Category: Fun Stuff
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Is it Cider or Juice? Your cider-y questions answered!
You know that stuff you drink in fall that’s made of apples? What IS that stuff? Cider? Juice? What’s the difference? Ah, welcome, my friend, to the wonderful and wacky world of history, the English language, and modern technology. Every school child learns the romanticized story of Johnny Appleseed. Every adult (should) know the real story of Johnny Appleseed. That…
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Holiday Time: International Eat An Apple Day!
Just when you were thinking “Darn it, there’s no fun holiday on the horizon until Halloween…”, here’s some great news: THIS SATURDAY (September 18th) is International Eat An Apple Day! Yes…it is a real thing Oh…how to celebrate, is the question? And on such short notice, too! Well, easy peasy; here’s a list of SIX easy and delicious…
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Why are apples “red” anyway??
When you think ‘apple’, what pops into your mind’s eye? I can just see it – a dark red, shiny, large fruit…perhaps sitting on the top of a bountiful fruit bowl, the sunlight streaming through the kitchen window reflecting off its polished surface. Now hopefully those of you who have been our customers or CSA…
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As American as…apple pandowdy!
Could someone please tell me where the expression “easy as pie” came from? Pies are not easy! Like all skilled tasks, pie baking takes practice and repetition, usually a mentor of some sort, and a magic touch doesn’t hurt either. We’re talking about a very temperamental process that can be thwarted by humidity and any number…
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Nine Great Reasons to Work at a Farmers’ Market
Odds are you’ve probably read an article or two extolling the virtues of shopping at your local farmers’ market in order to get the best of what is local and in season. Since it’s National Farmer’s Market Week, you may have already done that today. However, have you ever considered how awesome it is to…
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Behind the Barn: Some history of the NSO farm store building
When you walk up to the farm store at North Star Orchard, you are first greeted by some beautiful scenery here in Chester County, PA. A gorgeous blue barn from the 1860’s with large white stars high on the end walls stands, proud and welcoming. Furthermore, a knowledgeable staff who are also the ones responsible for growing…
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Apple Geek vs. Apple Snob
Apple geek or apple snob? Which one are you? Let’s back up a bit, shall we….What exactly IS an apple geek? To be clear…I am talking about an “apple geek” not an “Apple geek” (which, capitalized, would of course refer to those who are aficionados of Apple computer/phone products…sometimes also referred to as “Apple fanboys”,…
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Yes, We Have No Bananas!
The moral of the story: Don’t believe everything you read on the internet! Last year’s blog post on this date (April 1st, folks) was a complete farce. It was the ONLY time I’ve ever tried an April Fool’s prank, and gosh..but I nailed it! Did you get taken in? Don’t worry – many people did. Including, believe…
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Fly Around the Farm!
By request of many, we’ve now a virtual tour, of sorts, of the farm! In 90 seconds, get a feel for what NSO looks like both from a bird’s eye view and closeup as various harvest activities take place in late summer and fall. Thanks to Chris Ruch for the excellent video.
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ST: NSO – “To Seek out New Life”
“My tricorder can’t make heads or tails of this thing, but I hear it’s helpful for farms. Beats me – I’m a doctor, not a annelidologist!” Dear Dr. McCoy: You have evidently been shrunk and transported to Earth. That is a simple and common earthworm, not an unknown life form. Common, however, is not a…
