The Capital Arts Fest runs today through Sunday, Sept. 26, at various locations in the Concord area. See our story on page 10.
The Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road in Canterbury; 783-9511, shakers.org) is holding its Canterbury Artisan Festival on Saturday, Sept. 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with handcrafted works for sale, demonstrations and a line-up of live music (Badger’s Drift at 10 a.m., Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki at noon, Doc and Liz at 2 p.m. and Doug Hazard at 4 p.m.). Tickets cost $12 for adults (admission is free for everyone under age 25), according to the website.
Saturday, Sept. 25, the Gratitude Music Festival, a multiperformance series of concerts honoring first responders and frontline workers, will start at 1 p.m. with Neighbor followed by Carsie Blanton at 3:30 p.m. and Anderson East at 8 p.m. See themusichall.org for tickets to individual shows or a $90 day pass.
On Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26, the Beaver Brook Association (117 Ridge Road in Hollis; 465-7787, beaverbrook.org) will hold its 40th annual Fall Festival and Nature Art Show from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition to the art, find live performances, baked goods and dried flowers for sale, a raffle, a silent auction, an angora spinning demo and events geared toward kids, according to the website.
Saturday, Sept. 25
There are also some food-centered celebrations this weekend. Today, the Winchester Pickle Festival kicks off at 10 a.m. on Main Street with local vendors, live music, a chainsaw wood carving demo, pictures with Mr. Pickle and, of course, pickles — free on the Town Hall lawn until they’re gone, according to winchesternhpicklefestival.org, where you can find a full listing of events.
Also today, Tuscan Market (9 Via Toscana in Salem; tuscanbrands.com) will hold its Passeggiata: Walk of Wine featuring more than 40 wines for tasting as well as appetizers from 1 to 4 p.m. Tickets cost $30, according to the website.
Black Bear Vineyard & Winery (289 New Road in Salisbury; blackbearvineyard.com) will hold is Harvest Weekend today and Sunday, Sept. 26, from 1 to 5 p.m., with live music outdoors, an opportunity to learn how grapes become wine, food trucks and more, according to the winery’s Facebook page (which recommends bringing your own chairs).
Sunday, Sept. 26
The Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum and the Nature Discovery Center of Warner (18 Highlawn Road in Warner; museum is at indianmuseum.org and 456-2600, center is ndcnh.org and 822-2334) will hold a Harvest Moon and Nature Fest today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will include Native foods made from Three Sisters, bison and other local ingredients according to a press release. The day will also feature craft demonstrations (for basket weaving, beading, leather work and dream catchers), tomahawk throwing and a guided walk through the Medicine Woods, the release said. The New Hampshire Audubon Center will also bring live raptors for a “Raptor Rapture” presentation. Admission costs $10 for adults, $5 for children and a maximum of $30 per family.
Save the Date! Saturday, Oct. 3
Head to LaBelle Winery (345 Route 101 in Amherst; labellewinery.com) on Sunday, Oct. 3, for the fourth in their “Walks in the Vineyard” series, this one focusing on harvest. Learn about the grapes grown at LaBelle and the wine making process. Tickets cost $27.25 and the event runs from 11 a.m. to noon.
Featured photo: Raptors include this Barn Owl at a previous Harvest Moon and Naturefest. Courtesy photo.
The Big E might be in Massachusetts, but New Hampshire has its own day and its own building at the 17-day fair, which is going on now and runs through Oct. 3. According to a press release, visitors to this year’s New Hampshire Building will find businesses, products and entertainers that highlight the Granite State’s craftsmanship, food, arts and agriculture. Special exhibits and demonstrations will feature crafts like chair caning, woodcarving, basket making, Russian doll making and more, and eats include blueberry pie and ice cream and butter-dipped New Hampshire corn on the cob.
Score: +1
Comment:Local performers will be on stage during New Hampshire Day, which is Friday, Sept. 24. The lineup includes a magic show by BJ Hickman, folk music by Cormac McCarthy, barbershop music from the Keene Cheshiremen Chorus and jazz by Joan Watson Jones, the release said.
Manchester West Nile virus risk elevated
Another batch of mosquitoes collected in Manchester on Sept. 7 tested positive for West Nile virus, according to a press release from the city’s Health Department. Because this is the second positive batch of mosquitoes to test positive in Manchester this season, the city’s level of risk has been elevated to moderate. According to Manchester Public Health Director Anna Thomas, the risk of infection by mosquito-borne viruses may increase from now until there is a mosquito-killing frost.
Score: -1
Comment:“We are recommending that all residents use an effective mosquito repellent that contains 30 percent DEET, avoid being outdoors at dawn and dusk and remove standing water from around the home … to limit the risks of catching these infections,” Thomas said in the release.
Foliage festival will have to wait another year
The annual Warner Fall Foliage Festival, which was scheduled to take place in person Oct. 8 through Oct. 10, has been canceled. According to a message on the event’s website, the board decided last week to cancel the festival, “with tremendous disappointment, but complete confidence that it’s the right thing to do. … Our people and our community’s health and safety has always been our top priority; it always will be.” Last year’s festival was held virtually, but there are no plans to host any of the annual activities virtually this year. “No one is happy about this situation,” the festival committee wrote in its message. “We sincerely apologize.”
Score: -2
Comment: While there were a few negative comments on the event’s Facebook page in response to the announcement, most people have been supportive of the decision. “We’ve been coming to the Fall Foliage Festival for many years and always look forward to it,” one person posted. “As disappointed as we all are, you absolutely did the right thing!!! See you next year (fingers and toes crossed!!!).”
Saying goodbye to an old school
After 130 years of serving children, Hallsville Elementary School in Manchester will be decommissioned, according to a press release, meaning that the city school, which closed for good in June, will be officially returned to the city. The public is being invited to attend the decommissioning ceremony and open house on Saturday, Sept. 25, from 3 to 5 p.m. “A hundred and 30 years is a long time, and we’ve had many generations — entire families — come through here,” Forrest Ransdell, former Hallsville principal and current network director for the school district, said in the release. “This event will commemorate that educational tradition, and recognize the contributions of those who made this school what it is. We hope to see some of those people at this event.”
Score: -1
Comment:Students who attended Hallsville have been moved to either Jewett Street Elementary or Southside Middle School.
QOL score: 84
Net change: -3
QOL this week: 81
What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at news@hippopress.com.
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Covid-19 news
As of Sept. 20, there were 3,769 active infections of Covid-19 in New Hampshire and 139 current hospitalizations. All 10 counties still showed substantial community transmission levels.
During a Sept. 15 press conference, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan reported that New Hampshire has averaged more than 400 new infections of the virus per day over the previous seven-day period, while hospitalizations and deaths have also continued to creep up in recent weeks. “The vast majority of these infections … are occurring in people who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated,” he said. “In fact, since the end of January when we started tracking vaccine-breakthrough infections, only about 3 percent of the infections that we’ve identified have been in people who are fully vaccinated. … Low vaccination is contributing to continued spread of Covid-19 in our communities.”
State Department of Health & Human Services Commissioner Lori Shibinette also provided an update on state officials’ findings and lessons learned from their Aug. 30 trip to Kentucky, one of the hardest-hit states in the country by the pandemic. “One of the things that was really noteworthy was that … their surge was largely due to outbreaks in the rural areas that had low vaccination rates, and their small rural hospitals couldn’t manage that load so they would transfer their patients into the city centers,” she said. “So what we did … is we very, very clearly did a strategy to target all of our communities with a vaccination rate of under 50 percent. … So what you’re going to see is mobile clinics and vaccine vans that are going out working with Town Hall officials, local fire and EMS, and trying to raise the vaccination rates in those towns and cities.” Shibinette also pointed out that ongoing staffing challenges in Kentucky’s health care system have mirrored those in New Hampshire’s. To combat this, Gov. Chris Sununu announced a few solutions, including continuing to issue temporary licenses for 120 days to out-of-state health care workers with licenses in other states; issuing student nursing licenses to New Hampshire students in their last year of their RN or LPN programs; and reissuing licenses to retired or inactive health care professionals, which would be valid through Jan. 31, 2022. “We’re going to keep doing whatever we can … but right now, expanding and maintaining a healthy and vibrant health care workforce is one of the top priorities in the state, without a doubt,” he said.
Pfizer and BioNTech announced “positive, topline results” for its vaccine trials in children ages 5 to 11, according to a Sept. 20 press release, and plans to share its findings with the FDA “as soon as possible” to obtain authorization. “Since July, pediatric cases of Covid-19 have risen by about 240 percent in the U.S., underscoring the public health need for vaccination,” Pfizer chairman and chief executive officer Albert Bourla said in a statement. According to the release, trial results for children under the age of 5 are expected as soon as the fourth quarter of this year.
Fighting violent crime
Federal, state and local agencies are stepping up efforts to fight violent crime in Manchester, and they want the public to stay informed about what they’re doing. After a scheduled press conference to address these efforts was canceled last week, a press release was issued instead to provide an update to the community. According to the release, Manchester started using the CompStat 360 program earlier this year, a national initiative that focuses on reducing violent crime and addressing public safety issues. As part of the program, Manchester police have held community meetings and created a community-centered Problem Solving Team that includes law enforcement partners, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the County Attorney’s Office, community leaders, public health officials, public works personnel and community organizations. The purpose of the team is to discuss and develop responses, including non-law enforcement responses, to these issues, according to the release. In addition, Manchester police, New Hampshire State Police and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office have increased officer presence and community engagement in the neighborhoods that need it most, conducting more than 4,000 directed patrols. “For most residents of Manchester, these efforts should be a message of hope for the future,” Acting U.S. Attorney John J. Farley said in the release. “But for those who choose to pursue a path of violence, I have a different message. We will not tolerate violent crime in our community. We will investigate you. We will prosecute you. And you will go to federal prison.” Partners in these initiatives will continue to update the community about their ongoing efforts, the release said.
ATC options
The New Hampshire Therapeutic Cannabis Program announced last week that New Hampshire-registered patients can now make purchases at any alternative treatment center in the state. Previously, patients were restricted to purchasing from a single ATC, according to a press release, and this change results from the passage of SB 162 earlier this year. “Patients have been requesting this reform for many years, and it’s great to see that it is finally becoming a reality,” Matt Simon, Director of Public and Government Relations for Prime Alternative Treatment Centers of NH, said in the release. “Allowing more options for patients can only be a good thing as the program continues to grow and mature.”
StubHub settles
Last week New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella announced a settlement with StubHub, one of the biggest ticket reselling companies in the country. New Hampshire, along with nine other states and Washington, D.C., has resolved a complaint with the company regarding its refusal to pay refunds to consumers for concerts, sports events and other events that were canceled as a result of the pandemic. According to a press release under its “FanProtect Guarantee,” StubHub offered consumers full refunds of the purchase price and fees they paid for tickets if their events were canceled, but in March 2020, after the entertainment industry shut down, it stopped honoring its refund guarantee and instead told customers that they would receive account credits equal to 120 percent of their purchases to be used for future events. As part of the settlement, StubHub has reversed its decision and notified its customers that if they purchased tickets prior to March 25, 2020, and their events were canceled, they would receive full refunds unless they elected to retain their account credits. This includes 2,175 consumers residing in New Hampshire or purchasing tickets for an event in New Hampshire, according to the release.
The New Hampshire Veterans Home in Tilton will hold an outdoor craft fair on Saturday, Sept. 25, according to a press release. There will be more than 80 vendors, a raffle and a white elephant table. The craft fair supports the NHVH Resident Benefit Fund.
“Stuff-A-Cruiser” with non-perishable food donations at two locations in Concord as the New Hampshire Food Bank and the Concord Police Department team up for Hunger Action Month in New Hampshire. According to a press release, there will be a police cruiser at Shaw’s on Fort Eddy Road on Friday, Sept. 24, and one at Hannaford on Fort Eddy Road on Saturday, Sept. 25, with donations being accepted both days from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will also be a food collection box at the Concord Police Department on Green Street.
Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Sept. 20 for the city’s planned solar array at the former landfill on Dunbarton Road. According to a press release, the more than 8,000 panels will supply approximately 3.8 million kilowatt hours of clean energy to the power grid on an annual basis once it’s completed.
Clarity Community Connections in Londonderry is hosting its first annual fundraiser car show on Saturday, Sept. 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Matthew Thornton Elementary School (275 Mammoth Road, Londonderry). There will be cars, food trucks, local artisans, a bake sale, kids’ activities, vendors, raffles and more. The cost is $3 per person or $10 for a family bundle, and veterans get in free. All proceeds benefit Clarity Community Connections. Find the event on Facebook.
Head to a local farm or fair to get your fill of New Hampshire agriculture at its best, from corn mazes and pick-your-own apples at the farm to piglets and horse pulls at the Rochester and Deerfield fairs.
Also on the cover, follow the Great New Hampshire Autumn Tour with the Hippo’s exclusive pull-out map, p. 26 & 27. And Glendi returns to Manchester with Greek eats for all, p. 28.
As much as the end of summer means the disappearance of long days and warm weather, it also means it’s the start of the baking season. Yes, I still enjoy cookies, homemade bread and more during the summer, but it’s so much nicer to have a toasty kitchen when it’s cooler outside.
Let’s kick off fall baking with a multi-purpose recipe: sweet potato biscuits. Not only is this a fairly simple recipe to use, these biscuits work well at various times of day. Lazing around the house on a weekend morning? These biscuits make a great part of an indulgent brunch. Want to serve warm bread with soup or stew? This is the recipe you need.
These biscuits are pretty easy to make, especially if you already have cooked sweet potato ready. Please note that while you need to mash the sweet potato, a few small lumps are fine. In fact, they add a nice burst of flavor and a little texture to the final product.
Welcome back, baking season!
Michele Pesula Kuegler has been thinking about food her entire life. Since 2007, the New Hampshire native has been sharing these food thoughts and recipes at her blog, Think Tasty. Visit thinktasty.com to find more of her recipes.
Sweet potato biscuits Makes 10
1 cup cooked, mashed sweet potato 3/4 cup buttermilk 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar 1 Tablespoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small bowl, stir together the sweet potato and 1/4 cup milk. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the butter to the flour mixture, and blend with a pastry blender, two forks, or your fingers until the butter is the size of peas. Add the sweet potato mixture, folding to combine. Add the remaining milk a little at a time until the dough is combined but not moist. (You may not need to use all of the milk.) Sprinkle a work surface with flour. Place the dough on the lightly floured work surface. Using floured hands, pat it into a rectangle about 3/4″ thick. Fold the dough into thirds (like you’re folding a letter); turn the dough 90 degrees and fold it in thirds again. Sprinkle a little flour over the dough, and roll with a floured rolling pin until the dough is a 3/4″ thick rectangle again. Cut into 10 to 12 rectangles. Place the biscuits on the prepared baking sheet, and bake until light golden brown and firm to the touch, about 20 minutes. Serve warm.
*Buttermilk can be replaced with a combination of 1 Tablespoon lemon juice and enough milk to equal 3/4 cup. Allow to stand at room temperature for a couple minutes before using in the recipe.
Photo: Sweet potato biscuits. Photo by Michele Pesula Kuegler.
Get in the harvest season spirit with some pig racing and corn mazes
It’s a farm’s time to shine.
Here in the thick of the late summer early fall harvest season, farms are getting a chance to show off their hard work — from displaying animals at upcoming fairs to welcoming guests for some agritainment.
Hence that cover pig. Pig-related events feature on the schedule of both the upcoming Granite State Fair and the Deerfield Fair. In addition to the pig barn and some pig racing on the schedule, you can see other animals in the barnyard babies, petting zoo and cattle barn at the Granite State Fair, which kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 16. Starting Sept. 30, you can see the horses, alpacas, sheep, goats and more at the Deerfield Fair.
There are also good reasons to go visit a local farm or orchard. Local corn mazes have opened their attractions, offering a chance to spend some time in their corn fields. Apple picking season has started and growers are reporting that it’s been a good year for apples.
Feeling in the mood for some farm fun? Here are a few places to go.
Farmers at the fair
Animals are the highlight of New Hampshire’s agricultural fairs
By Angie Sykeny
From live music and amusement rides to demonstrations and delicious food, New Hampshire state fairs offer all kinds of fun, but the heart of the fair remains the same year after year.
“Agriculture is the bedrock of what fairs represent,” said E.J. Dean, fair coordinator for the Granite State Fair in Rochester. “Farmers wanting to showcase all of their hard work is how the fairs were born.”
“The largest percentage of time that a patron spends at any fairground is looking through the barns,” co-coordinator Mark Perry added. “At the end of that day, that’s why people come.”
For local farmers, the fair is a chance to engage with the public, spread the word about their farms and promote their products — like a farmers market, Dean said, but on a larger scale.
“The farmers are proud,” he said. “They love talking with people and showing off what they do.”
For fairgoers, the fair is a place to learn about agriculture in the state and see up-close how a cow is milked, how a sheep is sheared, how butter is made and more.
“When you hear that there’s 21 billion gallons of milk produced in the United States each year, it’s hard to quantify that number,” Dean said. “[The fair] sheds some light on the [agriculture] industry and puts all of the things that we take for granted in perspective.”
Putting a face to the name behind where their food comes from can encourage people to buy more local food and products, Perry said.
“People see and hear things [about food] in the news, and they want to know what is true,” he said. “Who better to ask than the farmer who produces the food?”
Another goal of the fair, Perry said, is to expand agriculture in the state by inspiring people with homesteads to take up farming, even if only on a small scale. Just half an acre is enough for a person to raise animals such as rabbits, chickens or goats, he said.
“As the number of full-time farmers decreases, there’s a need that’s being filled by part-time farmers,” he said. “We want to help champion those part-time farmers.”
But educating the public about agriculture isn’t the only mission of the fair, Perry said; making the experience fun and memorable is equally important, especially for children and families, and for people living in urban areas who don’t have many opportunities to visit farms or see live animals.
“When a kid gets to reach out and touch a calf or see a cow being milked for the first time, that’s a powerful thing,” Perry said. “There’s magic in that moment.”
Granite State Fair
Daily festivities include a cattle barn, pig barn, barnyard babies, exhibitions and displays, chickery, a petting zoo and live judging in the exhibition hall. Helicopter rides will be offered Friday through Sunday. Daily entertainment will include racing pigs, Circus Hollywood ($15 for a ringside box for up to four people) and a variety of live music. Recycled Percussion will perform on Friday, Sept. 17, at 8 p.m. (Tickets are $20). The horse pulling competition will take place on Saturday, Sept. 18, at 11 a.m. A mechanical bull riding competition will be held on both Thursdays, a cornhole tournament on both Fridays, and a demolition derby on both Sundays. When: Thursday through Sunday, from Sept. 16 through Sept. 19, and Sept. 23 through Sept. 26. On Thursday and Friday, both the main fair and midway open at 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, the main fair opens at 10 a.m., and the midway opens at noon. Where: 72 Lafayette St., Rochester Tickets: $10 per person, free for children age 8 and under. Plus $7 for parking. Wristbands are available for $25 on Thursday from 4 p.m. to close, Saturday from noon to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m., and, on the final Sunday, from 5 p.m. to close. More info: granitestatefair.com
Deerfield Fair
Daily festivities include agricultural shows like a horse pull, pig scramble, cattle pull and more, as well as agricultural demonstrations, exhibits and competitions; tractor pulls and demonstrations; children’s shows and activities; magic shows; a variety of live music on multiple stages and strolling performers. Special events include a woodsman contest on Thursday at 10 a.m., a pumpkin weigh-off on Thursday at 6 p.m., Granite State Disc Dogs on Saturday at 2 and 4 p.m., a truck pull on Saturday at 5 p.m., and a women’s frypan toss on Sunday at 4 p.m. Where: 34 Stage Road, Deerfield When: Thursday, Sept. 30, through Sunday, Oct. 3. Hours are 8 a.m. to 10 pm., Thursday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., on Sunday. Tickets: $12 for adults ($10 if purchased online before Sept. 27), free for kids age 12 and under and for active military and veterans. $9 for seniors age 65 and older on Thursday and Friday at the gate only. Premium parking is available for $10. Midway wristbands are available for $30 on Friday (valid through 6 p.m.) and for $35 on Sunday (valid through closing). More info: deerfieldfair.com
Mazes of maize
Lose yourself in a corn maze this fall
By Matt Ingersoll
Traversing through a corn maze is a uniquely fall activity at the farm — most of them are open to the public from early to mid-September through about Halloween. From family-friendly mazes to spookier nighttime outings, there are all kinds of unique features and experiences you can discover as you make your way through the cornfields trying to get out.
Corn maze at Sherman Farm. Courtesy photo.
At Beech Hill Farm and Ice Cream Barn in Hopkinton, there are two different 4-acre corn mazes with their own distinct themes that are never repeated after each year. Co-owner Holly Kimball, who was an elementary school teacher for more than 20 years, said she has a lot of fun designing the mazes and implementing various educational aspects into each theme.
“It’s a great outdoor activity that appeals to all ages,” Kimball said of the mazes. “This is our 24th year doing the mazes … and [they have] become a fall tradition for many people. … We get field trips from elementary school students right up through high school, [and] it can be a fun date activity or an outing for workplace team building.”
This year happens to be the 250th anniversary of the nine-generation Beech Hill Farm, a milestone Kimball has integrated into one of the corn mazes. People are given a crossword puzzle with different clues to the answers they must search through the maze to find. Each clue has to do with a different fact about farming history.
The other corn maze activity at Beech Hill Farm is what Kimball calls a “Clue-Dunnit,” featuring a corn maze mystery twist on the popular board game. Attendees are tasked with finding the “suspect” who stole the weather vane off the top of the farm’s barn.
“It’s a cornfield scavenger hunt, where you go through with a checklist and find the ‘suspects,’ which are all farm animals,” she said. “They are all signs people have to find in the maze.”
Animals are also regularly used corn maze themes at Coppal House Farm in Lee. Owner John Hutton said they will usually focus on a different animal or bird each year that you’re likely to find in your backyard. As you make your way deeper into the maze, you’ll come across different facts about that animal — this year, he said, it’s all about red foxes.
“The different facts you find … help you navigate your way through the maze,” Hutton said, “so on top of learning about the fox, it’s a scavenger hunt. … It’s something fun that the whole family can do together, and it’s very interactive with no electronics involved.”
In Milford, Trombly Gardens has a corn maze that’s open to the public from dawn to dusk, with four wooden farm animals each maze-goer is challenged to find. According to business manager Alicia Kurlander, a Halloween-themed “haunted” corn maze with actors is currently in the works for each weekend throughout the month of October.
Where to find a local corn maze
Check out this list of local farms and orchards with corn mazes to discover this fall. Many of them feature their own unique themes, often with clues you must find to navigate your way out.
Applecrest Farm Orchards 133 Exeter Road, Hampton Falls, 926-3721, applecrest.com Hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost: $7 per person and free for ages 5 and under This 8-acre corn field features a maze of twists and turns that typically remains open through Halloween or early November depending on the weather conditions, according to Applecrest Farm Orchards owner Todd Wagner. Visitors who want to traverse it during the week are encouraged to check in at the farm market, as the maze entrance is only staffed on the weekends.
Beans & Greens Farm 245 Intervale Road, Gilford, 293-2853, beansandgreensfarm.com Hours: Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; a night maze is offered Thursday through Saturday, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., with a final sweep of the maze at 10 p.m. Cost: $14 for adults and $10 for kids; the cost for the night maze ranges from $18 to $22 (tentative) According to Cheyenne Patterson of the farm’s management team, the corn maze will open for the season on Sept. 17 and will conclude with a special Halloween-themed maze on Oct. 31.
Beech Hill Farm and Ice Cream Barn 107 Beech Hill Road, Hopkinton, 223-0828, beechhillfarm.com Hours: Daily, noon to dusk Cost: $6 per person and free for kids ages 3 and under Beech Hill Farm and Ice Cream Barn has two 4-acre corn mazes, and one applied rate gives you access to both. Co-owner Holly Kimball said the farm has been offering them for more than two decades, with a different theme each year that has never been repeated. This year’s mazes include a cornfield-sized “crossword puzzle” in celebration of the farm’s 250th anniversary in 2021, as well as a “Clue-Dunnit” corn maze inspired by the popular board game.
Brookdale Fruit Farm 41 Broad St., Hollis, 465-2240, brookdalefruitfarm.com Hours: Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Cost: $3 per person The corn maze, set to open soon, is among several of the family-friendly activities that will be available at Brookdale Fruit Farm this fall, along with hayrides and apple picking.
Coppal House Farm 118 N. River Road, Lee, 659-3572, nhcornmaze.com Hours: Monday, Thursday and Friday, noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entrance is at 4:30 p.m.). Columbus Day hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: $9 for adults, $7 for kids ages 5 to 12 and for students, seniors and active military service members, and free for kids ages 5 and under Coppal House Farm features two corn mazes, with a different theme every year centered around a bird or animal you might see in your backyard. This year the theme is red foxes — maze attendees will learn various facts about the red fox that help them navigate their way out of the maze. Coppal House Farm co-owner John Hutton said the mazes are typically open through the last weekend of October, after which the corn is harvested for grain. There are also three upcoming nighttime maze dates that are open to the public, scheduled for Sept. 18, Oct. 9 and Oct. 23 (general admission is $12 per person; online ticketing only). Bring your own flashlight.
Elwood Orchards 54 Elwood Road, Londonderry, 434-6017, elwoodorchards.com Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last entrance is at 5 p.m.) Cost: $10 per person and free for kids ages 5 and under The 15-acre corn maze at this family-owned and -operated farm and orchard is open now through the first weekend of November, owner Wayne Elwood said. Throughout the month of October, there is also a nighttime maze on Fridays and Saturdays that runs until 10 p.m. (last entrance is at 9 p.m.). Bring your own flashlight.
Emery Farm 147 Piscataqua Road, Durham, 742-8495, emeryfarm.com Hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: $5 per person and free for kids ages 2 and under This corn maze, featuring an educational pollinator theme, will be open daily through Oct. 31. Tickets can be purchased inside the farm’s market and cafe.
J & F Farms 124 Chester Road, Derry, 437-0535, jandffarmsnh.com Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: $8 per person One of several available family-friendly activities, the corn maze at this longtime family-run farm is open to the public now through the end of October.
Lavoie’s Farm 172 Nartoff Road, Hollis, 882-0072, lavoiesfarm.com Hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Cost: Free At the family-owned and -operated Lavoie’s Farm, visitors can traverse the 3-acre corn maze with a pick-your-own apple or pumpkin purchase.
Riverview Farm 141 River Road, Plainfield, 298-8519, riverviewnh.com Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Cost: $5 per person and free for kids ages 4 and under Artist and illustrator Emily Zea comes up with all kinds of unique themes each year for Riverview Farm’s corn maze. The theme of this year’s 3-acre maze is Ghosts and Monsters of New England.
Scamman Farm 69 Portsmouth Ave., Stratham, 686-1258, scammanfarm.com Hours: Monday, and Wednesday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entrance is at 4:30 p.m.) Cost: $9 for adults, $7 for kids ages 5 to 12 and for seniors and active military service members, and free for kids ages 4 and under with a paid adult At more than 6 acres, Scamman’s Farm’s corn maze features a different theme every year. This year’s theme is “Fantasy Land.”
Sherman Farm 2679 E. Conway Road, Center Conway, 939-2412, shermanfarmnh.com Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: Varies from $12 to $15 per person, depending on the day, and free for kids ages 2 and under Known simply as “The Maize,” this year’s 12-acre corn maze was designed with help from students at Pine Street Elementary School in Center Conway. It’s due to open for the season on Sept. 18 and will welcome visitors every Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 24.
Trombly Gardens 150 N. River Road, Milford, 673-0647, tromblygardens.net Hours: Daily, dawn to dusk Cost: $5 per person and free for kids ages 3 and under Four wooden animals hidden throughout this corn maze for attendees to attempt to find. Trombly Gardens business manager Alicia Kurlander said a Halloween-themed haunted nighttime maze with actors who will try to jump out and scare you is also being planned for each weekend throughout the month of October. You can receive a discount to enter the corn maze if you bring a non-perishable canned food item to donate to the local food bank.
Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard 66 Mason Road, Greenville, 878-2101, find them on Facebook @washburnswindyhill Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost: $5 per person and free for kids ages 3 and under The 5-acre corn maze at Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard is open through the end of October, according to owner Timothy Anderson. A nighttime maze will also be hosted from Friday, Oct. 29, through Sunday, Oct. 31, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. each night.
Macs and Honeycrisps
Where to load up on apples
By Amy Diaz
The McIntoshes are ready.
Over Labor Day weekend, Apple Hill Farm in Concord kicked off its season of pick-your-own with its trees heavy with McIntoshes. The rain, rough on ground crops, has been good for apples, helping them to get big and juicy, said Diane Souther, owner at Apple Hill.
“The apples are plentiful,” Souther said on Sept. 7, when she expected Cortlands to be ready for picking in a few days and then Macouns soon after that, followed by Empires, with other varieties expected more toward the third and fourth weeks of September. Souther’s farm has more than 60 varieties of apples, some in PYO and some that the farm picks, some of them for eating and baking and some for hard cider.
Leigh Hardy, pick-your-own manager at Brookdale Fruit Farm, agreed that this year’s crop is large — big apples and lots of them. Brookdale has 32 varieties for pick your own as well as other varieties available in the farm stand. On Sept. 7 she said Jonamacs, Galas, McIntoshes and Honeycrisps were ready, with Cortlands and Empires coming soon.
“They’re coming in a bit earlier,” Hardy said, estimating that crops were available about 10 days or so earlier.
While some varieties like the McIntoshes and Galas will go all season long some apples have shorter seasons of three or so weeks when they are available, so Souther recommends that pickers be flexible if their favorite variety isn’t available at the moment and try something new. She recommends, at pick your own or at farm stands and farmers markets, asking farmers about varieties you may not have seen in decades past, such as Ambrosia, a yellowish apple with a red tinge that is sweeter and can last a while in the refrigerator.
Hardy said some people are becoming “apple connoisseurs” and interested in new varieties as well as some of the older New England varieties, such as the Baldwin apple, which is harder and stores well but has a great flavor when you cook with it, she said. Empire (a cross between a Red Delicious and a McIntosh) has a good flavor as does Spencer (a cross between a Golden Delicious and a McIntosh).
“Those are really good,” Hardy said.
Others to look for later in September are the Snow Sweet (a mild apple that doesn’t turn brown when you cut it), a Ruby Mac (a McIntosh variety that is sold red and a little bit tarter) and some new Honeycrisp varieties that are available later, like Pink Luster, Firecracker and Crimson Crisp, Hardy said.
At Brookdale they offer both a paper map and a version you can get on your smartphone via a QR code that will help direct you toward trees that are ready for picking and help you find the varieties you’re interested in.
For apples you don’t eat right away, Souther and Hardy recommend putting them in a refrigerator at as close to 33 degrees as possible for future eating. Sweeter apples especially need refrigeration, Hardy said, and if you store apples in a cool basement or garage, don’t leave them directly on cement, where moisture will get into the apple and speed rot; elevate them a little. Souther also suggested that apples you don’t eat now can go toward a future pie: Make a pie filling and freeze to use later in the winter when you want a fresh taste of fall.
Apple Grower of the Year
Brookdale Fruit Farm, which has been operated for 174 years by seven generations of the same family, received special recognition this year: Chip Hardy and sons Trevor Hardy and Tyler Hardy were named 2021 Apple Growers of the Year by American Fruit Grower and Western Fruit Grower magazines, according to a story on GrowingProduce.com. (Tyler Hardy, who died in 2019, was called “one of New Hampshire’s up-and-coming agricultural stars” in the story.) The farm is only the second farm in New Hampshire to receive the award, the website said.
Where to get your apples
Here are a few of the local apple orchards offering pick-your-own. On the day you plan to head out, call ahead to check that the varieties you’re interested in are available. Most of these farms also sell apples at their farm stands (along with other goodies) if you’d rather pick up than pick your own, and many of the websites (which, along with the farms’ and orchards’ social media, is where most of the pricing and hours listed here come from) list varieties available at the orchard (including, in some cases, what’s currently available for picking). Is your favorite pick-your-own farm not on this list? Let us know about it at food@hippopress.com.
Apple Annie 66 Rowell Road East in Brentwood; 778-3127, appleannienh.org Hours open for PYO: Thursday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Email for reserving group times Monday through Wednesday) Cost: Bags priced at $1.75 per pound
Applecrest Farm Orchards 133 Exeter Road (Route 88) in Hampton Falls; 926-3721, applecrest.com Hours open for PYO: daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: $15 for half a peck, $30 for a peck, $40 for half a bushel Also: In September, PYO raspberries and peaches; into October, pumpkins and gourds. On weekends look for harvest festivals, which run Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can feature live music, tractor rides, eats for sale and more.
Apple Hill Farm 580 Mountain Road (Route 132) in Concord; 224-8862, applehillfarmnh.com Hours open for PYO: daily, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Cost: Peck is $15, half bushel is $25. Also: As of Sept. 3 Apple Hill still had PYO seedless grapes.
Appleview Orchard 1266 Upper City Road in Pittsfield; 435-3553, applevieworchard.com Hours open for PYO: daily, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (earlier as the sun sets earlier) Cost: Call for pricing. Also: Free hayrides on weekends, weather permitting.
Brookdale Fruit Farm 41 Broad St. in Hollis; 465-2240, brookdalefruitfarm.com Hours open for PYO: Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (call for information on group outings on Mondays and Tuesdays) Cost: $35 for half a bushel or $1.75 per pound. Also: PYO pumpkins later in the season, according to the farm’s website. On weekends, check out the corn maze and hayrides.
Carter Hill Orchard 73 Carter Hill Road in Concord; 225-2625, carterhillapples.com Hours open for PYO: Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Currier Orchards 9 Peaslee Road in Merrimack; 881-8864, find them on Facebook @currierorchards Hours open for PYO: Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: $15 for a 10-pound bag; $30 for a 20-pound bag. Also: The store is open until 6 p.m.
DeMeritt Hill Farm 20 Orchard Way, Lee; 868-2111, demeritthillfarm.com Hours open for PYO: Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m; Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost: Purchase one peck bag to pick: $18 for a peck bag. Also: PYO pumpkins. Visit farm animals and on weekends take a hayride ($2 per person), weather permitting. The farm also has several upcoming events including a Harvest Weekend (Sept. 25 and Sept. 26) and a Pumpkinfest (Oct. 2 and Oct. 3) and Haunted Overlook, a haunted attraction that opens Oct. 8.
Elwood Orchards 54 Elwood Road in Londonderry; 434-6017, elwoodorchards.com Hours open for PYO: Open daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost: Call for pricing. Also: Elwood will offer pick your own pumpkins and runs a corn maze daily (with nighttime corn mazes on Fridays and Saturdays in October).
Gould Hill Farm 656 Gould Hill Road in Contoocook, 746- 3811, gouldhillfarm.com Hours open for PYO: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (plus Monday, Oct. 11) Cost: Quarter peck (which is about two or three pounds depending on the apple) is $7, half peck is $12, peck is $18, half bushel is $28. Also: Gould Hill operates Contoocook Cider Co., which has a tasting room open weekends from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for flights, tastings and light food (such as cheese plates) and live music from 1 to 4 p.m., according to the website. Cider doughnuts on weekends.
Hackleboro Orchards 61 Orchard Road in Canterbury; 783-4248, on Facebook Hours open for PYO: Daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost: By the page $6 half peck, $10 peck and $20 a half bushel Also: Every weekend they offer burgers, hot dogs, cider doughnuts and ice cream.
Hazelton Orchards 280 Derry Road in Chester; 493-4804, find them on Facebook @hazeltonorchardschesternh Hours open for PYO: Daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost: Call for pricing.
Lavoie’s Farm 172 Nartoff Road in Hollis; 882-0072, lavoiesfarm.com Hours open for PYO: Daily, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Cost: $1.99 per pound. Also: PYO pumpkins. Look for hay rides on weekends and a corn maze open whenever the farm is open.
Lull Farm 65 Broad St. in Hollis; 465-7079, livefreeandfarm.com Hours open for PYO: Daily, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost: Peck for $15, and half bushel for $30. Also: Food on weekends and The Daily Haul fish market Saturdays (preorder at thedailyhaul.com).
Mack’s Apples 230 Mammoth Road in Londonderry; 432- 3456, macksapples.com Hours open for PYO: Daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: Purchase bags for picking as you enter the orchard. Also: PYO peaches and pumpkins.
McLeod Bros. Orchards 735 N. River Road in Milford; 673-3544, mcleodorchards.com Hours open for PYO: Monday through Friday from 1 to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (also 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Columbus Day) Cost: Buy bags or baskets before picking — $16 for peck bag, $27 for a half bushel bag; $24 for a peck basket, $35 for a half bushel basket. Also: For groups larger than 7 people, make a reservation online.
Meadow Ledge Farm 612 Route 129 in Loudon; 798-5860, meadowledgefarm.com Hours open for PYO: Daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Also: Look for the farm’s Harvest Festival on Columbus Day weekend, with games for the kids, music and entertainment. After Thanksgiving they sell Christmas trees and wreaths among other items.
Sullivan Farm 70 Coburn Ave. in Nashua; 595-4560, find them on Facebook Hours open for PYO: Daily, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard 66 Mason Road in Greenville; 878-2101 Hours open for PYO: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost: $12 for a peck, $24 for a half bushel. Purchase apple bags inside the farm stand or reusable baskets. Also: PYO pumpkins. The orchard also has a corn maze and free hayrides on weekends.
Featured photo: Corn maze at Beech Hill Farm and Ice Cream Barn in Hopkinton. Courtesy photo.
