Santa Ynez Valley Star October B 2018

Page 1

October 16-November 5, 2018

Every Issue Complimentary Every Time

www.santaynezvalleystar.com

Summerset Farm offers a bounty of goodness October brings big pumpkin patch back to Santa Ynez By Pamela Dozois

A variety of freshly picked fruits and vegetables sit on a table, ready for purchase.

Contributing Writer

Photos by Pamela Dozois Summerset Farm has a quaintly decorated farm stand with freshly picked fruits and vegetables ready for purchase.

ummerset Farm is a little agricultural gem at Edison Street and Baseline Avenue just off Highway 154 in Santa Ynez, and in October it explodes with a colorful pumpkin patch.. This rustic and picturesque farm stand has been in the same location for 14 years, and Sally Maher has been the proprietor for 11 years. It is also the location of Dale’s Nursery, run by Dale Bostrom, a California certified nurseryman. Bostron has been certified for 35 years and has been working at the farm for the past six years. Not everyone is born with a green thumb, but Maher seems to have two. Cultivating is her passion. She, along with her assistant, Alberto Jiminez, plant all the produce sold at the farm stand. Jiminez makes sure everything is properly irrigated and growing well. Working in harmony with nature, using some old-fashioned techniques, the farm is herbicide and pesticide free. Maher also runs the quaintly decorated farm stand, with freshly picked fruits and vegetables ready for purchase. But for those who want to experience a deeper connection with their food and nature, the farm allows customers to meander through the farm and pick their own seasonal berries, grapes, and apples right from the garden. For some, Summerset Farm is the first experience in a bountiful garden setting. “I’d say ninety-five percent of my out-of-town customers are really into picking from the field.

It’s something vegetables, the farm different for peostand offers local ple from the city honey, jams made to do. Some come by Maher, pickles, and stay for hours juices, lavender in the garden, pouches, holiday taking pictures decorations such as and tasting the fancy gourds, and berries,” said plant fertilizer. Maher. There are several The farm is bee hives around seasonal – open the property with May through an observation hive December, seven inside the farm stand Johnny Chandler and Frances Olive-Hampton, visitors from Los Angeles, days a week, where visitors can stop by Summerset Farm to chat with Sally Maher and buy some from 9 a.m. until strawberries view the comings closing. and goings of the bees During the late spring and summer months and their pollen collection activities. the farm stand offers raspberries, strawberries, “Our bee keeper is Archie Mitchell from peaches, plums, apricots, tomatoes, along with Lompoc Valley Honey. He takes care of the a variety of vegetables such as onions, carrots, hives and bottles the honey for us,” said Maher. cucumbers, zucchini, four different varieties of The farm’s October pumpkin patch display potatoes, peppers, corn and sun flowers, which includes large decorative pumpkins, pumpkins help keep the birds out of the berries. From for cooking pies and soup, jack-o-lantern pumplate summer through fall they offer pumpkins, kins, and decorative turban squash and fancy gourds, squash and apples. gourds. It is one of the largest pumpkin patches “Last year I planted 3,400 onion plants. in the valley, growing more than 28 varieties of There’s months of planting involved in planting pumpkin, squash and gourds. the garden – it takes days to get each project “This is the premier photo op spot for fall completed,” said Maher. pumpkins,” said Maher. “We also offer train Besides a variety of seasonal fruits and rides through the farm, for both adults and chil-

S

dren, and have a bounce house for the little ones offering numerous photo opportunities both in the field and at the farm stand.” “We have had the train (on wheels) for five years now. Someone down south had it for sale and the owners of the farm purchased it and we use it to take those interested for a train ride around the farm,” explained Maher. “In 2016 our little train was awarded ‘Best Float’ in the Christmas parade.” During October the farm welcomes children from kindergarten through second grade to visit the farm. “We have a lot of field trips during October from schools all around the county; Lompoc, Santa Maria, and all the valley schools. Children can experience the farm, pick corn fresh from the garden and savor the tastes, smells and the natural environment,” said Maher. “It gives children the opportunity to see where their food comes from, and each child who participates in the school field trip gets to take home a pumpkin, a gourd, and an apple.” “This is a great place to work. I get up every morning and I am happy to go to work. That’s important in life. It’s a pleasure to meet and greet the customers. Every year is different – I get to plant different things in the garden. I have the most beautiful office in the valley. I’m incredibly lucky to be able to spend my days in such a glorious environment doing what I love,” Maher said. Summerset Farm is at 3450 Baseline Ave. in Santa Ynez. For more information, call 805245-0989 or find them on Facebook. Information on Dale’s Nursery can be found at www.amazingolivetrees.com

El Rancho Market The Heart of the Santa Ynez Valley 2886 Mission Drive • Solvang • 805-688 4300 elranchomarket.com


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
Santa Ynez Valley Star October B 2018 by Santa Ynez Valley Star - Issuu