Fall Treats

  There are still plenty of fall goodies to be found even though Halloween is long gone. Jeta farms still has fresh field peas available, pink eyed purple hulls, and they are beautiful. I just put up some 3 gallons in the freezer so we can enjoy some big pots of peas and okra this winter. If you decide to put up peas and need directions for to how to freeze them, check out my article describing the process. http://www.infobarrel.com/Freezing_Field_Peas
  Citrus fruits are ripening in the area and many of the area farm stands and markets will have satsumas, lemons, and kumquats for sale. Hillcrest farms has signs out for citrus, persimmons, and other fall produce.
  The local pecan crop is not abundant this year and the quality is down for most folks. The Cassebaum farm is one of the few places where I have seen pecans for sale this fall.
  Since we have not had a freeze yet, there are still locally grown tomatoes, peppers, pumpkins, and cucumbers to be found. If you are not sure where to find any of the local growers that I have mentioned or need to find others, check out my list of growers by clicking on "Growers List" near the top of the page.

Oct. 19, 2012

Well now that the late summer heat has died down and fall temperatures have made life along the coast more bearable, it is possible to find fresh, locally grown produce again. The Elberta Farmers Market is open again on Saturdays from 8 am till noon. It is located on State St., on the south side of US. 98, just after you pass the red light going west. Local produce of all kinds can be found there from honey and pecans, to fresh vegetables and eggs, depending on who shows up to sell things.
Hillcrest Farms has their own crop of grapes coming in right now along with persimmons and home made jellies and preserves. They also have a Baldwin county corn maze for the family to enjoy now that the weather is so nice. They have signs out along hwy 98 so you cannot miss them as you head east from Lillian.
While traveling down hwy 98 toward Elberta, I am sure everyone will notice the beautiful fall colors of the large tree that is located just on the west side of the pond, just before you get to Elberta. That would be a true Golden Rain tree and it was in full bloom a few weeks ago. Now it is changing from the golden yellow of its flowers to the pink and red colors of its seed pods. I saw it as the morning light hit it the other day and it was a beautiful sight to see.
Fall here in Baldwin county means a constant array of eye catching colors from the blooming golden rod covered fields to the large patches of our native daisies and feverfews that are flowering along the roadsides. My own yard is filled with blooming orange torchinas or Mexican sunflowers that are drawing in the butterflies in profusion. Next the wild grape vines will be turning yellow and they will look like garlands hanging from every live oak and wild persimmon.

Hi all, well the dog days of summer are upon us with the gardens and farm stands showing it. The Elberta farmer's market has closed down until later this fall and if you did not get some of the local sweet corn, it is gone now also. In the heat okra is about the only thing still bearing a crop. Pictured is some that I am preparing for freezing. It is time to start planning for the fall garden if you haven't already. If you planted indeterminate tomato varieties this spring and can keep the vines alive through the summer heat and bug, they will set a new crop when the weather cools again.Visit my vegetable gardening site, Growitveg.com to get all kinds of information on having a fall garden of your own.

There looks to be a fairly nice pecan crop on the trees this year but first we have to make through the hurricane season without any big blows. You can find figs and fresh pears at the local produce stands right now. Down on county road 20, just east of hwy 59, the Little's farm still has produce to sell.

There are even more fresh vegetables and fruits to be found at the local farmer's markets and stands. Here are some that I have seen available now, green peppers, okra, figs, peaches, melons, blueberries, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, sweet corn, cucumbers, squash, egg plants, strawberries, and green beans. The hot weather means shoppers should get out early to get the freshest produce and to get it home while it is still cool. It is important to either can or freeze vegetables and fruits quickly for the best flavor and crispness in the end products. Enzymes start to break down the sugars and nutrients in the produce right after they are picked. The blanching or freezing processes will stop the action of enzymes and act to preserve the vegetables or fruits. You can also make wonderful homemade jellies, jams, and preserves with the current crop of fruits or vegetables. I just put up some 12 pints of grape jelly and will be making fig preserves tomorrow. My loving mother put up just over 16 pints of blackberry jam and 10 pints of grape jam before her passing a few weeks ago.

Locally grown watermelons are starting to show up at the area farm stands and markets. Look for melons with yellow bellies and that produce a good hollow sound when thumped on. We used to grow melons by the truckload so I have had some experience with picking ripe melons. This has been a good year for growing large melons but for the sweetest melons you want a dry year.
Don't be afraid to drive down Hillcrest or Rosalia roads as both have been well graded since that major rainstorm we had a week ago. Our blackberries are nearly gone now as we are only getting a few lbs with each picking. Hillcrest farms is still producing a good supply of blueberries and they also have all kinds of homemade jams and jellies, vegetables, potted herbs and plants, as well as homemade ice cream.
Cassebaum's sweet corn is still coming in and they have cantelopes, tomatoes, squash, and other vegetables as well. Celebrate the fourth by making a nice big pot of boiled sweet corn or some gumbo with the fresh okra that can be found at many Baldwin County farm stands.

Locally grown cantelopes are available at Cassebaum's sweet corn stand. Our blackberries are still coming on strong and over at Hillcrest farms they still have blueberries for the picking. The recent rains may have slowed things down a bit but it has not stopped our harvest of all kinds of fresh fruits and vegetables. For those of you who are gardeners in your own right, visit my website, http://www.growitveg.com/ to find all kinds of gardening tips and information, including recipes for using your harvest.

The fresh blackberries are coming in fast and furious because of the rain and heat. Over at Hillcrest Farms, they are really getting good crowds showing up to pick blueberries and she has fresh squash, okra, tomatoes, garlic, and her own homemade jellies and preserves. Cassebaum's still has fresh sweet corn coming in, along with a wide selection of their own fresh produce including squash, tomatoes, and eggplants. Soon it will be time for local watermelons to be ripening.

We started picking our blackberries this week, so all you cobbler lovers and jelly makers, here's your chance to get all these juicy sweet berries you need. We sell them either you pick for $2.00 a lb. or we pick for $3.00 a lb. Come out early and bring a picking container, a bottle of water, and a wide brimmed hat to go out and gather your own blackberries. These are totally organic berries that have never been sprayed with anything. We are located 1 mile south of hwy. 98 on county road 91, just west of Lillian Ala. on the Peebles Family Farm. Look for us 1/2 mile south of Cassebaum's sweet corn and like them we are open Mon. through Sat. weather permitting.

Check it out, I have added a page (Grower's List) that lists many of Baldwin County's Producers, where they are located, phone numbers, and what they have to offer in the way of fresh vegetables and other farm produce. Just click on the page title at the top of this page to go to it. Let me know if there are more I need to add or information I need to update.
We are busy filling our freezer with freshly dug carrots, tender snap beans, fresh crookneck squash, and starting tomorrow juicy sweet corn.

I see the folks at Hillcrest farms have their sign out for blueberries so its time to stop by and pick your fill of their delicious berries. They also offer locally produced honey and home made preserves. Hillcrest farms is located approximately 4 miles west of the Lillian bridge just north of hwy 98 on Hillcrest road. Look for the signs and bring your young ones to feed the chickens.

We are really getting the fresh squash and green beans right now. The first fresh tomato was picked from the vine yesterday and we got the first picking of young okra for the frying pan this week.

Locally produced sweet corn will be coming in starting next week at the Cassebaum farm. Fresh ears of succulent sweet corn signals a begining to the summertime vegetable harvest. Cassebaum's farm is located on county road 91, one half mile south of hwy 98 and approximately 5 miles east of Elberta Al. Check out my article on freezing sweet corn to find out how to fill your freezer while it is in season.
We are getting fresh green beans, squash, carrots, and kale from the garden right now and I saw where the okra, bless its heart, has started blooming even though it is only a foot high. Fresh fried okra and tender ears of sweet corn, what could be better.
I am still waiting to hear from anyone who knows of a local producer here in Baldwin County. Drop me a comment on what they are growing, where to locate them, and any other relative information, so we can let people know where they can find and buy fresh vegetables and fruits.

Looking for a source of locally made cheeses? Try the Sweet Home Farm, located just east of Elberta on the north side of hwy 98 up Brenan road. They have all kinds of cheeses that they make from their own locally produced milk. While they are closed right now, their sign says they will reopen on May 18th.

I see that BJ's has got their you-pick strawberry patch open today. They are located just west of county rd. 95 on hwy 98. Hillcrest Farms is another local producer and is currently advertizing fresh eggs, honey, and home made preserves. They are located just west of Lillian Ala. on hwy 98. If you know of any other Baldwin county producers with locally grown products to sell, leave me a comment so I can spread the word.

I thought a listing of the Farmers Markets to be found in Baldwin County would be nice, so just look on the right side bar to see the ones I know of so far. Let me know if there are any that you know of that need to be added to the list. Sweet corn is tasseling, blackberries are blooming, and blueberries are ripening, so these crops will be coming in soon.

Well here it is, my first post on my first blog which I hope will find plenty of followers and be useful to all. Welcome to a blog all about finding fresh produce here in Baldwin county Alabama. First some rules, I want things to stay friendly and clean so no putting others down and no distasteful language. No links to other sites without prior permission from me. I want this blog to be beneficial to true Baldwin county producers, so no listings of out of county growers or produce stands. All produce listings must be for fruits and vegetables grown in Baldwin county.

For you growers out there, give the readers good directions for getting to your location, dates for when your crops will be available, what it is you will be offering for sale, prices, hours of business, and a contact number if you have one. Remember happy customers are the ones who will come back.

For my interested readers, feel free to ask questions and I will try my best to answer them or maybe someone else will be able to. I have a website all about growing vegetables that has answers to most gardening questions, and clicking the pictures on the left side of this page will take you to interesting articles on gardening.

To get the ball rolling here are a couple of Baldwin county producers that I know of and some of the crops we are currently getting from our garden.

Hillcrest Farms - This farm offers blueberries, either you pick or ready picked with the season starting in May.
Cassebaum's - A major grower of sweet corn. They also offer melons and other produce.

Right now as spring is winding down, we are getting turnips, asparagus, kale, and spinach from the garden.