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 ...

Time For Greens!

Wreaths, greens, trees, & roping!

A little side trip north of Pittsburgh got LFLF an opportunity to go past Soergel Orchards & a chance to look over some Christmas greens.  There wasn't a type of wreath or roping that wasn't there ......

Sprays of Holly Berries

We always decorate with live greens, some gathered on our own farm, & the rest from local nurseries & tree farms.  Several of the local farms bring in plant materials from other states too to add to their own hand crafted wreaths & swags.  A couple of weeks ago, we were at Musser Forests in Indiana, PA & they were just starting on their wreaths.  The smell in the garden center greenhouse was great!
And ..... there are still local greens available if you visit the markets! 

Found At Soergel Orchards

Soergel Orchards Country Market

One thing that we have to say about the staff at the Soergel Orchards Country Market ..... everywhere LFLF turned, there was a friendly, smiling staffer ready to help. 

We got to talk to Randy Soergel since LFLF likes to get permission to take pictures for this blog when we're in a local business.  He even went to the trouble to point out all of the local products like Brunton Dairy milk, Maple Valley Farms honey, and Soergel Orchard Certified Organic Homestyle Apple Butter Spread.   We haven't opened the jar yet, but it's sure to be good!
The market also has a feezer case stocked with local meats.  We've seen the Ron Gargasz Organic Farm beef there for years & it's a very popular item .... Ron is a local western PA organic farming pioneer.
We spotted another local beef in the case & we purchased a rib steak from Logan Family Farm to try out.  We will be grilling this steak in the next day or so & will report back!

Local Tomatoes & Green Apple Wine!

Wouldn't you brake for this sign???  LFLF visited Soergel Orchards today to pick up apples & baked goods, but we came away with some other local goodies!   The tomatoes were really nice looking so we added them to our basket.  They're grown in Indiana County at Yarnick's - we'd taken you there last year on a fall road trip.  We did pick up some Cameo apples after a friendly employee offered us a sample ... they happen to be one of our favorites anyway. 

An unexpected item - see the Soergel web-site for more info - was the limited edition St. Patrick's Day Green Apple Wine!   This may make it worth the trip if you're into wines.  
More local items found at Soergel Orchards Country Store on our next post .........

A Visit To Soergel Orchards

LFLF had an opportunity to pass north of the city on I79 today ..... we dropped in on Soergel Orchards  just as the Steeler fans were heading home after the game.  There was a mini-rush of customers grabbing something to take home for dinner.  We were no exception and picked up sweet corn, cheese, bakery buns, and a few other items.   

We grilled the kolbassi from Thoma Meat Market for dinner and enjoyed them on fresh baked coney buns from Soergel's bakery.  If you're a farmer/reader interested in selling a value added product, check out the "custom" section of the Thoma web-site.   And just look at dessert ...... delicious locally made nut horns from Grandma Ann's.   They really are as moist as advertised!

Don't leave Soergel's without looking over the shrubs & perennials at the garden store. There are tons of mums and I found this really nice aster ..... more "natural" looking than the mums for the farm flower bed.