend and we've got lot's of fun stuff for the family. Come see our new puppet show, peddle around our speedway and tricycle track, there's lot's to do. Sounds like the weather is cooling off so dress warmly and wear boots. We've had some rain.

Apples, Apples, Apples

Fall is almost officially here, it sure feels like it. Each year it seems that our favorite apple is ready so late in the season but apple season is now upon us. We're now finished with the early apples - Paula Red, Ginger Gold and Jersey Mac. The fall apples have begun. Macintosh, Cortland and Royal Gala are available fresh picked in our market. Their crunch and flavour have been worth waiting for.
We'll soon have Honey Crisp, Empire, Mutsu and more - up to 10 varieties coming soon.

Thanksgiving Turkeys
Time flies and it seems faster in the fall when so much is happening. Thanksgiving is only 3 weeks away and will be here in the blink of an eye. Order your free range, grain fed turkey soon. We've got our order book ready in the market.

Fall is Fun on the Farm
The cool weather comes and everyone is out visiting the farm. You'll find some new additions this fall. Our tricycle track now has adult size trikes for Moms, Dads, Grandparents ... to join the kids riding around the track. They really do make you feel like a kid again.
We also have some kid size pedal karts for up to 7 year olds so they can join in the races around the speedway.
Our straw maze is being revised and will be ready soon, more challenging than ever. Come and join us for some fall fun. Our corn maze is back and is a fun challenge for all ages.

Tomatoes, Tomatoes and more Tomatoes
Seems there is a theme of bounty from the land. Our tomato crop has been fantastic this year and now is the time to enjoy them as well as preserve some for winter. The peak of the crop is here. The quality is fantastic and the flavour amazing - don't delay, who knows when frost will come and put the field to rest.

Join our fall farm team
We still have some positions open for outgoing, energetic people who would like to join us in presenting our farm to the public. If you enjoy working with the public and are looking for short term work then go to our employment page and come in for a visit. We'd love to talk to you. Please bring 2 references with you.

Markham Fair
Is right around the corner, literally. Always the weekend before Thanksgiving this 4 day fair is one of the biggest in Ontario and through the efforts of many volunteers from the community is a fair to be proud of. This will be our 22nd year(at least) of having a booth at the fair. Come visit us, we're at the east gate.

Corn Maze is Opening

Labour Day weekend is always a special time - school will start right after it, holidays seem to be over and most everyone gets back into their fall routine. We make it a fun time here on the farm -
Our 2 acre Corn Maze opens officially this Saturday, come and get lost. The Enchanted Forest reopens, all our storybook characters have returned.

Introducing Pi - our new miniature horse.
She arrived Thursday Sept 1st and is looking forward to meeting everyone. You will find her in the pen right next to the cattle - Mud and Toots. Pi is approx. 2 years old and comes from Southwestern Ontario. Her owner was sad to part with her but happy she will be in a new home with lot's of new friends.
We ask that you not feed Pi any treats, horses have top front teeth and could bite. We will work on getting her used to us and possibly try having a regular morning time for her grooming. Once she has settled into the farm our farm hands and educators may have you help with the grooming.

Come on out for a visit soon. We're open Labour Day Monday with all the full weekend activities (weather permitting). It is a great way to end the summer. You can even stock up on some yummy lunchtime goodies. Paula Red and Gala apples are now available fresh picked. The sweet corn is still delicious - get some before it's gone.

Fall is Here on the Farm

The beginning of the school year signifies to us here on the farm that fall has arrived. The corn stalks are cut for displays, pumpkins are ripening and adding colour to our courtyard and the garden mums have arrived. It is such a colourful time of year.

Honey
Our Spring Blossom Honey (also known as Strawberry Blossom ) is selling out. David and Joyce, our beekeepers have prepared the hives to enable them to harvest our Wildflower honey. This should be available in our market by the end of September. Both honeys have awesome flavour and are unheated and unfiltered (raw).
David and Joyce take great care in minding the hives keeping the bees healthy and happy. You can see the bees at work at the north end of our Barnyard Adventure area. Careful that you stay out of the bees flight path, they are very busy getting ready for winter.

Apples
Ginger gold are coming to an end, Macintosh have arrived and there will be more varieties as the season progresses. The cool summer has delayed the apples by about one week.

Tomatoes
Bushels of ripe tomatoes are in very short supply this season due to the slowness of their ripening with the cool nights. Having 2 weeks of sunshine is helping but demand far outweighs supply and you will see this reflected in increased cost.

October Fall Festival
will be beginning the first weekend in October and continue each weekend until November 1st. We're busy getting the farm ready for lots of fall fun.

Come on out while the farm is quieter and enjoy the fine weather. The corn maze is open and challenging, our Enchanted Forest has reopened and Owen our lamb is looking forward to seeing you on his weekend walks with our farm educator.
There's an abundance of colour you can take home to make your home look fabulous for the fall.

Thanksgiving Turkeys
We are currently taking orders for fresh, free range, grain fed turkeys for Thanksgiving. Book yours now so you won't be disappointed. Thanksgiving will be here quicker than you think.