With a harvest moon this week, kids back in school, football in full force and the return of pumpkin spice everything, it’s hard to believe that it is still technically 
summer! This past Sunday, Sept. 22 was the official start of autumn – and that means the spoils of local farmers’ harvest are ready for purchase all across Maryland.
One of the best ways to get your hands on the freshest produce is to head out to a pick-your-own farm – and there are quite a few in Montgomery and Howard Counties from which to choose. Some of the local favorites include:
- Butler’s Orchard (Germantown, Maryland): With pick your own apples, red raspberries and sunflowers, as well as two remaining weekends to dig your own potatoes, this is a unique place to be this fall. Also on the agenda, the 33rd Annual Pumpkin Festival begins Sept. 28 and goes through weekends in October.
- Rock Hill Orchard (Mount Airy, Maryland): There are plenty of pick-your-own crops at Rock Hill this fall, including unique day-neutral strawberries and a cut-your-own-herbs garden!
- Homestead Farm (Poolesville, Maryland): Apples and zinnias are ripe for the picking and plucking here. Be sure to call ahead to know the up-to-the-minute picking conditions for your family before you head out on your adventure.
You can find a more extensive list of pick-your-own farms from across the state of Maryland here.
If scouring apple orchards yourself for the perfect basket of goodies isn’t up your alley, there are quite a few other local options. Within walking distance of many Olney neighborhoods, Good Earth Garden Market in Montgomery County, Maryland is a fantastic standby for fresh, local, pre-picked produce including a hearty selection of much-loved honeycrisp apples and a variety of chrysanthemums, pansies and other crisp-weather-loving plants. Good Earth also has a Potomac, Maryland location.
Also, be sure not to miss local farmer’s markets which bring local produce to a lively, family-friendly community atmosphere. Some of our favorites in the area are the Bethesda Central Farm Market (dog friendly; Sundays from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.), FRESHFARM Market in downtown Silver Spring (Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.) and the Olney Farmers and Artists Market (Sundays from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.).
Enjoy the sunny, crisp September air while it’s here and let us know how we can help you find your dream home this fall!
