Taylor Garland 2020-01-07 05:18:27
Pennsylvania’s verdant valleys, rich soils, and abundant farmlands provide a wealth of resources and natural beauty. From bundles of freshly cut lavender to gleaming jars of golden honey, discover the riches earth provides with a visit to one of these farms and farm museums. Taste liquid gold straight from the source at Summer Smiles Honey Farm, an authentic honey bee farm in Stoystown devoted to the education and preservation of honey bees. Guests can choose from several immersive experiences, from farm-to-table dining with sustainably raised, organic foods to a beekeeping workshop where you’ll learn the crucial role that bees play in our ecosystem and how to safely care for their hives. Find gourmet treats in the shop sourced straight from the farm itself. Close your eyes and inhale the fragrant scent of lavender awash in sunshine at the Hope Hill Lavender Farm in Pottsville for a double dose of relaxation. The best lavender blooms can be seen in June and July, while a field of sunflower blooms hit the peak of beauty in August. Be sure to stop by the onsite farm store to shop for handcrafted lavender products and artisanal gifts and crafts. Book lover or sweet tooth, Hurry Hill Maple Farm Museum in Edinboro has the best of both worlds. The museum offers guests the opportunity to see, touch, and taste maple syrup from an authentic 1958 sugar shack. The museum highlights an exhibit for the Newbery Medal book Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen, which features artifacts referenced in the book as well as the genuine Newbery Medal awarded to Sorensen. On select dates, make a trip to Mother Earth Organic Mushroom Farm in West Grove, where a behind-the-scenes walking tour of the farm and mushroom processing facility offer a glimpse into growing procedures and give you the opportunity to bring home some organic mushrooms straight from the source. Discover the wealth of Pennsylvania’s farmlands with a trip to Hollabaugh Bros. Fruit Farm & Market in Biglerville, where the year-round market displays all manner of farm-fresh goods: living plants for sale, locally raised meats, freshly made ice cream, just-picked produce, an assortment of cheeses, Amish-made noodles, and handmade pies and pastries from the onsite bakery. Queenless hives, swarming hives, massive honey producing hives, mite-loving hives, and hives producing queens like crazy — that’s beekeeping! You never really know what to expect. @SUMMERSMILESHONEY
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