At Crooked Pines Farm, we believe that the natural rhythms of the seasons should be honored and celebrated. Throughout the year, we host a series of festivals and events that allow our community to connect with the land, learn about sustainable agriculture, and immerse themselves in the beauty of our working farm.
Spring Celebrations
As the earth awakens from its winter slumber, we welcome the arrival of spring with our annual Spring Fling. This festival is a time of renewal, where we celebrate the planting of our heirloom vegetable seedlings and the return of our pollinator friends to the farm. Families can join us for hands-on workshops on seed starting, companion planting, and the importance of beneficial insects. Children delight in scavenger hunts through our nature trails, identifying the first buds and blooms of the season.
One of the highlights of our Spring Fling is the seedling sale, where we offer a diverse selection of organic vegetable starts and herb plants for home gardeners. Our knowledgeable farm educators are on hand to provide guidance on soil preparation, planting schedules, and pest management – equipping our visitors with the tools they need to cultivate their own thriving backyard gardens.
Summer Festivities
As the summer heat settles in, we invite the community to join us for our Summertime Sizzle, a celebration of the season’s abundance. Visitors can explore our u-pick berry patches, where they can spend the afternoon leisurely gathering juicy raspberries, plump blackberries, and sweet-tart currants. Our farm chefs lead hands-on jam-making workshops, teaching guests the art of water bath canning and the importance of selecting the right produce for optimal flavor and texture.
Another highlight of the Summertime Sizzle is our farm-to-table dinner, where we showcase the season’s freshest ingredients in a multi-course meal. Guests can wander through our raised vegetable beds, learning about our sustainable growing practices, before sitting down to a feast prepared with love using produce harvested just steps from their table.
Autumn Events
As the leaves begin to turn and the air grows crisp, we welcome the arrival of autumn with our Harvest Hustle. This event celebrates the bounty of the season, with activities ranging from pumpkin painting and corn mazes to apple cider pressing and live music.
One of the most popular attractions during the Harvest Hustle is our pumpkin patch, where families can select the perfect jack-o’-lantern or pie pumpkin to take home. Our farm educators are on hand to share tips on curing and storing these fall staples, as well as creative uses for pumpkin seeds and flesh beyond the traditional pies and soups.
Winter Gatherings
As the days grow shorter and the landscape is blanketed in snow, we gather our community for our Winter Wonderland celebration. This event is a time of reflection and renewal, where we honor the dormancy of the earth and prepare for the cycle to begin anew.
Visitors can join us for wreath-making workshops, using evergreen boughs, dried flowers, and natural materials foraged from the farm. Children delight in sledding down our gentle slopes and warming up by the crackling wood-burning stove in our cozy barn. Throughout the event, our farm educators share insights on the importance of mulching, cover cropping, and other winter preparations for the upcoming growing season.
Farm Operations
At the heart of our seasonal festivals lies the daily rhythm of life on Crooked Pines Farm. Our dedicated team works tirelessly to maintain the health and productivity of our land, utilizing regenerative farming practices that nourish the soil and support diverse ecosystems.
In our vegetable gardens, we employ crop rotation, green manure, and companion planting to minimize pest pressure and maximize nutrient cycling. Our orchard and berry patches are tended with care, using organic pest management techniques and pruning regimens to ensure bountiful harvests year after year.
On the livestock side, our pasture-raised chickens, heritage pigs, and grass-fed cattle are provided with ample space to roam and express their natural behaviors. We take pride in our humane animal husbandry practices, which not only ensure the well-being of our animals but also result in nutrient-dense, flavorful products for our community.
Community Engagement
Crooked Pines Farm is more than just a working farm – it’s a hub of learning, connection, and celebration. Throughout the year, we host a variety of educational programs for children and adults, ranging from farm nature exploration to hands-on cooking classes.
We also collaborate closely with local organizations and businesses, forming partnerships that allow us to share our sustainable agriculture knowledge and connect our community to the land. Whether it’s hosting field trips for local schools or participating in farmers markets, we are committed to being a valuable resource and an active member of our community.
The Seasonal Cycle
The rhythms of the seasons are the heartbeat of Crooked Pines Farm. From the first stirrings of spring to the dormant stillness of winter, we strive to honor the natural cycles that govern the growth and renewal of our land.
As we prepare the soil for planting, we scatter cover crop seeds to enrich the earth and prevent erosion during the off-season. When the days grow long and hot, we mulch our vegetable beds to retain soil moisture and suppress weed growth. As autumn approaches, we carefully harvest and preserve the season’s bounty, ensuring that our community can enjoy the flavors of the farm well into the colder months.
Throughout it all, we are in awe of the resilience and beauty of the natural world. Our seasonal festivals are a celebration of this cyclical dance, a chance for our visitors to connect with the land, learn from our practices, and become stewards of the earth themselves.
We invite you to join us at Crooked Pines Farm as we honor the passing of the seasons and cultivate a deeper appreciation for the rhythms that sustain us all.
