The Northampton County, Pennsylvania 2009 Annual Open Gate Farm Tour is coming up. This year it will be held the second weekend of October instead of the first weekend, October 10th & 11th, from noon until 4PM. It is presented by the Northampton county Co-operative Extension Office and is an educational, and fun, program of Penn State Extension Northampton county.
What is an Open Gate Farm Tour? It is very similar to an open house. The public is invited to visit participating local farms. While visiting, the public is able to speak with the farmers and learn about each 
farm they visit.
The farms that will be participating this year, and there are many of them, will be:
Graver Farms - a family operated grain farm in Danielsville, PA. Here the visitors will be able to walk through their 6-acre corn maze, see fall decorations and pick your own pumpkins. An educational hayride will explain grain drying system, different crops grown, no-till planting, and precision farming.
Smith Krekk Alpacas - is a family run Alpaca farm located in Bangor, PA. This farm has over 50 alpacas and offer boarding services, alpaca fiber processing, breeding stock and pet quality alpacas for sale. Demonstrations will include spinning, fiber processing and discussions on alpaca herd management. A discussion on benefits of running a small family farm will also be held.
Clear Spring Farm -a family owned and operated vegetable farm in Forks Twp. They have a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. Their farm stand will be open and you will be able to pick your own pumpkins and work your way through their corn maze. They will also show and describe their high tunnel greenhouse at 1PM & 3PM each day.
Amore Farms - in Nazareth, PA will offer fresh fruits and vegetables, hay rides to the pumpkin patch,corn maze, puzzle woods, vineyard and winery. Here all will learn about the Stadium Style Straw Bale Food Pyramid.
Purple Haze Alpacas - in Bangor, PA. Here you will see spinning demonstrations and crafters. The owners will answer any questions about alpacas and show their benefits. You will also see baby alpacas born in September.
Burnside Plantation - (Sunday only) - a 6 1/2 acre farm museum located in Bethlehem, PA. The museum interprets farm life from the mid 18th to the mid 19th centuries. It includes a farm house, gardens and heritage apple orchard. Tours of the garden, house and barn will be given along with a demonstration of the high horse wheel.
Buzas Greenhouse - a family owned business in Easton, PA. They have 17 greenhouses open year round,
growing holiday spring bedding & vegetable plants. Fresh vegetables, sweet corn and fruit are grown and sold at their own vegetable stand on the property. Learn how integrated pet management keeps plants healthy and thier participation in the big backyard program.
Graver Farmstead - in Bath PA. A Pennsylvania Bicentennial farm raising natural and grass-fed beef, pork, poultry and eggs. See how grass is turned into winter feed balage. Learn what rotational grazing means and visit with their animals. Kids can play in their corn box and look at the farm's treasure chest of old tools.
Northampton County 4H Center - located in Bushkill Twp. outside of Nazareth, PA. This is the site of the Annual 4H Fair and other 4H youth events and activities. Their kitchen will be open and come get their yummy chicken barbeque. There will be a horse show and a live farm animal exhibit.
Point Phillip Perennials - has 2 acres of gardens composed of many unusual plants and perennials, trees and shrubs. Guided garden walks will be given throughout the day. Emphasis will be given on late season care of plants. Many very rare and unusual plants will be discussed.
Windmill Horse Farm - in Easton, PA is a full service horse boarding facility with 60 stalls with large indoor and outdoor riding arenas for year round enjoyment. Open to the public for riding lessons, show training and horse camps. The Pony Express 4H Club will have information regarding horse care and feeding requirements, health, safety, and horse grooming. Mini riding lessons and trail rides will be offered.
Seiple Farms -is a 5th generation farm celebrating 120 years. They are located in Bath, PA and have pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, farm animals and a haunted house. They also have concession stands, hayrides to the pumplin patch and a corn maze for family fun.
Klein Farms - in Easton, PA, is a working dairy with an onsite store, selling their own raw milk, cheeses and yogurt. Enjoy hayrides to the pumplin patch, and a free corn maze. Listen to Blue Grass music on Sunday afternoon. Tours of the Dairy Barn will be available throughout both days, as will the tours of the Creamery. Animal nutrition will be featured in the barn and 4H members will demonstrate showing dairy cows.
Keepsake Farm & Dairy - in Northampton, PA is a grass based dairy farm that specializes in raw mild, artisan cheese , yogurts and ice cream. They also have beef, pork, chicken and eggs. Tours will be offered focusing on grass based farming.
Juniperdale Farms - (Saturday only) - is a 1000 acre dairy, field crops and vegetable farm located in Nazareth, PA. Hay rides will be offered to pick your own pumpkin patch along with tours during the hay rides.
Reeder Farms, LLC - is a "natural"/"organic" farm producing fresh chickens, eggs, flowers and herbs, located in Easton, PA. You will be able to view the "Sunflower Fence" that was planted by all the Northampton Area School District 2008 First Grade Classes. Each of the schools planted sunflowers around their pasture for the poultry to act as a fence to help stimulate their bee population.
As you can see, there are many area farms participating in this event. It's a good thing it is held for 2 days. It might just take you that long to tour the farms.
Click here for more information.
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