My Upstate getaway was full of meanderings, and those meanderings often included visits to the…read morefarms around town. Golden Harvest was one of those farms, chosen by my husband who planned the entire trip. I was along for the ride. It's quaint and hard to miss with its bright-red, apple-shaped sign. We parked in front of the shop, and the smell of freshly baked goods greeted us when we entered. At that moment I knew this place would not disappoint. The counter had pies, turnovers, and cookies on display, but we came with a mission: secure a cider donut. It's so refreshing to see donuts sold at a reasonable price. For $1.35, these were a steal compared to the $6 ones sold in the city. (Yes, $6 for a single!) The donuts, which were still warm when we had them, were generously coated with cinnamon sugar. You could taste the apple cider with each bite. I would have ordered more, but I was saving my appetite for barbecue. (See my review for their smokehouse on my profile!)

Very friendly people. We stopped for the cider donuts and produce but left with much more. My…read morehusband loved the distillery tasting room. This farm takes waste seriously and have found so many amazing things to do with the produce they grow. The donuts were delicious btw.

Went here on a Sunday in late September, and there was a decent amount of apples to pick! They have…read morea ton of different kinds to choose from. You do have to pay admission to pick, but you get to pick way more than apples. Veggies and fruit are available if you go at the right time. We got 3 large pumpkins and an entire bag of apples for a little less than 35 bucks! Definitely worth it to stop here!

You are presumed to be a criminal and are treating accordingly at check-out…read more I brought my disabled patient to the orchard for a safe, therapeutic outing, but he was left traumatized by the excessive post-picking interrogation, intense vehicle search, and authoritarian bullying by their plainclothes security. As I was held at check-out inside the building, an unnamed woman with no identification confronted me in an accusatory manner demanding to know what else we had picked. I told her everything we picked was on the counter. She asked what was in my car. I told her my patient, his rollator, and his mobility scooter. Not much else fits in a little KIA. She left me inside the building at the register and went out to my car. With no explanation to my startled patient, she began rooting through my car. He was alone and felt defenseless in a frightening situation. I don't know if I'll ever be able to get him to leave his house again for an outing like this. He is traumatized. Columbia County NY has many PYO options that are more friendly and less terrifying than this horrible place.

Roxbury Farm is amazing…read more Shortly after I moved to the Captial Region ThinkAnd D. told me about this great little farm called Roxbury that he thought I would really enjoy. He is one of the few people whose taste I trust without reservation. So I immediately went to their website to try and subscribe to the CSA. Unfortunately I was too early. I marked the date when perspective members could apply for a share, and on that day I went back to the site. As it turned out the farm wasn't quite ready yet, and suggested I check back in a few days. The tragedy was that when I finally returned, all the open slots had already been filled. So I had to wait another year, and even then I was only able to get a share at a less than convenient site. It was only this past season that I finally was able to become a member at the drop-off site nearest to my home. With two years under my belt, I have seen bounty and I have seen loss. That's part of the CSA model. Your fate is tied to the farms. What you get is at the mercy of the weather. From that perspective 2011 was brutal. An early hail pushed off the start of the season. And even after a hurricane that flooded the creek and destroyed a massive amount of the farm's crops, they miraculously continued to deliver amazing vegetables (you can see the photo above for yourself). It was the subsequent tropical storm that really was devastating. The season had to end a few weeks early, and winter storage crops had to be used to prolong the deliveries for as long as possible. Even with these losses, my love for this farm is undiminished. Their biodynamic produce is delicious. The best corn is corn that has just been picked. I love the flood of tomatoes, red peppers and cucumbers at the height of summer. They combine naturally in a panzanella salad that requires no cooking just at the time of year when you don't want to turn on your stove. Winter out here is long. When summer rolls around, it should be celebrated. And there is no better way of celebrating it than eating freshly harvested produce that was grown nearby. I can't say enough good things about this farm. I can just thank them for all their hard work and happily keep subscribing to their CSA.

First off, let me make it clear that I am not, nor have ever been, a hippie. I hate granola and…read moreretch at the faintest scent of patchouli. When I see a sitar, I reach for my gun.* But I love, love, love cooking and eating well. And I love love love supporting alternative community endeavors. Roxbury Farm falls under the rubric of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). For those not familiar with CSAs, for an annual fee one essentially becomes a 'shareholder' in a farm for the duration of a growing season, receiving a portion of the farm's output on a weekly basis. We're very fortunate in this area because there's quite a few CSAs to choose from. Roxbury, though, is one of the oldest in the nation, has standards that go far beyond the government's definition of acceptable 'organic' farming standards, and is socially conscious, delivering free food to local pantries. Their weekly newsletter displays a pragmatic sensitivity to regional issues that I rarely see around this area. Roxbury's weekly share is geared for a family of three, and they've got dozens of drop-off points scattered about the immediate area, making pickup very convenient. For example, the distance to my drop-off location is a short bike ride away (but there's so much food that the trip really demands a car). Most of the produce is what you'd expect from this region, but the quality is vastly superior, and every once in a while you'll get something relatively surprising, like bok choy, garlic scapes, or some unusual pepper or green not available in local supermarkets. In terms of quantity, I can say that we've never finished off a weekly order without freezing or preserving some of it. It's a little pricey, but well worth it, especially if you've got a freezer or know canning. You'll have great vegetables (and fruit and meat, if you like) all year. And, you'll know that you're supporting local farmers. For more info, check out their website at roxburyfarm.com. And please note that this season (2007) is filled. You'll have to wait until the beginning of the coming year to join. * I own a staple gun.

I can't believe there aren't more reviews about this amazing farmers market. Granted, it's not as…read morebig as other FM's but you can find a lot of great gems here, we left loaded with goodies. I counted at least 4 stalls selling different kinds of produce, one of them I bought heirloom apples from where the outside looked like a granny smith, but the inside was pink; super cool and delicious! Also, ended up buying a bottle of bourbon from the Berkshire distillery stall to give as a gift so this is especially convenient if you're from out of town and want to give friends and family local goods. I think the thing we were most impressed with is that there were two stalls offering handspun alpaca yarn. One of the stalls had a flyer with details about what kind of alpaca breed the yarn is from and where the farm is located. (see pic) I thought that made the shopping experience extra special especially as someone who crochet's and is interested in where the yarn comes from. Another interesting item we bought were heirloom garlic bulbs that were bright purple. They're little but one clove has the potency of like 10 garlic cloves; really cool find! Also bought local made soap, farm fresh eggs, and baked goods. Again, even though it's not a very large farmers market, I consider this to be one of the best I've visited; would absolutely make a trip out here again.

I love surprises. And this little town has a fabulous farmers market! It's open and airy with lots…read moreof selection and live music. I was able to find lots to eat even though I'm gluten free and dairy free. I ate and tasted my way through. It's harvest time, but it had a ton of beautiful local produce. So check it out!

It was our first time here. So glad we came very friendly staff berries are absolutely delicious!…read moreEven walked out with a hanging basket and arrangement of sunflowers. Definitely a place that we will be returning to again.

We had a fantastic experience at Chatham Berry Farm We…read morepicked two baskets of blueberries, (no charge for the container) and the blueberries were plentiful The people who work there were really nice and friendly Great place for a fun time My only recommendation is to wear sunscreen a wide brimmed hat and work quickly it takes a lot of time to fill two baskets. Tomorrow blueberry muffins and blueberry pancakes.

We visited Buck Hill Farm at the recommendation of our Airbnb host while we were staying in the…read morearea for the weekend & what a surprise it was! The exterior is misleading & easy to pass by if you're not in the know - don't let it fool you! Breakfast is only served on weekends between 8 AM & 1 PM & we just happened to be there. Service was extra warm & welcoming - we had our pup with us & it was a not so great weekend weather wise & while we offered to order & sit outside at a table as to not disrupt other diners, they managed to put us in their back room so no one had to eat out in the cold (Pepper can't write her own review, but she says thank you, two paws up!) While the menu is small, one item is better than the next & you can't go wrong no matter what you choose! Prices are reasonable for everything you get & in today's economy, it's a rare find! The apple pancakes were to die for & honestly, the biggest pancakes I've ever seen! Fresh biscuits with maple butter (YUM!) Don't pass up on the extra creamy & delicious chocolate milk! Seriously - can I get an IV drip of that? This place is the embodiment of farm to table (obviously). Zero frills, but full authenticity of a working farm. Wonderful place & wonderful people. They have lots of their goods for sale too, so you can take Buck Hill Farm home with you! We bought their delicious bourbon maple syrup, fresh herbal tea, hot sauce, & took some ribs back to the house to grill for Father's Day! Plenty of full & happy bellies even after leaving the farm. After breakfast, swing by the chicken coop & thank the ladies for the delicious eggs! LOL We hope to visit again next time we are in the area!

Best pancakes, Gluten Free Buckwheat was a hit paired with their beet hash! Eggs are from the…read morechickens in the farm. Can't get much fresher than that! A must stop for your weekend breakfast!

It's a cute little shed with lots of meats, bones, eggs, etc. all from their farm. All certified…read moreorganic, grass-fed beef from their own herd, raised without hormones, antibiotics, or GMOs. It amazing to live so close to this gem! I highly recommend it. My first visit was for bones for beef stock. We will be back for steaks next!

Great organic grass fed beef, fresh eggs and baked goods. How could you go wrong. This is a family…read moreowned and run farm. I met the owners and there dog. My wife and I went to a couple of there cook outs, good music. A fun place to shop. A self serve farm stand.

Catskills secret getaway art center with world-class workshops, and public classes. I was surprised…read moreto see the lineup of some of the best artists in the field of ceramics on their roster. Not only does it feel lucky to have access to these artists, but the workshops are also surprisingly affordable. The on-campus housing is clean, private, and affordable, as well. Because workshops take place in Summertime, in an area that is typically a wintertime destination, there are plenty of good restaurants, accommodations, and extra activities to do while in the area. Grateful to have found this place. This will be my third workshop here.

I took another wonderful oil painting weekend with Eileen Murphy! learned much from Eileen and…read morewatched her paint perfect landscapes! thanks Eileen for sharing your gift with us! Your guidance and instruction were inspiring and motivating! Maria Elena Papson