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! 

Mountain Fresh Farmers' Market Vendors

Mountain Fresh Farmers' Market - Tomato, Lettuce, Peppers

Here'a a look at what is in season at the Mountain Fresh Farmers' Market in Oakland, Maryland.  LOTS of veggies, plus cut flowers, meats, and other local vendors with candles, soaps, handcrated wooden puzzles/baskets/cutting boards/rolling pins, woven rag rugs, baked goods, jams/jellies, and woolen products.  Click on the pictures to enlarge! 

Possum Tail Farm Grass Finished Beef

 LFLF spent a few minutes chatting with the folks from Possum Tail Farm about their cattle.  You can see that they've gone through the commitment to become a Certified Naturally Grown farm.  That's no small accomplishment!  Stop in and ask them how they came up with the farm name ... :)

Tomatoes, Beets, 3 Varieties of Beans (!), Tomatoes, & Cut Flowers

We bought a variety of tomatoes from this farm & then we made a nice tomato & shredded cheese salad out of them for dinner! 

Hebden Farms Glueten Free Baked Goods & Tomatoes

It looks like fall is here ... a nice large pumpkin for sale!

Shoppers & First Pumpkin Of The Season!  

Another View Of The Pumpkins ...

Here's Backbone Food Farm with pastured pork for sale and they've sold out of several cuts for the day.  Too bad I didn't have a cooler with me.  They're another Certified Naturally Grown farm!

Backbone Food Farm Pastured Pork For Sale

 

Labor Day Weekend At Mountain Fresh Farmers' Market!

On The Road To Mountain Fresh Farmers' Market - Maryland With Pride

LFLF returned from a weekend trip and we made sure to visit the Mountain Fresh Farmers' Market in Oakland, Maryland.  When we arrived, the folks in the pop-up tent on the right below were giving out fresh sweetcorn to the shoppers.  Yum!

Entering Mountain Fresh Farmers' Market

The parking lot was near capacity and the folks looked to be buying a little of everything ... in preparation for weekend cookouts?

Mountain Fresh Farmers' Market Shoppers

Here's the 1st white and golden orange cauliflower that we've seen this season ... we'll show more of the market and vendors in our next post!

Mountain Fresh Farmers' Market - Fresh Cauliflower Selection