Down on the Farm in the Fall

By Ron Eichner

Hey folks! My name is Ron Eichner, and I am a fourth-generation full-time farmer. Our farm’s history dates to 1897, when my great-grandfather purchased his piece of heaven. I have worked for decades alongside my parents and grandparents, learning from their example of what farm life is like. Now my role is to pass on my family’s farming knowledge to our 5^th and 6^th generation family members and to share the “Facts from the Farm” with all of you.

We are approaching the third quarter of the calendar year, and there are more than 90 days in September, October, and November. The days are getting shorter and cooler with frosty nights and mornings on the horizon. 

As the fall harvest season comes to a close, this is the traditional time for canning and freezing. The practice of freezing and canning is meant to preserve fruits and vegetables for the cold winter months and well into the following year. The popularity of food preservation is declining, as it has become easier to go to the grocery store, where canned food is readily available. Many people still enjoy the process of canning produce, especially that which they have grown themselves. There are plenty of resources online to help you learn the process. 

The third quarter of the year is when Mother Nature transforms green leaves into colorful displays only to drop them to the ground, adding raking to your yardwork duties. This is a great time to add a pop of color to your landscaping with our large fall mums, own by our cousin, Matt King. 

October is a busy time for family farms, with customers coming in to select their pumpkins, gourds, and cornstalks. Halloween activities are kicking off, like haunted houses. We recommend visiting Haunted Hillview Manor and Scarecrow Manor in New Castle, where Carrie Triko and her team have created a fun and thrilling experience. Visit hauntedhillviewmanor.com for details.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month—the perfect time to show your support and bring awareness to the devastating disease. October 12 is National Farmers' Day, a day to honor family farms. We also celebrate Oktoberfest, a German festival celebrating Bavarian culture, beer, and traditional foods. November 11 is Veterans Day, a day to honor our military veterans and their sacrifices. 

Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November, and we hope to be a part of your Thanksgiving feast. We raise two flocks of broad-breasted white turkeys and process them on our farm with the help of about 20 family members and friends. I always say that Thanksgiving is our Super Bowl of the year. The joy we experience is when all the processes and efforts come together, and our customers are well taken care of throughout the year.

Our goal is to support our community throughout the year, with the hope that our community will support our farm in return. We are nestled in a valley, and our farm market and greenhouses are open seven days a week. We welcome you all to come and visit Eichner’s Whole Farm and Greenhouse at 285 Richard Road in Wexford, to experience farm fresh and discover “the rest of the story.”