Autumn a wonderful time to visit local farms
THE AIR IS FRAGRANT, nature is bursting with color and temperatures are beginning to cool. We’re changing too, beginning to crave the full-favored, earthy foods of fall.
Local farms are a rich part of our history, going back generations beginning as early as the 1800s. Most began as small family endeavors, growing to become legacies of hard work, tenacity and heart.
Area farms not only produce magnificent produce, meat and dairy, but also feature harvest festivals, children’s attractions, gift shops, specialty foods and produce clubs.
Visit area farms, and explore and enjoy the bounty. Whether you go with friends, the grandkids or your sweetheart, it may just be the beginning of a wonderful tradition!
THE LAND
Perhaps the most diverse agricultural region on earth, since the 1800s, Oregon has attracted folks who dreamed of creating a farm. The region was considered a paradise by many, thanks to its lush forests, fertile soil and temperate climate — ideal for crops and animals. People from all backgrounds came to set roots and seed their dreams, united by hard work, dedication
and passion.
The Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) was a major economic player in the early 19th century. Headquartered at Fort Vancouver since 1824, the company invested in farming to ensure self-sufficiency. Grains, gardens and orchards were planted and livestock brought in. Dairies were built to supply traders and HBC employees. Eventually the company monopolized regional trade and settlement, mainly giving farmland only to retired HBC employees.
In the 1840s, the HBC’s stranglehold began to loosen as pioneers poured in via the Oregon Trail. Most settled south of the Columbia River, drawn to the fertile soil of the Willamette Valley. They created their own farms and businesses, eventually pushing out the HBC.
Most began from scratch, and while crops flourished, access to seeds and seedlings was limited. Then in 1847, pioneer nurseryman Henderson Luelling traveled from Iowa to Oregon with his wife, eight children and over 700 fruit tree sprouts. Establishing a nursery near Milwaukie, Oregon, Luelling became the go-to for Oregon farmers. To this day, the success of certain crops in Oregon, such as pears, can be traced back to Luelling’s nursery.
THE FOOD
Oregon’s earliest farmers learned over time what crops thrived in specific areas, gradually finding the perfect places and methods for growing various crops. The roots they set were carried on by future generations who, while maintaining their ancestors’ values and practices, studied and introduced new and better methods as their knowledge of sustainability and technology advanced. Many of today’s family farms compost, use natural weed control and energy-efficient irrigation systems.
The result? Fabulous farm fresh fruits, vegetables, berries, meat and dairy, specialty products such as jams, pies and craft beverages. These are sought after year-round by those who appreciate local, healthy, humanely raised foods with flavor beyond compare.
THE FUN
Fun on the farm actually has a formal name! “Agri-tainment” is believed by many to have begun in 1928, when California farmers Cordelia and Walter Knott created Knott’s Berry Farm.
Visiting local farms these days is BIG FUN — with entertainment, apple- and pumpkin-shooting cannons and craft dining/beverage experiences. Happily, traditional attractions such hayrides, pumpkin patches and pick-your-own fruits and veggies is still on tap, along with new additions such as restaurants, games, carnival rides, signature foods (donuts, anyone?) and more. Some farms even offer mud-free grounds!
For many boomers and seniors who never lived on a farm, visiting one feeds their desire for nostalgia while providing the thrilling, vicarious experience of rural living.
Fun at the farm combines irresistible elements for a day you’ll long remember. Friendly families and staff, livestock, food, beauty, history and fun.
Simply put, local farms are serving up a harvest of smiles and memories.