Archive: Around Town

Three local farms that grow pumpkins or winter squash will be the subject of the second "Virtual Open Farm Days", offered via Zoom on Saturday, October 17th from 10:00-11:00am. This online presentation includes farm tours and conversations with the farmers and is hosted and produced jointly by Cornell Cooperative Extension offices in Cortland and Tompkins Counties.

Theresa's Pumpkin Patch in Cortland County is a seasonal pick-your-own farm that grows pumpkins and winter squash, as well as cabbage, and a handful of other crops for the wholesale market. Located just 5-miles north of Homer next to Anderson's Farm Market on Route 281 in Little York, Theresa's pick-your-own pumpkin patch is open every day from late September through the end of October, Monday– Friday 3:30-6:30pm, Saturday 9:30am-6:30pm, and Sundays 11:30am–6:30pm. Visitors can pick pumpkins in the field, with prices varying by size. Theresa's also welcomes school tours by appointment.

Silver Queen Farm, located on 100 acres just outside of Trumansburg, sells wholesale fruits and vegetables to local farm-to-table restaurants and offers u-pick strawberries in June. They currently sell bulk produce and weekly vegetable boxes direct to local consumers through their online store, for contactless pick-up on the farm and at Press Bay Alley in downtown Ithaca. Fall squash crops include butternut, delicata and two kinds of acorn squash. Silver Queen's spacious events barn with kitchen is a popular venue for on-farm weddings. farm-to-table dinners and other special events.

Cayuga Sunrise Farm is located on Route 96 just north of Trumansburg, NY. Their seasonal pumpkin patch is open on weekends only from 10:00am to 4:00pm through the end of October, and on Columbus Day, Monday, October 12th. Visitors can pick organically grown pumpkins in the field or purchase pre-picked pumpkins, gourds, squash, Indian corn and fall ornamentals on site. Games for children are available. Cayuga Sunrise Farm also raises livestock naturally for a meat CSA and grows and sells certified organic hay and a variety of grains.

Since public farm tours currently are not possible due to Covid-19, Cooperative Extension is hosting this monthly series of virtual visits to local farms while their key produce is in season.

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