What is Pumpkin Chunkin’ ?

All fall things must come to an end, but the fun still continues after Halloween night at Great Country Farms.  This event started in the 1990s after farmer Mark saw a pumpkin chunkin’ event on TV and said we could do that.  After a crazy busy October season, it seems a stretch to add on another weekend but the smashing of pumpkins at the end of the season has an uplifting affect on the farmhands.  There is just something about being able to release of all the pressure and stress and close out the season with a good smash.  We believe our guests appreciate the outlet value as well.  When was the last time you were told, ” Go Ahead, Smash it?!”

How Can you Join the Smashing Good Time?

Bring your pumpkins out for a smashing good time! There are several stations around the farm where you can drop your pumpkin and even watch it fly. We have a zip line where you can push your pumpkin and watch it soar through the sky until it smashes, a silo drop for a dramatic fall, or you can leave your pumpkin at the biggest of them all, the pumpkin drop zone and watch it be thrown off of our 40ft lift.   Some have described this ultimate smash as “upside-down fireworks”.  

The choice is yours! While you’re at the farm, you can also enjoy apple cider donuts, wagon rides, the Corn Maze & 12 acre farm play area.  The weekend is even more fun as we add on the option to fire apples from our cannons, live cider pressing demos, marshmallow roasting and live music for Saturday & Sunday, Nov 6 & 7, 2021.

When can you smash with us?

We will be celebrating with pumpkin smashing November 5 & 6, 2022 from 10AM-5PM. Come and enjoy the beautiful weather outside and bring your jack-o’-lantern friends along for one last fling! For times, details and tickets, visit our website and get the inside scoop to plan your visit. This is one last hoo-rah you won’t want to miss. 

What do we do with all of the smashed pumpkins?

Never fear there is no waste here!   All of the smashed pumpkin goodness goes to our animal friends for their harvest feast. It is the best time of the year for them. When the animals have had their fill, the remaining smashed pumpkins go directly into our compost to reuse the nutrients to help build future soil here at the farm. We don’t know about you, but chunkin’ pumpkins at the farm sounds like a lot more fun than just leaving them outside for the trash. Trust us, our animal friends and next year’s crops will thank you!

 

The history of our races:

Some researchers question how we have the leanest bacon in Loudoun County, our secret is kept in the Stall of Fame. The Stall of Fame is home to some of our all time greatest racers: Tom ‘Boar’ady, Peyton ‘Hamm’ing, Kim ‘Pork’dashian, and ‘Piggy Minaj’. We even successfully predicted Presidential races including ‘Boar’ack Obama and Don’Hog’ Trump. In 2019, we received national attention from our ‘Sty’nly Cup Champions’ with quick skating TJ Osh’wee wee wee all the way home’. Go CAPS!

Our training methods:

We used to think oreos were the key, until we realized pigs can smell a cider donut from a mile away. Donuts from the farm added 15 mph to our pigs’ fastest race times. They truly run faster when they have bigger audiences  cheering them on from the sidelines! With practice and precision, we are very proud of our racing piggies and their speed.

We love our pigs!

Although pigs are sometimes perceived as messy, they are some of the smartest and most organized animals on the farm. When visiting our farm, you may notice a lot of dropped apples and leftover pumpkins from Halloween. Nothing goes to waste here! We feed our piggies dropped apples, lost pumpkins, delicious scraps from the farm market and barley grown below Dirt Farm Brewing. Our pigs are some of the hardest workers on the farm. They assist with rotational grazing, manures, and  weed control as part of our regenerative agriculture practices employed to grown our produce for our Community Support Agriculture Program (CSA) and Farm Market.

2021 THE PIG PATROL

Chase, Rubble, Marshall, Rocky, Zuma and Sky are ready for a runt runt rescue! This crew has been so busy since their premiere on the big screen this summer. Cheer on your favorites and watch Mayor Goodway vs. the Mayor of Foggy Bottom Road, Mayor ‘Ham’-dinger, race to the finish line. No track is too big and no pig is too slow. These pigs are ready to go!

Coming soon to a stall near you….

The Richest Porks in the barnyard:

Pig Gates ($133 Billion)

Founder of ‘Mud’crosoft. His foundation focuses on philanthropic endeavours such as swine-flu vaccination.

Pork Zuckerberg ($134 Billion)

Founder of Facebook and owner of Insta‘ham.’

E’Loin’ Musk ($190 Billion)

Some little piggies go to the market. This little piggy went to space….His self driving tractor and solar powered fencing is driving Te‘Slop’ through the roof. One tweet and the price of pig-coin went up 95% overnight.

Jeffrey ‘Bacon’zos ($200 Billion)

Founder of Amazon Swine. This hog stepped down as CEO after his company’s wealth grew by almost 40% during the pandemic. His newspaper, the Washington ‘Com’post covers all the buzz around the barnyard.

Come watch our piggies race to the Stall of Fame on  October Fall Harvest weekends at 11, 1 and 3 o’clock.

Reserve your tickets in advance as Saturdays & Sundays do sell out.

 

It’s Market Monday  & We Go Together Like Chocolate and Wine

Tis the season to cozy up and treat yo-self and if that doesn’t include chocolates and wine, you’re doing it wrong!

Meet the Chocolatier

Meet Eliza and Erlé of Farmhouse Chocolates, located in a tiny town nestled in the mountains of Vermont. Their line up of delectable treats are crafted with all local, non-GMO, certified organic ingredients. Former dairy farmer and head chocolatier, Erlé LaBounty, has been crafting chocolates in his home state since the young age of 16. Co-Owners, Eliza and Erlé pour their hearts into their business by creating a trustworthy and dependable product for chocolate lovers to enjoy.

 

We’ve picked the perfect Farmhouse Chocolates and paired them with wines from our friends up the mountain at  Bluemont Vineyard. These three combos are perfect for your next dinner party, girls night in, date night, or netflix binge by the fireside. Sip back, relax and enjoy!

 

Pairing 1: Cacao Nibs + Alaska Pure Sea Salt with Bluemont Vineyard Rosé “The Donkey”

Chocolate Notes:

Nutty caramel notes with a bright and fruity acidity. This bar is silky smooth in texture with a sprinkle of bitter, crunchy cacao nibs and artisan sea salt. 

 

Wine Notes:

2020 Rosé “The Donkey” 

100% Chambourcin 

This refreshing, off-dry Rosé is made using grapes from the Amber Creek Vineyard, located in Leesburg, Virginia. Picked in early September and slowly fermented in stainless steel to retain maximum aromatics and freshness. Made with 100% Chambourcin grapes, this wine is fruit-forward with notes of ripe strawberries and cranberry intertwined with hints of lemongrass, mint, and a delicate acidity for a perfect pairing.  

Pairing 2:  85% Dark Chocolate with Toasted Almonds paired with Bluemont Vineyard Farm Table Red

Chocolate Notes:

A rich chocolate with delicate bitterness and a slightly smoky flavor. Sprinkled with whole almonds that are toasted in house. 

Wine Notes:

2017 Farm Table Red

37% Chambourcin, 18% Merlot, 18% Cab Franc, 18% Cab Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 3% Norton

 

With slight similarities to a Pinot Noir, this fruit-forward, medium body wine is jammy and loaded with red fruit flavors- think red cherry, pomegranate and plum! Its easy drinking with a vibrant acidity. The subtle tannins and smoky hints from the toasted almonds makes this a perfect balance to this dark chocolate bar. 

 

**We will be releasing 2020 FTR soon!**

Pairing 3: Salted Caramels paired with Bluemont Vineyard Autumn Apple Wine

Chocolate Notes:

They say these are their best sellers and we certainly understand why! 

Buttery rich caramel, dark chocolate squares that are not overly sweet like caramel you’ve purchased at a big chain grocery. Each bite has a subtle bitterness though is a perfect balance of sweet, dark chocolate and a sprinkle of salt. 

 

Wine Notes:

50% Apple & 50% Vidal Blanc

 

A Fall seasonal favorite! This  semi-sweet wine is a blend of our own apples from Great Country Farm mixed with Vidal Blanc. It drinks fresh and bright with mild apple notes similar to a Golden Delicious. Whats not to love about a caramel apple? This pairing is just that, only a little deconstructed!

These treats are delicious, pure, and environmentally friendly. Eliza and Erlé give it everything they’ve got when it comes to these craft chocolate treats and their messaging is simple- “we believe in it, we believe in each other and because we really, really like making people smile through good food.”

We couldn’t agree more! Proudly offering a selection of both Farmhouse Chocolates and Bluemont Vineyard wines in our market, making it easy for you to treat yourself on your next shopping trip!  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/farmhousechocolates/ 

IG: @farmhousechocolates 

Website: https://www.farmhousechocolates.com/ 

 

It’s Market Monday and Things Are Feeling a Little Nutty here at the the farm!

These days it seems like we are always on the go! It can be challenging to juggle the many hats that we all wear, especially when the weather begins to cool down and your to-do-list grows overnight. In our last blog, we highlighted easy snacks to grab and go while also fueling your body. This week we are excited to highlight one of those choices, Family of Nuts. Family of Nuts offers high quality roasted nuts, dried fruits, peanut butter spreads and even their own roasted coffee (Yes please!). Nuts are not only a healthy option to snack on, but they are flavorful, quick, and can be used in many different ways.

 

Family of Nuts is a local, family owned roasting company located in the Washington Metropolitan area. They found their passion when they realized the lack of high quality nut products that were available to them. You may be wondering, “well aren’t all nuts the same?”, the short answer is no! Family of Nuts is unique because every week their nuts are roasted in small batches. They use a unique roasting process to ensure the highest quality product. You can check out a video of their process to see the behind the scenes of their roasting process. How cool!  Once you try them, you’ll always taste the difference between their product and your generic nuts from the grocery store. 

What are the different varieties?

Family of Nuts offers several different products.  In our farm market, we carry Lightly Salted Peanuts, Pistachios, Trail Mix, and our personal favorites Cajun Peanuts and Lemon Pepper. 

 

  One of the greatest things about these products is that nuts and dried fruits can be used in a variety of recipes. If you are feeling creative this fall, try adding nuts to a homemade trail mix , pecan pie, or specialty bread and go nuts! Family of Nuts also offers spreads, select dried fruits, and coffee, which can all be found on their website. 

How can I try their products?

At Great Country Farms, we are happy to be able to support local, family run businesses in our farm market! You can find Family of Nuts on the shelves in our market. If you’re already a huge fan of theirs, check out their membership options to keep your orders flowing! Give them a follow on social media and check out their website for the latest updates and news!

 

Facebook: Family of Nuts

IG: @FamilyofnutsUSA

 

As summer fades away, we are ready to welcome fall and a new school year full of promise, memories and smiles. The start of school can mean a lot of things for different families and let’s be honest, life gets busy!  One way to stay organized and energized, as you and your family find your new routine, is to nourish your body with healthy foods. The thought of eating healthy can be intimidating, but we’ve chosen 5 of our favorite Great Country Farms Farm Market snacks  to feature this Market Monday to help you feel confident in fueling your family as you take on new beginnings. Happy back to school!

Apples 

One of the great things about the change in seasons is the new harvest. At the Great Country Farms, we expect to have a bounty of pick your own apples available to our guests. Not only are they healthy, but apples are great to use in so many different ways. Slice them, bake them, mash them, they are a go-to staple in our farm family kitchen! Add an extra protein boost by pairing with OmMade Peanut Butter from the Farm Market, create your own apple sauce and use these *reusable pouches* to make it easy to grab on the go!  Get the kids excited by bringing them to pick their own apples at the farm, beginning with Honeycrisp apples, August 28th! You can learn more about our Apple Gala and pick your own apples at Great Country Farms and buy tickets here!

Fresh Veggies or Salad

The sayings go way back in time, but tried and true, veggies are an awesome snack choice. It is a proven fact that people are more likely to choose a healthy snack when it is already prepared and easy to grab. It can be tempting to go for that bag of Fritos if you’re feeling “hangry” and you know that you have to chop, bake and season the healthier option. Set yourself up for success by spending an hour or two preparing veggies for easy access for you and your family. Stock up at your favorite local farm markets and make Sunday meal prep night. 

 

Nuts or Granola

In our Farm Market, we carry a variety of nuts and granola options. High in protein, these are an easy grab and go option for the whole family! Choose from a variety of flavors and add to your favorite to yogurt, trail mix, or just enjoy them as they come! We are proud to sell Michele’s Granola in our market. It is handmade in Maryland, all natural, and comes in a lot of fun flavors! Check out the Michele’s Granola website to read their incredible story.

 

Jerky

Full of protein, vitamins and minerals, jerky is another great option for your active lifestyle. Although not all jerky is made equally, we can assure you that the brands found in our market are top notch and equally delicious without the extra add-ins. We also offer beef sticks, a great grab and go protein snack that are from our local neighbors at Audley Farm. Grab from the pantry and store these in your backpack, purse, diaper bag or briefcase for perfect on the go convenience.

 

Crackers

In our market, we carry a variety of different crackers. We love this option because it can be made difference in so many easy ways. We recommend pairing with Upperville’s local Village Cheese Works cheese, one of our many jellies, butters,  or preserves or OmMade Peanut Butter all available in the Great Country Farms Market.. Check out this blog we found with cracker inspiration to enhance your  snacks and keep them interesting and fun for everyone to enjoy!

We wish you and your family a happy year of learning, adventure and fun! We look forward to seeing you out on the farm. For information on our upcoming events, visit our GreatCountryFarms.com. Don’t forget to sign up for our latest U-pick alerts here to stay in touch!