It's been a hurried week of not-enough-sleep, too many obligations, that deaded "What next?!" feeling. Weeks like this come and go. The nice part about being absent-minded is that they become one shade lighter than a real memory. I'm grateful for that.

Today was one of those "back-to-Summer-type-of-weather day" - a little sultry after a few days of rain and the thought of sitting at the keyboard all day wasn't very inviting. The options were somewhat limited. We annualy head out to an orchard over the New York border in October. Usually we're about two weeks late for the "good pickin's" but it's a nice day trip and we get our fill of a decent variety of apples, pears and - if lucky - some nectarines. There's nothing like walking down a the path of an orchard picking what you want right from the tree. I've never figured out "how to pick the right one" - but have a dozen reasons for why I pick the ones I do. Anyway…

The kids are getting older now. Between their schedules and growing independence, it looked like it was just going to be myself and the bride out for the drive. She remembered an orchard right up Rte 202 in Washington - not quite sure where it was, but "up in that general direction." So, we pulled the windows from the Jeep. Lowered the roof. Drove off. As I mentioned, we usually drive about an hour to our "regular orchard," but in less that fifteen minutes we were winding up the drive of Avrill Orchard. The trees were bountiful. The shop on the grounds welcoming... and when you visit - GET THE APPLE CIDER DONUTS! You will not regret it.

We picked our "peck" of apples, but Gail had peaches on her mind. After we left Avrill we took a right down the road and within a mile or so we found StarBerry. Yep! Peaches. And, nectarines that are out of this world. We lucked out to boot. The recent rain had caused some of the Elberta (peaches) to drop. The handwritten sign welcomed us at 50¢ per pound. Six pounds later we were back on the road and just leisure-ing our way home, munching on a cider donut, crisping into an apple. Life is good. js

Finding an orchard or farm nearby really isn't too hard to do. Below are some listings that I "borrowed" from PickYourOwn. Visit their webSite for additional information and listings throughout the USA. If you know of another local (Litchfield County) Farm or Orchard that should be on the list, or if any of the listed farms have a web site URL that can be listed, simply pass the information to the webStudio - it will be appreciated. It is always a good idea to call a particular Orchard or Farm ahead of time to see what fruits or vegetables are ripe for picking.

AVERILL FARM [Apples, Pears]
250 Calhoun Street, Washington, CT 06794. Phone: (860) 868-2777.
PYO apples, pears, Sept. & Oct. on a scenic family farm.  Also picked fruit, cider, flowers, etc. available daily at hilltop stand through Nov. Call for ripening dates.  

BUNNELL FARM [Pumpkins]
524 Maple Street, Litchfield, CT 06759. Phone: (860) 567-9576.
PYO pumpkins, horse and tractor drawn hayrides, visit the farm animals and the corn maze. 

ELLSWORTH HILL ORCHARD & BERRY FARM [Pumpkins, Fruit, Vegetables, Flowers]
461 Cornwall Bridge Road, Sharon, CT 06069. Phone: (860) 364-0025.
Family fun hayrides! PYO strawberries, blueberries, fall & summer raspberries, apples, plums, pumpkins, & gourds. Our own pressed apple cider available for tasting. Corn, tomatoes, & vegetables. June - Nov., 7 days.  

EVERGREEN BERRY FARM [Blueberries,  Red and Black/Gold Raspberries, Blackberries & Elderberries]
435 Bassett Road, Watertown, CT 06795. Phone: (860) 274-0825.
PYO open 8 am - 8 pm every day, mid-July to mid-Sept. Children welcome, no pets. Containers provided. Call ahead for picking conditions/berry update. 

FREUND'S FARM MARKET [Pumpkins, Berries, Flowers]
324 Norfolk Road, East Canaan, CT 06024. Phone: (860) 824-0650.  Fax: (860) 824-0650.
Contact form on their website. Or direct Email: freunds@cttel.net.  Farm Market and Garden Center featuring seasonal fruits and vegetables, locally produced eggs, maple syrup & honey. Bakery & Ice Cream Scoop Shop on premises, plus 1,000's of plants and composted manure.  PYO raspberries & flowers. Scheduled school tours for PYO pumpkins & popcorn. 

HALLOCK ORCHARD [Apples, Flowers, Pumpkins]
212 Calhoun Street, Washington Depot, CT 06794. Phone: (860) 868-9184. eMail: hallockcapital@aol.com.
We are open September, October. Our hours are: Monday thru Friday 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Saturday and Sunday 11:00 am to 5:30 pm Family owned, park like orchard, tucked away in the scenic hills of Litchfield. Apples are available for PYO, ready-picked, retail & wholesale. In addition pumpkins, mums and hay bales are available for sale.

HARRIS HILL FARM [Pumpkins]
99 Ridge Road, New Milford, CT 06776. Phone: (860) 354-3791.
Family operated farm in the beautiful Litchfield hills.  Hayrides, animals, PYO pumpkin patch, and corn maze.  Open Saturday, and Sun. 10 am - 5 pm in October.

LITCHFIELD HILLS BLUEBERRY FARM [Organic Blueberries, Prepicked Produce, Picnic Area]
23 Schrowback RD, Plymouth, CT 06782. Phone: 860-283-9571.
Email us at: litchberry@aol.com. And for a map to our farm, click here. Crops are usually available in July, August, September. Open: Tuesday to Friday, 8am to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 6pm, CLOSED MONDAYS We are certified organic for all crops! Payment: Cash, only.

MAPLE BANK FARM [Blueberries]
53 Church Street, Roxbury, CT 06783. Phone: (860) 354-7038.
PYO Blueberries July & Aug.  Farm stand May - Dec., Tues. - Sun. 10 - 5:30.  Fresh vegetables picked daily; herbs, flowers, wool yarn, cider, apples.  A family farm since 1730.  

MARCH FARMS [Pumpkins, Fruit, Vegetables]
160 Munger Lane, Bethlehem, CT 06751. Phone: (203) 266-7721  Fax: (203) 266-6076
Scenic farm featuring pick your own blueberries (July - Aug.).  PYO apples and pumpkins (Sept. - Oct.).  Farm stand features our own apples, peaches, tomatoes, corn, blueberries and cider from our own cider mill.  On site bakery for cider donuts, pies, and cookies.  Jams, jellies, honey and maple syrup.  Open daily 10-5, longer in the summer. 

PECK'S BERRY FARM [Blueberries]
205 West Street, Lakeside, CT 06758. Phone: (860) 567-0546
PYO blueberries.  Located at 205 West Street (Rte 109) in Morris.  1 mile west of the center of Morris. Open July through August.

REGINA FARMS [Tomatoes (Regular/Plum), Basil, Culinary Herbs, Sweet Corn, Vegetables]
412 Hinman Road, Watertown, CT 06795. (860) 274-3070. Fax: (860) 945-1547.
Scenic family farm overlooking the hills surrounding the town of Bethlehem.  Lectures on culinary & medicinal herbs. Kids' adopt-a-plant program. Hours 8 am - dusk starting May.

RUWET FARM [Berries, Pumpkins, Vegetables]
1600 Torringford Street, Torrington, CT 06790. Phone: (860) 489-9580.
Farm stand open mid July to October.  PYO blueberries, strawberries, pumpkins.  Call for hours and information.

STARBERRY FARM [Fruit]
47 Kielwasser Road, Washington Depot, CT 06794-1119. Phone: (860) 868-2863  Fax: (860) 868-2863.
Email: Starberry@snet.net
Cherries, Sweet & Sour, in June; Peaches (34 Varieties); Yellow & White for Eating, Freezing & Canning, July- Sept.; Plums, Nectarines, Blueberries; Apples, August through Christmas. PYO, ready-picked, retail & wholesale.

THISTLEDOWN FARM [PYO/ Cut Your Own Christmas Trees]
119 Botsford Hill Road, Bridgewater, CT 06752.  (860) 354-4628.

TONN'S ORCHARD [Fruit]
258 Preston Road, Terryville, CT 06786, (860) 585-1372 ask for Peter
PYO apples and peaches Saturdays and Sundays, August - October, 12 noon 'til 5 pm.