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The best stuff for families in Lane County

Merry Reviews: Detering in October

10/7/2016

1 Comment

 
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Here in Lane County we have a host of October-ish things to anticipate.

​One is the gem of a farm we have in 
​Detering Orchards. 

​For instance, long after other farms close for the season, Detering remains open.
They will have u-pick produce through mid-November this year (did you know 95% of their produce is available for u-pick? which brings the price down per pound??). Once u-pick slows down, the farm store remains open until February with produce, Detering-made preserves, jams, sauces and fresh-pressed cider, locally-produced nuts, honey, and popcorn, and some truly fabulous options for fall and holiday gifts and décor.

Detering has a story. 

​Siblings Greig and Becky are the 3rd generation of Deterring’s to run the family farm. They’re committed to maintaining the values that their red-suspender-wearing father Roger passionately instilled…celebrating the seasons, providing affordable, family memories, and teaching children where their food comes from. Becky says, “I love the feeling of the fall here at Detering. And we all look forward to the field trips we host all season.”
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And this is THE TIME of the year to visit! They kick off Apple Daze this weekend and continue through October (8am-7pm on Saturdays, 8am-6pm on Sundays).
​
This includes:

Samples of apple cider and apple cobbler. Live music. Free corn maze and hay bale maze. Play area. Face painting.
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Available for low cost:
apple launcher, feeding the barn animals, and a tractor ride out to the u-pick orchard (kids are actually free for that one, adults are $1). 
​
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October 8-9:
join the Apple Daze Kickoff with pumpkin carving demonstrations and giveaways.


October 22-23:
bring a decorated or carved pumpkin and receive free Apple Blaster tickets!


October 29-30:
​
come dressed in your Halloween costumes for FREE apple blaster tickets and PRIZES for best costume!
My family happens to be regulars at Detering. Recently, we tramped through the mazes, hit up the sample tables, launched a dozen apples and played. But the highlight was definitely picking apples… once we aggressively interviewed the staff for their recommendations.

​After all, Detering has over 30 apple varietals!
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The Mutsu. This is the all-around staff favorite due to its baking prowess. Because of its size, there are less overall apples to peel and they hold up really well in cobblers, crisps and pies.  Becky loves all the large varietals of apples but recommends the little Jonathans for caramel apples or an easy snack for the kids. Our tractor driver, John, scoffed at the idea of picking a favorite. “Anything is my favorite when it’s picked fresh, in season.” ​

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Other must-picks include the
Melrose and the Jonagolds. 


Grab this handy chart at the farm to get an idea of what kind of apples to get for your dish or sauce. U-pick vary around 72 cents/pound.

​Also available for picking:
​pears, tomatoes, peppers and flowers.

Now, go!  Enjoy!
​Tell them GoMomGo sent you!

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1 Comment

Happy Adventuring: Hentze Farm

10/29/2015

1 Comment

 
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Well here we are, smack dab in the middle of farm season. Pumpkins and hayrides and corn mazes oh my! I'll give you $20 if you can look at your Facebook feed on a Saturday without scrolling through at least 3 consecutive pumpkin patch photos. Seriously.

So, I'm betting that if you've lived in Lane County for any amount of time, you've been to the top few most popular and hence most crowded farms - Thistledown, Lone Pine, and Detering's. All 3 farms are seriously so lovely. My family visits them multiple times all summer and fall. But if you look a bit further, you can find some lesser known gems, and you will be glad you did. I've heard great things about Johnson's Farm as well as Northern Lights, but I personally haven't made it out to either of those yet. Here's where I HAVE been - Hentze Farms.
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Now that I've gone and said it, I sort of want to take it back. Forget you heard that! Don't go there! Because it's such a wonderful, quiet, sweet little spot, and I don't want to have to arm wrestle any of you for parking spaces. Well okay, anyway, you should go there. Here's why: 
  • Hentze is a certified century farm. That means that the same family has owned and operated the farm for over 100 years. This means that it's a small, working operation, so they've got actual farm tasks to accomplish. Once while I was buying my honey, the lady had to stop checking me out so she could go chase a goat out of the chicken pen. 
  • Speaking of honey. We use a ton of honey at our house - we put it in ALL the things. Hentze sells honey that is made by bees on their farm and then processed locally. It is sooooo yummy, and very reasonably priced. Pick up a jar when you're there. 
  • The owners are super laid back. This farm is their home - and they are just so friendly and welcoming. The first time we went to pick apples, about 2 years ago, they handed us some buckets, waved in the general direction of the trees, and cut us loose. Very casual, which I feel like is awesome when you're wrangling kiddos. 
  • There are all sorts of fun animals to watch. They've got chickens, cows (loud cows!), goats, and more. They even have a pair of peacocks. So cool right? 
  • Check out the farm equipment they have inside the farm stand building. It's real, working machinery that processes cherries, nuts, and more. If you're lucky, you'll see them running it. Go ahead, try and find something more impressive to a 5 year old. 
  • If you hurry up and go this week, you can catch a hayride out to the pumpkin patch.
  • If you make applesauce, which you will after the tutorial that I'm posting in a week or so, you have to go out to Hentze and pick apples. I didn't look at the prices for U-Pick this year yet, but last year it was $0.33/pound. That is insanely cheap. And making applesauce is the easiest way to feel like a homesteader. 
  • In case your littles are interested in feeding the animals, there are little cups of feed for sale inside the farm stand.
  • There are lots of old tractors scattered around - my boys LOVE to sit on them and pretend to plow ye olde crops and such. :) 
  • Particularly as we get deeper into rainy season, be sure to dress your littles in boots and layers, because they will get pretty messy. Bring an extra change of clothes. 
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So there you go! Hentze is only open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and on December 24 they close until June. I think Fridays, especially in the morning, are a great time to go. If you are looking for a laid back and super fun way to spend a few hours, please go check them out. Just don't buy up all my honey or take my parking spot. :) 

The Essentials
Parking: Plenty of free parking
Food: There are picnic tables, so bring some cheese and meat and crackers from home and plan on buying some fruit and having yourself a perfect little picnic. 
Resting/Nursing Spots: There are hay bales and picnic tables scattered around.
Push/Wear: If you're planning on heading out to the orchards to pick apples, I would wear your little. If you have a pretty tough stroller, something like a BOB, that could work too. But it's muddy in spots - so beware. 
Restrooms: Yep
Time Frame: At least an hour or two
Get There
30065 Hentze Lane
Junction City
97448

Happy Adventuring!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Megan Defferding is the mom to two super fun boys who love to find great stuff to do all around Lane County! Check out her blog series, Happy Adventuring, weekly on GoMomGo.
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  • home
  • StayMomStay
  • calendar
  • seasonal fun
  • let's eat!
  • let's play!
    • let's play inside! super active
    • let's play inside! a little quieter
    • let's play outside!
    • water play!
  • let's party!
  • let's shop!
    • kids clothing
      • resale clothing
      • new clothing
    • toys
    • arts & crafts
    • books
  • let's learn!
    • dance classes
    • martial arts
    • sports
    • arts & crafts classes
    • gymnastics
    • yoga classes
    • music classes
    • more classes
    • child care
  • blog
  • advertise
    • advertise
  • newsletter
  • contact us
  • payments
  • add an event
  • GoMomGo...PNW