There are five farms open to the public for harvesting fall produce in central Indiana. They include Stuckey Farm, Waterman’s Farm, Spencer Farm, The Apple Works, and Tuttle Orchard. They have it setup to pick your own produce or selected already picked produce. They also have activities for the children and festivals to attend. As a child, my grandparents took me to pick blueberries.
Stuckey Farm sells 27 varieties of Apples, pumpkins, pears, grapes, tomatoes, sweet corn, pickle cucumbers, cabbages, green beans, red potatoes, and peaches. They have schedules to download of yearly picking charts for fruits and veggies. Stuckey is open Monday through Saturday 9 – 5. The farm is located at 19975 Hamilton Boone County Road Sheridan.
Waterman’s Farm Market has two locations in Greenwood and Indianapolis. It has green beans, pickling cucumbers, cantaloupes, sweet corn, tomatoes, beets, cucumbers, peppers – bell, habanera, cayenne, jalapeno, and pumpkins, Indiana corn, fall gourds, turnip greens or mustard greens. Waterman’s has a Fall Harvest Festival in October with a straw bale maze, pumpkin-eating Tyrannosaurus Rex, and pony rides.
Tuttle Orchards located around Greenfield and open from Monday through Saturday 9 – 6. It has apple picking, pumpkin patch, sweet corn, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, squash, watermelon, cantaloupe, gourds. The U-Pick apples begin September 2 with Gala and Early Blaze apples.
Spencer Farm is open from Wednesday through Saturday from 10 – 6. They have red raspberries, green beans, peaches, sweet corn, tomatoes, cantaloupe, watermelon, and pumpkins. They also have a Sweet Shop with ice cream, homemade fruit and cream pies, and homemade fudge. Spencer Farm is located at 7177 East 161st Street Noblesville.
The Apple Works is located off County Road 250 W in Trafalgar and open Monday through Saturday from 9 – 6. They currently have apples, peaches, and blueberries. They also have a display freezer with frozen fruits and veggies, apple pies, and homemade natural applesauce. Apple Works has their annual Highlander Festival September 24th and 25th.
Some of the farms have additional features including corn mazes, hayrides, and bonus children’s activities with train rides and slides. Children can pick a pumpkin to carve for Halloween. Stuckey’s has a wooden boat and monster truck to climb. Tuttle has a Kids Play Area that opens September 10 with corn stalk hut and tunnels, sunflower maze, and small tractors to ride.
It is a great time of year to stock up for winter by freezing, preserving, canning, and baking with the fall produce. I will do my own stocking by freezing sweet corn.