Christmas Eve Locally!

Soergel Orchards - Christmas Eve Shoppers

We made a run today for a couple of last minute gifts and some baked goods.  LFLF ended up at Soergel Orchards about an hour before the 2PM Christmas Eve closing time.  Looking back at the parking lot on the way out, you can see that we weren't the only ones!

Soergel Orchards Pine Wreaths & Greens

Several folks walked out with pine roping, wreaths, & greens and we ended up picking out an unusual gift --- a terracotta "toad abode"!  Isn't that why we all shop in the smaller local shops?  The little terracotta cottage is a toad house made to be put in the garden as a shelter for toads.  It will be a gift to a couple of small children for their garden.  You can't find that now at the big box stores!  And certainly, finding it in the same place that you get local beef, cheeses, produce, and baked goods is a great thing ...  :) 

Soergel Orchards Mission Statement

Note to local shoppers - starting @ 8:00AM on Saturday 12/27, all Christmas items are 50% off in Home Accents & the Garden Center!   I may have to make another run over the weekend since there were lots of nice things still there ...

Got Your Tree?

Hozak's Tree Farm - Rainy Afternoon

LFLF was out at Hozak's Tree Farm over the weekend to pick up a couple of wreaths to decorate at the cemetery.  We picked up 2 beautiful swags and then went inside the Christmas Barn to look around. 
Look at this antique coin sorter at the check out counter!   The first step is to turn the crank the right way or you'll dump the coins all over the place. 


Hozak's Farm - Antique Coin Sorter

There were 2 young couples with kids in the tree lot when we got there.  They picked out trees fairly quickly and were on their way.  By the time we came out of the Christmas Barn, it was starting to get dark.  There was an intrepid couple walking over to the tree lot, but no takers for a wagon ride out to the fields ...



Local Greenhouse Poinsettias

Janoski's Greenhouse Customers

LFLF was out and about on this cloudy, but relatively warm day to get our poinsettias.   The trick is to get them when it's warm so that they don't freeze in the cold air going from greenhouse to car to house. 

"Winter Rose" Poinsettias In Upper Left

Someone bought a couple of the Winter Rose poinsettias while I was picking out my pink & white marbled flower ... click on the pictures to enlarge!

Janoski's Greenhouse Christmas Cactus & Amaryllis

Janoski's also has a selection of Christmas Cactus potted up, as well as other seasonal plants. 
After stopping in the greenhouse, LFLF went over to the farm market ... more on that in the next post!

Get Your Poinsettias !

A Few Days Late For SBS!

Graff Gourmet & Specialty Foods - Leechburg, PA

LFLF was out and about on the other side of Pittsburgh yesterday.  This was our my version of supporting Small Business Saturday!  While skipping along to several antique shops with a friend, we dropped in on Graff Gourmet & Specialty Foods.  The proprietor said they'd been in business for about 9 years. 

Graff Gourmet & Specialty Foods - Specialty Spreads

They carry a nice full line of Amish style specialty spreads, pickled items, and granolas.  There were also snack assortments, gravy mixes, baking mixes, teas, & refrigerated cases. 

Local Hillcrest Organic Honey

We'd have to say that the organic honey was popular ... just one jar left on the shelf!  

Pounds Turkey Farm & Thoma Meat Market Info

LFLF & friend each managed to leave with a bag ... in fact, we went back & dropped them off in the car and resumed antique shop browsing ...  :~0
LFLF will be trying the Apple Butter BBQ Sauce & Zesty Peach BBQ Sauce soon!  

Fall Visit To The Spring-House

The Spring-House in Eighty-Four, PA

LFLF made a trip down to the Eighty-Four Livestock Auction today and then popped over across the street to have lunch at The Spring-House.  The signs are up and the flyers are out for Thanksgiving - you can order fresh turkeys and lots of other homemade food for the holiday.  Keeping with the spirit, I had an open-faced hot turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes & turkey gravy ... mmmmmm!
After lunch we browsed the store and also picked up some thick bacon.

Pie Pumpkins & Gourds With A Crabapple Garland!  

 Coming around past the gourds & pie pumpkins was this wonderful variety of winter squash, aka "Grumpy Frumpy Pumpkins"!  They're always my favorite for display and then they can be used for cooking.

The Spring-House Display of "Grumpy Frumpy Pumpkins"!

The Spring-House is loaded with all kinds of home-made and local baked goods, candy, honey, and other canned goods.  Here are some of the all natural breads on display ...

The Spring-House All Natural Breads

Finally, here's a picture of the dairy case ... after all, this is The Spring-House and it all started as a dairy farm! 

The Spring-House Dairy Case - Farm Fresh Whole Milk

Brisk Market At Beaver

Beaver Farmers' Market Customers Bundled Up!

Saturday was probably the first of the really cool days to come.  It got up to 45 degrees, but coming off of 70 degrees a week ago, it seems bone chilling!  That and a little rain still didn't keep the customers at home yesterday. 

Picking Out A Cabbage From Oak Spring Farm

It does change what people are buying though.  Big bags of leafy greens and leeks, cabbage, potatoes, and apples were the order of the day.  We got a bag of one of our hard to find favorites - Melrose apples.
In our previous post, LFLF mentioned Thanksgiving decorations ... that proved to be a prophetic comment.  Look at the great display of winter sqaushes that can be used for decoration and then cooked up later ...

Douds-Floyd Farm Centerpiece Squashes!
 

Breads, baked goods, & apple cider were also being snapped up off of the tables ..

Colorful Halloween Cookies At Pat's Pastries

Shopping For Apples



Some Markets Wrapping Up!

Green Tree Park Farmers' Market - 10/30 Last Day

It looks like some markets will be having their last session this week.  LFLF came across this poster in the Green Tree Borough Building.  Be sure to visit the market and thank your farmers for a great 2014 season.   Think "Thanksgiving decorations" & you might be able to get a good deal on pumpkins and winter squash this weekend!  :) 

Local Farm Story

LFLF has visited and had several posts this year from McConnell's Farm in Aliquippa.  Click here for a feature  STORY featuring this long time family farm from the Farm & Dairy this week.  

Mazur's Greenhouse & Farm Pumpkins

Mazur's Greenhouse & Farm Signs

It's that season again - time for LFLF to get our 10 "fence post sitter" pumpkins!   We were returning from Zelienople, PA and decided to follow the signs to Mazur's Greenhouse & Farm.   We'd never been to this local farm market before yesterday.  Travel is back a lane along a big pond or a small lake (depending on your perspective!)  ... and then over a railroad track to the greenhouse & market.

Mazur's Farm Welcome!

We weren't disappointed!  Lots of pumpkins here and we went back past several greenhouses.  A couple of them were filled with tomato plants reaching up to the top of the houses and forming a tomato canopy. 
I filled a sweet corn sack with pumpkins and chatted for a while ... I got to meet owner Jerry Mazur and he says that the tomatoes are doing well and will be putting on another flush of growth soon. 
Now to put the pumpkins out on the fence posts ...

LFLF Home With A Sack 'O Pumpkins!

Sweet Corn At Schiefelbeins's Farm Market

Schiefelbein's Farm Market

LFLF made it a point to stop in at Schiefelbein's Farm Market yesterday to get some pictures.  You can see a lot of the produce growing in the fields right along Route 151.  We pass by and stop a couple of times a month, but never seem to have the camera in hand!  I didn't get any pictures of the sweet corn, but it was one of the best batches I've had all summer.

Schiefelbein's Farm Market Tables & Cooler

The tables were loaded with tomatoes front & center and surrounded by a colorful display of ornamental gourds, mini-pumpkins, & decorative corn.  Peppers filled the back side.  Click on the pictures to see what's in the cooler case - local milk from Brunton Dairy and fresh eggs from Seibel's Farm.


Decorative Corn & Mini-Pumpkins

In the background the tables are full of butternut & acorn squash, zucchini, cabbage, potatoes, beets, large pumpkins, and a good selection of local apples.  Along with the sweet corn we picked up a box of radishes, a cabbage, & some egg noodles.  You can also get PA maple syrup and local honey here.  The local beekeeper is J. Lee Miller - retired Beaver County Cooperative Extension Director ... aka "J-Lee-Bee-Glad" ... famous for his honey and prize winning gladiolus flowers!  :)

PA Maple Syrup & Honey From J. Lee Miller

Finally - how about this decorative cross-cut saw sign hanging over the canned goods & honey display?  Perfect for the fall season!

Schiefelbein's Farm Market Crosscut Saw Sign

Cider's In Season At McConnells' Farm!

McConnells' Farm - "Antique" Cider Sign!

LFLF had a chance to run out to McConnells' Farm to pick up some sweet corn.  When we arrived, the sign on the counter said that apple cider was ready.  It's the first of the season for us ... yea!   We noticed the old cider sign on the building as we backed out to leave ...

But ... this is the beautiful fall display that greeted us on the front porch of the barn!

McConnells' Farm - Pumpkins & Hardy Mums

Lots of apples are ready now and we decided on an old favorite, Cortland.  This has been the apple of choice in the past when the family made applebutter .... 7 bushels of apples cooks down to about 70 - 75 quarts of applebutter!  I just settled for a small basket today.  :)

Cortland Apples At McConnells' Farm

Cider Cooler Behind The Big Table Of Apples

We also picked up fresh green beans to go along with the sweet corn.  We'll be back for some squash and peppers another day.

McConnells' Farm - Peppers & Potatoes



Report From LFLF Roadtrip

Keepin' It Local - Morganza , MD

Your intrepid reporter of all things local, LFLF brings back another view of what Keepin' It Local means!   You can't pass up this great store without stopping.  The proprietors have the shop packed with local produce, meats, dairy products, baked goods, candies, preserves, art work, crafts, collectibles, and antiques! 

Keepin' It Local - Fresh Produce Out Front

We were making a quick stop for some meat to grill and picked up a ham slice and lamb chops, but you couldn't help but admire the produce on the way in ... 

Keepin' It Local - More Inside

We picked up some dinner rolls from the selection of baked goods - they were moist & wonderful, almost like a sweet potato bread or Hawaiian bread.   A little bag of roasted rosemary cashews rounded out our haul for the day.

Baked Goods & Delicious Dinner Rolls

Now looking back at the pictures, I wish that we had picked up the pound cake too.  ;)

Ice Cream, Sweet Potatoes, Heirloom Tomatoes

Click on the picture below to see how it's done at Keepin' It Local ...

Keepin' It Local - How It's Done & What It Means

VanPelt's Today

VanPelt's Farm Market

We made a trip out to Lisbon, Ohio today and zipped over to VanPelt's Farm Market on the return home.  The one "must have" item on the LFLF list today was garlic, and look what was on the sign!   They also had a couple of specialty items that you don't usually see at local markets around here.
The first one was okra .... and then nearby, they also had a bag of shelled lima beans. 

VanPelt's Farm Market - Okra, Peppers, & Lima Beans

Another rarely seen item ... ground cherries.  About the only time we see ground cherries are as entries at the county fairs!

VanPelt's Farm Market - Yellow Ground Cherries & Other Fruits! 

There were tomatoes by the bushel for canning out front and these cherry & grape tomatoes too. 

VanPelt's Farm Market - Potatoes, Tomatoes, & Sweet Potatoes

LFLF bought sweet corn, nectarines, baked granola cereal, oatmeal raisin cookies, and garlic, of course!   Can't even list the variety of what we didn't buy ... :) 
Local honey rounds out the pictures for today.

Local Honey From J&G Farms Of Leetonia, Ohio

This farm market is well worth making a stop if you're nearby.  They also have refrigerated cases of local Amish country meats, cheeses, milk, eggs, butter, as well as a full line of baked goods!

Behind The Scenes At Glatz Wine Cellars!

Glatz Wine Cellars

LFLF was lucky enough last night to be on a private tour of Glatz Wine Cellars in Aliquippa, PA.  The Beaver County Cooperative Extension Association had our meeting on the lovely outdoor patio at Glatz.  The Glatz family has a fine jewelry store in Aliquippa.  The wine cellar/tasting room is in the same location behind the jewelry store.
Aaron Glatz took us on a behind the scenes tour of their tasting room and the "backroom" where we saw the tanks and bottling line.  The grapes are pressed on the farm and the juice is brought here to the stainless steel tanks.  Notice the quality control lab behind the glass in the picture above ...

Glatz Wine Cellars - Bottle Label Set-Up

It was a little tough to get pictures of the huge stainless steel tanks ... too much glare, but we got to see the tanks and the bottling line.  So many labels waiting for wine!  :) 

Glatz Wine Cellars - Labels Waiting For Bottles!

Like most of this part of the state, Aaron shared that they had a difficult season on the farm with the vineyard & grapes due to the cold winter.  As the official winemaker, he's got other ideas in mind for different wines this year ... stay tuned to their web-site to see what he comes up with! 
In addition to their own winemaking, Glatz supports the home winemaking and home brew aficionados in the area with an extensive line of supplies. 

Glatz Wine Cellars - Home Supplies

Glatz Wine Cellars - Home Brew Supplies

LFLF will be vsiting Glatz Wine Cellars at the Beaver Farmers' Market soon to do a little sampling and pick up some gift bottles.  See you there!