Hi Brendan!
Today, we visited Demarest Farms in Hillsdale, N.J.! As you know, New Jersey is called the Garden State.
The state prides itself on being a major producer of fresh fruits and vegetables.
This farm has been owned and operated by the Demarest Family for 120 years. They have 35 acres which
contain 1,500 peach trees, 300 nectarine trees and 1,800 apple trees. They also grow tomatoes, corn,
broccoli, beans squash, peppers, eggplant and pumpkins.
Check out the pictures below to find out more about my visit.
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Here is one of the apple trees that is now in blossom at Demarest Farms.
Did you know that if you only have one apple tree, then it will not produce fruit? This is because the blossoms need to be pollinated by bees carrying pollen from another apple tree. |
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Yes, here I am climbing an apple tree! Did you know that an apple tree needs to be "dormant" for about 7 to 9 weeks? Dormant means not actively growing. The tree needs contiunous cold weather below 45 degrees to produce fruit in the next season!
This is why it is so important to listen when teachers talk about the problem of global warming. Through our use of big cars and other pollution, we are raising the temperature of our earth. Now you know that we will not have apples unless the earth can cool itself in the places where apples grow.
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Here is a whole orchard of peach trees. They have already blossomed and are ready to start producing delicious peaches to eat!
Did you know that farmers often plant grass or clover around their fruit trees? This practice attracts more bees to pollinate the fruit blossoms. The result is that the trees produce more fruit that is sweeter to taste. |
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Demarest Farm had some interesting antique farm tools on display. The tool at the top is called a sickle. It was used to cut down tall weeds. The farmer held onto the wooden handle and swung it much like you would swing a golf club today. The blade at the end would cut through the bottom of the weeds.
The item at the bottom of this picture is a saw. Two people were needed to use this farm tool. Each person would hold onto a handle and pull back and forth at the base of a tree to cut it down. |
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Look at the tool at the top of this picture. This is what the farmer used to rake the dirt around a plant.
The frame at the bottom of this picture has a family photo in it that shows a tractor. The tractor was also used to move the dirt around the farm. |
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Now here I am sitting in the Bobcat tractor that was in the farmer's apple orchard! This is what he uses today to move around all of the dirt on the farm.
I think that I will drive this home to Michigan instead of coming home in my envelope! |
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Here I am showing you the Macintosh marker that the farmer put at the beginning of the row of apple trees. This row will grow Macintosh apples. |
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This is one of the nicest things about farms in New Jersey. They usually have homemade apple cider doughnuts. Apple cider is like the apple juice that you drink with your snack. It is made by pressing apples in a cider press and collecting the juice. The cider is added to the recipe to make fresh doughnuts. A cup of apple cider with a doughnut makes a delicious snack! |
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Well, here I am buckled into the car for my next destination. Bye for now!
Love, Flat Brendan |
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Click on a quick link to go back to your favorite parts of this page:
Apple Blossoms | Climbing a Tree | Peach Orchard | Sickle & Saw |
Rake & Old Tractor | Bobcat | Macintosh | Doughnuts
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