Brookdale Farm Stand is one of my favorite farm stands in Southern New Hampshire

The produce at Brookdale Farm is always fresh and plentiful. There is a great assortment of seasonal fruits and vegetables. You will be amazed at the large organic selections! I love the assortment of baby organic salad greens! Who said eating healthy can't be fun!

Before you go to Brookdale Farm Stand, you may want to check to see (What's Being Picked Right Now?). You can plan a delicious menu based on the current seasonal selections that come directly from Brookdale Farm.

The store Brookdale Farm is always full of local surprises. There you will find a large assortment of cooking items, gifts and other New Hampshire Made items such as Eggs, Honey, Grass Fed Beef, Spaghetti Sauce, and Pesto. These make a great host or hostess gifts.

You won't be able to resist the freshly baked pies, breads, jams, jellies, sauces or gourmet cuisinethat you can find them at Brookdale Farm. And if you are looking for a special cheese you will probably find it.

Adjacent to the store is a greenhouse where you can find a variety of flowersto complement any festive occasion.

During the year there are many pick-your-own opportunities. A map is provided to guests to find and locate the types of apples in the field. You can even plan a picnic.

So whether you like red, pink or green, crisp or juicy, sweet or tart, you can find an apple that will delight your taste buds!

There are 19 Apple Varietiesdescribed on the Brookdale Farm Website

• "Baldwin Heirloom variety. Sweet and juicy. This crisp apple is a desirable variety for pies. Late variety.
• Cortland Crisp, pure white flesh resists browning when cut. Juicy and Tart tangy flavor. Dessert quality. Excellent for eating out of hand, cooking, and cider. Less aromatic than MacIntosh. Very good in salads.
• Empire MacIntosh x Red Delicious. MacIntosh type with better flavor and color. Creamy and Juicy. Resists bruising. High dessert quality.
• Fuji Crisp, juicy with outstanding texture. Late variety.
• Gala Firm, juicy, fine textured, yellow white flesh. Sweet slightly tart flavor. For folks with a sweet tooth, Gala is the best!
• Golden Delicious Firm, crisp, sweet, juicy, flavorful flesh. High quality all purpose apple.
• Granny Smith A good quality tart-flavored apple. Keeps well.
• Honey Crisp Best described as explosively crisp. A cross between Macoun and Honeygold. Excellent eating apple.
• Jonagold Crisp Fruit - both juice and aromatic, but also a sweet-sour taste. Good for Sauce, Pies, and Salads.
• Jonamac Mildly aromatic sweet flavor. A crisp and juicy flesh which is excellent for eating or sauce.
• MacIntosh Crisp, juicy, spicy, tart, excellent cider, highly aromatic.
• Macoun Firm, aromatic, all-purpose high quality dessert apple. Super crisp, sweet, juicy, mild flavor; tart and aromatic.
• Mutsu also called Crispin, is sweet, firm and crisp. It is good for sauce, pies, and fresh eating.
• Northern Spy Heirloom variety. Tangy, robust, juicy, and firm. Late variety.
• Pink Lady New pink fruit with hard white flesh. Snappy and sweet.
• Red Delicious Crisp, juicy, mildly sweet.
• Rome Extremely hard and crunchy. Great for cooking and eating. Late variety.
• SnowSweet Sweet taste with a slightly tart balance. Slow to brown which makes it great in salads or simply sliced.
• Spencer MacIntosh x Golden Delicious. Very sweet with crisp juicy flesh. Fine flavor. Excellent eating quality and great for desserts."

Here is a calendar to help you plan a pick-your-own trip to Brookdale Farm

mid-June early-July: Strawberries
end-June early-July: Cherries
mid-July August: Blueberries, early-Raspberries, Black Raspberries, & Blackberries
early-September mid-October: Apples, Pumpkins & late-Raspberries - ALL Open

• Store hours Monday-Sunday 8:00a.m. to 7:00 p.m
• 41 Broad Street, Hollis New Hampshire
• 603-465-2240

Discover the New Hampshire Advantage. New Hampshire was chosen as the Most Livable State in America! The Safest State in America, 2010. and the Fifth Healthiest State in America!

__________

Disclaimer: Information herein may come from various sources, some of which may not be reliable and may change without any notice. Joan Whitebook does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information on this blog represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author. Copyright © 2010 copy and photos By Joan Whitebook -Brookdale Farm Stand, Hollis New Hampshire - Fruits, Veggies and More"

In 1899, Governor Frank W. Rollins, was concerned about the decline of the small towns in New Hampshire- Rollins had a vision that communities in New Hampshire set aside a time for residents to come together to keep the town spirit alive. "Old Home Day" was officially recognized by Proclamation in the New Hampshire State Legislature in 1913.

New Hampshire continues this tradition and on September 18th, the Town of Pelham will celebrate Old Home Day and enjoy the spirit of community.

This year's theme is "Pelham - A Special Place"

Enjoy the food, parades and discover what makes Pelham, New Hampshire "A Special Place"

Entertainment & Demonstrations throughout the day ~ for a complete list of activities check out the Pelham Old Home Days website. There will be singers, bands, magic shows, dancing and a dog parade.

9:00 - 6:00 The Craft Fair
Dozens of craft and vendor booths in the churchyard.

9:30 The Victor Spaulding Memorial Auction

7:00 - 8:15 registration - Start time 8:30 The Old Home Day 5K Race & Walk
A five kilometer road race and 2.5 mile walk. Proceeds benefit the Nashua Special Olympics.

9:30 The Doll Carriage & Bike Parade

2:00 p.m. cut off - bring your pie to church by 2:00 The Great Pelham Pie Bake Off Contest

4:30 - 6:30 The Church Supper - The First Congregational Church

Cost: Children $4, Adults $7, Take-out $7

9:00 - 4:00 Kid's Games Carnival and games

The White Elephant Table - bring your white elephant...Unsold items are donated to charity

The Penny Sale Buy tickets & take a chance on crafter's items

The Country Store
The Women's Fellowship group will sells home made goodies - handmade arts & crafts.

The Old Home Day Raffles
The regular raffle ~ prizes every half hour. Old Home Day Quilters raffle - 1 quilt awarded.

All Day The Food Tent Breakfast, lunch & snacks.

{{{{{{{ Special Events }}}}}}}

1:00 New England Pet Partners Dog Parade

2:30 The Grand Parade Antique cars, trucks, fire engines & marching bands

Route: Marsh Road from Pelham Elementary School to the center of town - turning right onto Main Street past the First Congregational Church - ending at Saint Patrick's School.

3:00 Pelham's got Talent Contest

Discover the New Hampshire Advantage. New Hampshire was chosen as the Most Livable State in America! The Safest State in America, 2010. and the Fifth Healthiest State in America!

________

Disclaimer: Information herein may come from various sources, some of which may not be reliable and may change without any notice. Joan Whitebook does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information on this blog represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author. Copyright © 2010 copy and photos By Joan Whitebook and Maureen Ross, NEPP - "Pelham, New Hampshire celebrates "Old Home Day" on September 18th"

The weather couldn't be better and what better way to celebrat the beginning of the fall season than a Beer Festival!

The City of Nashua, Frank FM and Great American Downtown are sponsoring the FIRST NASHUA BEER FESTIVAL.

The Nashua Beer Festival will take place, rain or shine on Saturday - September 18^th at Holman Stadium from 4-8 p.m.

In addition to the beer tasting there will be entertainment for kids, a bounce house, field games and a caricature artists.

Schedule of Events:

• 4-8 PM- Gates Open
• 4:00 PM- Live Music-Mechelle Zydenbos (Acoustic_
• 4:45 PM- Marcus Gale-Children's Entertainer
• 5:05 PM- Live Music-Jamantics (Jam/Funk)
• 5:45 PM- Marcus Gale-Children's Entertainer
• 6:05 PM- Live Music-Red Sky Mary-Rock & Roll
• 7:00 PM- Live Music-Jack Dupon-Rock/Experimental
• 8:00 PM- Fireworks
• 8:15 PM- Gates Close

Cost:

• $ 15 Advance Purchase at www.downtownnashua. Org
• $20 Day of Event - Entrance Fee
• $5 Children's Entrance Fee (under 16)

Adult fee - includes 10 tasting tickes (3oz) & live entertainment. Children's admission - includes live entertainment, unlimited access to bounces house, field games or caricature artist.

Enjoy music by the Transit Music Group, Inc. and Food samples from TNT catering.

Participating Breweries & Signature Brews:

Green Mountain Beverage Woodchuck Cider

Long Trail Brewery

• Long Trail Ale
• Pale Ale
• Blackberry Wheat

Anheuser Busch

• Budweiser
• Bud Light Lime
• Bud Light Wheat
• Shock Top
• Hoegaarden
• Bass
• Stella Artois

Tuckerman's Brewery~Smuttynose Brewery~Harpoon Brewery~~ Red Hook Brewery ~Woodstock Inn Brewery

Boston Beer Company

• Sam Octoberfest
• Sam Boston Lager
• Latitude 48
• Blackberry Wit
• Coastal Wheat
• Twisted Tea Lemon
• Half and Half
• Backyard Batch
• Sweat Tea
• Tea Light

Served 1^st come 1^st serve 'til beer runs out

Find out first hand why Nashua, New Hampshire is the only city to get the No. 1 ranking as the BEST PLACE to LIVE IN AMERICA in Surveys by Money Magazine twice (1987 & 1997).

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Disclaimer: Information herein may come from various sources, some of which may not be reliable and may change without any notice. Joan Whitebook does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information on this blog represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author. Copyright © 2010 Joan Whitebook "Nashua New Hampshire Celebrates - 1st Nashua Beer Festival"

New Hampshire's Old Home Days was established in 1899 by Gov. Frank West Rollins to bring folks who had headed to the west back to the small towns of New Hampshire.

Old Home Days faded away in many parts of New Hampshire and was re-established in Hollis in 1996 in commemoration of the town's 250th anniversary. Today, there are at approximately 57 Old Home Days events throughout New Hampshire.

This year, the Hollis Old Home Days begins Thursday, September 16 starting at 5:00 P.M and ending at 9:00 p.m. on September 18^th. Old Home Days will be held at Nichols Field on Depot Road. Old Home Days will come to a finale with the fireworks display Saturday night.

The Theme this year is "Hollis Treasures"

A special treasure map will help folks explore the fairground and find some natural, living and historic treasures.

Thursday Sept 16

Family Bracelet Night. From 5pm-9pm, pay just $12/person for a bracelet that lets you ride all the rides an unlimited number of times! Midway games open at usual (separate) rates.

The famous Hollis Old Home Days meatball sub dinner will be available Thursday evening only - next to the amusement rides. Meatball sub, chips, and a drink for $5.

Friday - September 17

• 5:00pm - 7:00 hot air balloon rides if weather permits - $5 to 12 and & over 13 $10
• 6:00 pm Amusement rides & Midway
• 7:00 - 10:30 Teen Dance

Saturday September 18

• 6:00 arrive - - 6:30 Hot air balloon lift off, if weather permits, advance reservations ($200/person)
• 10:00 - 5:00 Vendor booths open all day
• 10:00 - 5:00 Craft Demonstrations - basketry, rug hooking, cross stitch, pottery, spinning wool, construction of traditional dry stacked stone wall
• 10:00 - 5:00 Hollis Arts Society: Exhibits, demonstrations. Hand-made artwork and crafts for sale. Hollis Art Society Tent
• 10:00 am- 5:30pm Silent auction. The Hollis Art Society artists are donating 10 pieces Lawrence Barn - bidding ends at 5:00 - 7:30 winners announced! - Old Home Days Tent
• 10:00 - 8:30 Amusement rides and Midway Food and beverages available
• 10:30 am - Hollis Old Town Parade. Begins at the Hollis/Brookline High School thru monument square - ends at Nichols field. Participating will be four bands, antique automobiles
• 11:00 - If you bake a mean apple pie, don't miss the apple pie contest. There is a division for kids 13 and younger. Slices of the pies will be available for purchase after the judges make their rulings
• 11:30 - 2:30 Car, truck and Tractor show
• 12:00 - Flag raising - national anthem and Band concert - Performance tent
• 12:30 - Demonstration Hollis Area Equestrians - Horse ring
• 1:00 - 2:00 Children's Fire Muster by Hollis Fire Department (ages 4-12) - Track oval
• 1:00 - 2:30 Reading Marathon in honor of the 100th Anniversary of the Hollis Social Library - bbq tent
• 1:00 - 2:30 Entertainment - Kip Ferguson folk songs - Performance tent
• 2:30 Bring your pet to participate in the pet parade and win prizes. $5 - horse ring
• 3:00 - 4:00 Jerry Jean and his Bluegrass Pickin' Buddies - Performance tent
• 4:00 - Cow Pattie Bingo by the Hollis Brookline Rotary Club -Waugaman Field
• 4:00 - Corn Toss Tournament (ages 12 and up) - inside oval track
• 4:30 - 5:30 North Main Music Guitar Army, teenage guitarists - Performance tent
• 5:00 - 7:00 Tethered Hot Air Balloon Rides - weather permitting $5 to age 12 and then $10
• 6:15 - 6:45 Rosita Lee Dance Center, teenage competitive dance team - Performance tent
• 7:00-7:15 Less than 3 - country music - Performance tent
• 8:00 Fireworks (rain date: Sunday, September 19, same time)
• 3:30-7:00 Chicken barbecue - ticket price is $12, or $8 for seniors - also at event, if available. Hollis' old-timers (90 or older) eat at no charge between 3:30 and 5:30 - Hardy Field

Good luck everyone and enjoy Hollis Old Town Days

*check event website - times and events subject to change

Discover the New Hampshire Advantage. New Hampshire was chosen as the Most Livable State in America! The Safest State in America, 2010. and the Fifth Healthiest State in America!

________

Disclaimer: Information herein may come from various sources, some of which may not be reliable and may change without any notice. Joan Whitebook does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information on this blog represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author. Copyright © 2010 copy and photo By Joan Whitebook "Hollis, New Hampshire Celebrates Annual Old Home Days"

      New Hampshire's Dogs have Talent!

      Calling all dogs -- get those paws ready for New Hampshire's 1st Annual Dancing with the dogs contest to be held in conjunction with the 7th Annual Pet Wellness Festival!

     Does your Shih Tzu like to Salsa... does your Retreiver want  to do the Rumba-- does your Terrier Tango... and is your Chihuaha good at the Cha Cha Cha? 

     Then you will want to start practicing your favorite routine with your partner now so that you will be ready show off your dog's talents!                  

    Join New England Pet Partners and friends for the 7th Annual Pet Wellness Festival on Saturday, October 30, 10:00 - 4:00 at Dog Talk & TheraPet, LLC. 

      Pamper your pooch.  Pets  can indulge in massage, Reiki, TTouch, acupressure, aromatherapy, and helpful advise on wellness, whole-health nutrition, vacinations and veterinary care. 

    You can meet the Pet Partner and R.E.A.D. teams.

    You can register early for the festival and the dance contest at the Pet Wellness Festival website.Please read the guidelines carefully.  No dogs in heat; dogs must be healthy and must have their latest wellness check form.  Dogs should remain on a leach until they are ready to compete and children under 16 must be supervised.  

    The dance contest will begin at 2:00 p.m. and the routine should be no longer than 2-3 minutes.  Bring your music or music will be supplied.

  Three gift certificates will be awarded for the 1st 2nd and 3rd place teams!

When:    Saturday, October 30, 2010
Time:      10:00 - 4:00
Place:     Dog Talk & TheraPet, LLC
                24 Tenney Road, Pelham, NH  03076

     Cost for the Pet Wellness Festival  -   Individual/Family including 1 Pet - $10.00 
(additional pets $5.00 each)   Dancing with the Dogs registration is $5.00 per entry and you can register at the door.   Proceeds to benefit New England Pet Partners.

     Remember canine freestyle dance is a combination of training (heel, sit, down) along with safe, natural tricks like bow, spins and twirls.  

  Enjoy Linda and Rookie and get your feet and paw tapping!  Good Luck! 

     Discover the New Hampshire Advantage.  New Hampshire was chosen as the Most Livable State in America! The Safest State in America, 2010. and the Fifth Healthiest State in America!  

________

Disclaimer: Information herein may come from various sources, some of which may not be reliable and may change without any notice. Joan Whitebook does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information on this blog represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author. Copyright © 2010 By Joan Whitebook, New Hampshire's Dogs Have Talent - 1st Annual Dancing with the Dogs Contest"