Autumn's Best Family Activity: Visiting a PYO Farm

I've been too stubborn to admit it, but Autumn is pretty much upon us already here in Southern New England.  The trees haven't quite started producing colored leaves but the nights and some days have been cool and all of the autumn harvest fruits and vegetables are showing-up on farm stands everywhere.

I absolutely LOVE Autumn...it's my favorite season of the year and it last such a very short time.  I don't know what it is this year, maybe a combination of the work on the house and everything coming so early (many apples were ready in August!), but I feel like I haven't had time to stop and enjoy the seasons like I have in the past.  Heck, we never even made it to the beach this summer!  How sad...

If you live in a lovely autumn climate like we do, I implore you to take a half-day on a weekend and visit a local Pick-Your-Own farm.  Whether you're visiting to pick apples, choose carving pumpkins, take a hay ride, or wander through a corn maze, it's a great way to spend time outside with your family and support a local farm.

We haven't been yet, but we'll be going soon.  I have to get my annual fix of tart, crisp apples for apple sauce and pie and I usually pick-up a few sugar pumpkins to cook, freeze, and use for pumpkin pie during the holidays.

Trust me.  There really isn't anything better...


In case you're wondering...  The photos of the fruit and veggies above are from previous purchases at Jaswell's Farm in Smithfield, Rhode Island.  The apple pie was made last year in my kitchen and the autumn foliage photo was taken in one of the parks surrounding the Quabbin State Reservoir in Massachusetts a few years ago.