Tried to get a cut-your-own Christmas tree here- complete waste of time. Very small selection, all the trees were small and kinda ugly, and the prices were too high. Not paying $55-80 for an ugly tree. Ended up going to Mayne's in Buckeystown. read more

Homestead Farm is a great place to come with the family for apple picking and for fall activities. They have a huge yard for picking apples and our favorites are the Aztec Fuji apples. There are a few "pumpkin patches" - just areas where the pumpkins are placed. Hayrides are available as well for a nominal fee. There is a shack there for food (hot dogs, cider, etc) as well as a market where you can get jams and jelly. Great place to spend the day. read more

For 22 years our family has made the trek to rural Maryland for apple picking at Homestead Farms. It has always been a place with a family feel. Today that all changed for me. We went and the addition of an entrance fee of $2.00 per person decreased the amount of money I would have spent on apple dumplings, apple butter, vegetables, and of course the apples. It wasn't just the increased fee that left a bitter taste in my mouth, it was the apathy that the manager on staff displayed to me when I questioned the fee. He could have cared less that we were a loyal patron of over 2 decades. In fact, when I explained how it impacted our family, he simply said, "OK!" When an establishment cares only about their bottom line- money--and not the families who come---it's time to take my family elsewhere. I hope the changes at the farm impact their bottom line--$$$. Maybe then the staff will realize we weren't so insignificant after all. The entrance area looks trashy all fenced off! The apples still tasted wonderful but the experience a total downer. No thanks! So, if you want to be treated poorly and pay a fee for that--go on out to Poolesville. Otherwise, it might be time for you to also pick a new orchard, too. read more

Picked apples in the fall. Be ready to walk but it is fun. Acted like a big kid and took the hay ride out to the pumpkin patch. The ride out to the patch was not free...only minus. You may want to take a wagon as carts to haul your load were in high demand. read more

We went 10/25/14 and it was THE perfect weekend. The day was gorgeous and obviously a lot of people came the weekend before - it wasn't packed, PLENTY of apples and pumpkins left just perfect. The Pink Lady apples are my favs and delish! The market has all the fresh produce you could want. And lunch of veg soup, hot dog and apple pie with a carmel apple to go was wonderful - and all less than an hour from downtown DC. The hay ride to the pumpkin patch was fun and easy for $3. Great place and outing for families and friends. read more

We met family--including a couple little ones--up here for apple picking and pumpkin patch gallivanting. The staff here is friendly and helpful. I love that they have a full shop with jams, sauces, cider, fresh veggies, etc. for you to shop from as well as the you-pick items. Being mid-October, they still had a good amount of apples available for picking and we enjoyed walking down to the orchard and showing the kids how to spot a good one. Hay ride to the pumpkin patch was $3 per person, which I think is a good deal. However, the pumpkins were quite expensive. Next year I may opt for a small pumpkin just for the experience and buy my carving pumpkin at the grocery store! read more

Beware, they will charge you the entrance fee without telling you the fields are picked clean and not even refund the charge for the empty box you couldn't use. read more

I should first note that the day I went, a Sunday, the farm was swamped with people. The farm overall is nice and the apple picking there is great. They have a nice selection of apples and plenty of pumpkins to choose from. They also had a great selection of produce (all of which is grown on the farm) that you can purchase. The downsides were the lack of signage out in the apple orchard, the fact that they didn't give out a map of the fields, and the lack of apple cider donuts. They did have a caramel apple stand but due to the large volume of people they kept running out and would re-open the stand in 30 min. intervals to re-stock. I would return to the farm in the future to pick more apples and other produce. read more

I love to shop local... This is a great place. Local produce and super fresh. Huge selection and fast check out. Support your local farmer because there are only a few left in MOCO. read more

The best strawberries I have ever had. Farm store selection was limited but good quality and prices were reasonable. The wagons that take people to the picking were fun, especially for little kids. Petting the animals, picking berries, and riding the haywagon made the experience and great half day adventure. read more

We've visited several times with the kids. Our only wish is that there weren't SO MANY rules. Everywhere you turn, there's a sign telling you what you cannot and should not do. It's a real turn-off. I was just about to send someone to their web site, when I saw all of the "rules" on the bottom of their home page. There is a kinder way to have policies without shouting them at every turn. We also felt nickled-and-dimed for everything. I grabbed a $20 box of apples from their market to bring into my office and was charged $1.50 extra ... for the box they came in. We spent over $20 at the food stand and when I asked for an extra cup, I was given a 3oz Dixie cup. There are hand-washing stations, but nothing to dry your hands with -- thankfully it wasn't a cold day. We'll return, yes, but we always end up shaking our heads at how non customer-centric this place is. read more

We come here at least 3-4 times every year. There are so many pick your own options, from blueberries to cherries to pumpkins, making it a great go-to. The farm stand has lovely produce, plus there is a small kitchenette with lunch food and animals that kiddos can pet and feed. Great prices, great products, and lots of family funz read more

I love this place for a local pumpkin patch. It is nearby and affordable. Butlers Orchard has become so expensive, this is a nice local spot to get a hayride and a pumpkin for under 10 bucks a person :) read more

We went a few weeks ago on the weekend of 10/20 with our four and a half year old daughter, and it was one of the lovliest things we've done in a while. It was a perfect day with weather in the mid 60s, a perfect time of year with the foliage turning, and a perfect mix of walking around outdoors and doing activities like apple and pumpkin picking. This was the first time we went apple picking with our daughter and hopefully we will do it every year now. Homestead was crowded but fun, the drive over was idyllic, and it was really just a wonderful experience. Probably getting late in the season for apple picking now and a bit cold for us, but we are hopefully going to turn some of those apples from a few weekends ago into pies this weekend, so we keep getting dividends from that weekend. Really a nice place. (Bathrooms seemed kind of gross, though, so us girls held it til we got home.) read more

Went apple picking here today. Really fun and super nice staff. In addition to the 30 lbs of apples we picked, we got a pumpkin and other produce too. Plus fresh hot apple cider and apple pie as a snack for the road. Beautiful farm. Thanks!! read more

Tons of pumpkins and apples to choose from. Beautiful scenery and friendly animals on the farm. Will be going back for apples next visit!

Very rude experience. We went to pick our own fruit and everything was wonderful until we asked one of the workers or the owner a question about the fruit we picked. His response was - YOU MAKE MY JOB WORTHLESS. I was completely shocked when I heard that. I can't imagine any question bringing about that type of response. I was planning on going back later in the season to pick other fruit but I will never be back to that farm. There are plenty of other pick-your-own farms around. read more

We make an annual trip to get apples for canning. A great family excursion with a variety of pick your own produce, fall hayrides and farm animals. Can get very crowded in September when the weather is nice, so arrive early. Staff is friendly but very busy. I like that there are always 3 to 5 varieties of apples available and they change over the course of the season. read more

Second year in a row going apple picking at homestead. There's always plenty of parking and the landscape is vast and beautiful. Last year we went towards the end of the season and the apples were pretty picked over, but this year we went the last weekend in sept and there were so many varieties-- Fuji, enterprise, cameo, + more. The veggie stand looked amazing. My only critique is that they don't sell apple cider donuts! read more

We've been going to butlers orchard for pick your own since our oldest son was 7 weeks old. This past Monday my husband has a spontaneous day off so we decided to finally take our kids apple picking. Homestead farms was one of the only pick your own orchards open on a Monday so we drove out to their gorgeous property. It is absolutely stunning out there. The orchards are vast and open which is perfect for our energetic 2 year old to run around without bothering anyone. They had a cute and convenient tire park for the kids and a few fun billy goats in a pen. We spent an hour or so apple picking and had a fantastic time. The apples were delicious and the variety vast. We stopped by the market to pay and I was drawn to all their fresh fruit and vegetables. They were so colorful and perfectly fresh. I ended up buying a small bag of cherry tomatoes that I shared with my toddler on the drive home. Tomatoes even a picky toddler will eat? You know they must have been good. And they were!! Highly recommend the drive. Beautiful orchard, great picking and friendly staff. Not neatly as over commercialized or overcrowded as butlers. Our new favorite orchard. read more

Went to Homestead Farm the last three Saturdays. The farm has about 250 acres, so you feel like you are out in the country. The farm is organized into crops, and the crops are watered via underground piping, so the produce is very healthy and tasty. The trees and bushes are well tended and well spaced, so the plants are not too tall, and lower branches are removed to promote fruit production. They have a few goats, lamas, and chickens. A small cup of food for the animals can be bought in the shop for 50 cents. It appears that the charge for produce is about $2.50/lb, which may not sound like much, but I picked about 12 lbs of blueberries this morning. Last week we picked tart cherries (wonderful). Two weeks ago we picked strawberries (fantastic). We tend to pick more fruit than we would purchase in a store, but the fruit is so tasty and fresh. We cook the fruit when we get home, adding sugar as needed, so the fruit lasts the whole week. We bought blueberry crunch and blueberry muffin mixes today in the shop. They also have a small kitchen where we purchased soda, chips, and hot dog. And, they have a number of tables under a tent where you can rest out of the sun. For the strawberries and the blueberries, we rode a tractor pulled wagon out and back, and that was enjoyable. I guess the cherry trees are close enough to walk, but it seemed quite a distance, especially since I walked all the way to the end of the grove. They have an online email service so I get an email on Friday to say what is in season at this time. Suggestions for when you go there. 1) Wear sun tan lotion 2) Wear a hat 2a) I notice other people bring an umbrella for the sun, and that does seem to be a good idea. 2c) Bring a container of water and drink some every 20 minutes. 3) Park in the lot. Look at the sign as you walk in to see what is available. If there are flowers, they may be close to the shop. 4) You can purchase a small box or pail for picking the produce, or bring your own. Get the box/pail in the store, or take your own in to weigh it empty. 5) When you get the box/pail, buy a cup of food for the animals. 6) Get on the wagon, or walk to the destination. 7) Look around to see who has a container of the best looking fruit and ask them how to pick the fruit. 8) Pick produce, but be careful, its easy to pick too much. 9) Walk all the way to the end of the field, look around, and observe how well the plants are growing. 10) Ride the wagon back to the store, or walk. 11) Shop the vegetables that are located outside the shop. 12) Look around the store for something to complement the fruit/produce. Also, they sell salsa (I've bought a jar every week) and hone and other items. 13) Pay for the produce and other items. Buy some food for the animals. 14) Walk down to the animals and feed them. read more

Have been here twice for blackberry picking. Their blackberries are very good, sweet and juicy. They provide boxes for $1 each, but we brought our own tub. They have goats and chickens and my daughter loves them. There is a market outside the picking area. The eggplants and peppers are particularly good and inexpensive. read more

I enjoyed the scenic ride to the farm but that was about it. I didn't go Apple picking so I can't speak on that, but the pumpkin selection was kinda small, the country store had nothing in it (no pies, milk, eggs etc.) except for Apple's and bake mix and some preserves. The line for the food was outrageously long because there was only one small little hut for food. I also didn't see any veggies I wanted to get. On our way out we saw a sign for another place about 4 miles up the road that had everything we needed so we went there. read more

Had a great time with my girls! Nice people, great apples. A little line to get inside and no real restroom, but overall was a great experience. read more

Great place to take young children for a pick your own experience. They all love it! You should come out for the strawberry and pumpkin picking especially! A bit on the pricey side though and selection is limited in variety. read more

To me, this farm is just pretty average as far as picking farms go. You have to go early in the morning, or else you won't get a parking spot, and they don't have as much produce or entertainment variety as some of the larger farms, such as Larriland or Butlers. I'm also not sure that I'm a huge fan of their minature apple trees. Still, what they have is pretty decent, and I have had fun picking fruit. read more

This a nice farm. We went to pick apples and pumpkins and when we got there they had veggies and apple cider. Candy apples are amazing. Its free to get in but you pay what you pick. I love seeing all walks of life, couples, groups of young adults. They also have animals for the kids. I would go back. Great experience! read more

Great assortment of pick your own fruits. Secret bonus is the small, free petting zoo, a huge hit with my young children after spending some time out in the fields picking! read more

Went here in October 2014 for apple & pumpkin picking. Great place with a lot of things to do for kids, and a lot of cool stuff. Apart from picking your own veggies & fruits they have a little farmer's market with produce, a caramel apple stand, and food stand. They also have several farm animals that you can feed/view, and dirt mounds and hay piles for kids to climb. Pretty reasonable prices too. I went on a Sunday later in the afternoon and it was super crowded though, so i'd recommend trying to get there early. read more

Had a great time. Blueberries were slightly smaller but blackberries were great. Atmosphere is fun and friendly.

I have been going here for nearly 20 years. Every year, we eagerly anticipate making heavenly peach pies. A couple weeks ago, I got enough to make one, and it was yum. But all my kids weren't here, so I went a week ago and bought two dozen more to make a few more pies. They looked beautiful. I put them all out to ripen. Took days. Finally thought they were ready, ate one, YUCK mealy and no flavor. OMG. I hope it was just a bad one. But then I noticed that only 7 peaches smelled like peaches. The rest have no smell at all, some are mealy, all are not juicy, all are hard, even if they're mealy, even though they are ripe. I'm about to make the pies. The peach-smelling ones are juicy and messy, like usual. I don't know why, though I do know they were in the refrigerator, perhaps for a while, and perhaps (guessing from what I've read), too soon. The young lady boxing them up for sale laughed and said there are "a LOT of them back there," which I assume means the refrigerator. I know it's a tough year because of the frost, so they aren't doing pick your own. But if the result is they refrigerate more than usual and it ruins the peaches, then I hope they don't do it again. I wish I hadn't spent the money. I will get one pie out of peaches that I thought would produce 3, and my kids and the neighbors are all waiting for them! Ugh. Also - I got corn that I think was not from that day. It, too, was cold, and I wonder how fresh, because it didn't taste/crunch fresh. Had some mealy tomatoes this year, too. I've been such a fan of this place, so I'm really disappointed. To the extent that it's the weather, ok, but to the extent it's trying to save profits and selling stuff that isn't up to snuff, I guess I wish they'd disclose that they've handled it differently this year, because of what the weather presented. read more

Out visit was all around ideal for strawberry picking....tractor ride out and back to the fields, lots of great fruit to pick from, cute friendly animals to say hi too as an added bonus. It's a beautiful farm but unfortunately I can't give 5 stars because of the staff. :( Coming to the farm it was confusing to know where to start. Eventually we figured it out and brought our own bucket to put the fruit into (trying to be friendly in the recycling/reusing department). When I went to pay, the girl charged me for the weight of my bucket (which was most likely at least a pound if not more) and told me next time to have them pre-weigh it. NEXT time? Where was the sign for THIS time? I think they should have pre-weighed containers for that purpose. It's ridiculous I paid for my own bucket in weight. I couldn't really argue with her because I could tell she was on limited time for patience for that day. Plus when I was leaving the girl on the next register was extremely rude to customers, snapping at them and making faces. Quite disappointed there. I used to work in customer service. I don't know how they are getting away with that. On the other hand, the gentlemen running the tractors out to the fields were very friendly. I'm sad they aren't as friendly as I hoped because the farm looked great to come back to for apples and pumpkins. read more

Had a really nice first time picking apples (Fuji and Enterprise) and pumpkins with my 2 and 4 year old kids. They provide non-tippy wheelbarrows that my kids rode in part of the time. They have the dwarf trees which are low to the ground, perfect for little kids. Lots of apples were left as of Oct. 9, 2014. Some nice farm animals to see too, and pretty views. The only downside was that halfway through the picking, my 4 YO decided to turn and run between two apple trees, into the next lane, and got clotheslined by one of the support wires that he didn't see. He's got a partial black eye now, and wasn't too happy for the rest of the trip. Its not the farms fault, but maybe there is something they could do to help prevent such injuries. Maybe post a sign up front by each orchard entrance, and mention something on the website to remind parents to warn their kids. I barely noticed the wires myself. read more

I had a great day with my girls, picking apples. The apples were delicious and there were plenty! The place was very crowded, but we found parking easily and there was good signage pointing us to the various apples (we liked the Fuji the best). As is the case with most of these family farms, the prices were high - we picked about a half bushel and it cost us almost $40. But we like supporting family farms, and the apples were excellent, and it was a nice family day out, so in the end, we were happy we went! They also accept cash or credit so that helped. We ended up getting some small pumpkins and cider which was excellent! I was a little disappointed they didn't have more baked goods (missing the upstate NY apple cider donuts), but they did have a large variety of fruits and vegetables, honey and jam. We did enjoy sitting by the little pond, watching kids romp through the piles of hay, and my kids loved the goats!! The staff was very very friendly and helpful. Lines were long to check out but they were pretty fast and again, super-super friendly people. I went with teenagers, and they had a great time - there were a TON of families with little kids and they looked like they were having a good time also (goats, hayride, snacks, apple-picking). Was a really nice day out! read more