By Jess MellenWinter is just around the corner, and the bustling business of summer is winding down. That means that popular spots around town such as Beech Hill Farm and Gould Hill are closing for the next series of months. They may not be selling products and ice cream to the public during this time, but the two farms are in no way idle.
During the regular operating season, Gould Hill Orchard is known for its many types of apples and other fruits. More recently, the orchard shop has added cider donuts to its list of sold products along with the usual cider, maple syrup, and other traditional New England fares. It’s a popular place to patrons of all ages and hosts many visitors during the apple picking season.
Beech Hill Farm, on the other hand, is most known for its ice cream stand. Although not made by the farm itself, the ice cream draws many visitors to the area every summer. This farm also has animals that visitors can stop to see while enjoying their frozen treats. Like Gould Hill, the farm also features a shop that contains many New England products, ranging from local artwork to maple syrup. In the autumn, Beech Hill features a collection of corn mazes for visitors to explore.
But what do these local farms do in the wintertime, when the visitors are few and the crops are not growing? According to Robert Kimball, Beech Hill Farm takes a well-deserved break during the winter months. The family likes to sit back and relax, and excluding the occasional hay sales to others, there is no work to be done.
According to Tim Bassett, one of the family members that helps run Gould Hill Orchards, they take a short time after closing to relax. But by January or February, the family and other employees are busing pruning all twenty acres of their fruit trees in order to prepare for the spring growing season. Bassett also said that most farmers, himself included, have second jobs in the Marketing area, a job that frequently takes up the winter months.
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