Eco-Monday: Getting in Touch With the Season

I know since the weather is getting cooler and I am beginning to drag the sweaters out of my closet, that it’s time to embrace the fall!  Instead of going to your grocery store and purchasing produce from Florida or overseas, why not travel down the road to a local orchard to pick a few apples and pumpkins? While DC doesn’t feel like the place to get in touch with nature, there are many great orchards around that have opened their doors and prepared their hay wagons for the festivities of the coming season.

1. Butler’s Orchards

22200 Davis Mill Road.

Germantown, Maryland  (301) 972-3299

At Butler’s you can pick your very own apples off the tree and pumpkins off the vine. Starting in October, every weekend Butler’s hosts a Pumpkin Festival which combines hay rides, hay mazes, and various crafts for the kids.

                                       

2. Homestead Farm

            15604 Sugarland Road

Poolesville, MD 20837

(301) 977-3761

The Allnutt family has farmed in Montgomery County, Maryland since 1763, when James Allnutt purchased 746 acres by the Potomac River. At $1.49 a pound for apples and $0.59 a pound for pumpkins this adventure runs cheaper than your grocery store and allows you to soak in some cool outdoor air.

                                       

 3. Sharp’s at Waterford Farm

            4003 Jennings Chapel Road,

Brookeville, Maryland

(410) 489-2572 

If you are interested in learning a bit more about produce and farming in general than Sharp’s is the place for you. Tours range from “A day in the life of a farmer” to a hayride that combines pumpkin picking and feeding farm animals, to going back in time to learn how the pilgrims lived. The country store has the added component of homemade jams, butter, and other various goodies for your home.

Hope you have lots of fun getting into the spirit of fall and embracing the opportunity to support local farms while adding a little eco-friendly activity to your day!