Strawberries and Festivals in June!

It's June - than means it's strawberry time!  Strawberry Festivals have been a part of spring and summer celebrations marking the transition from the cold and dreary wintertime to a time of renewal, life, and color. Strawberries are the first crop ready for harvest.  They are high in folic acid, dietary fiber and potassium. Also, they are rich in cancer-fighting antioxidants and contain more Vitamin C than any other berry. Below are some upcoming Strawberry Festivals in our area.

Russell Orchards Annual Strawberry Festival! 

Russell Orchards in Ipswich will be hosting their Annual Strawberry Festival on Saturday, June 18th & Sunday, June 19th from 11am to 4pm.  There will be strawberry picking all day.  During the festival hours, there will be hayrides, facepainting, and strawberry shortcake served.  Come  join the fun!  For more information about the farm, click here.

Connors Farm Strawberry Festival

Connors Farm in Danvers will be hosting their Strawberry Festival on Saturday, June 18th from 9am to 6pm.  There will be strawberry picking, homemade strawberry shortcake, hayrides, pony rides, facepainting, food, and music.  Raindate is Sunday, June 19th.  For more information, click here.

Verrill Farm Strawberry Festival

Verrill Farm will be hosting their Strawberry Festival on Saturday, June 25th from 11am - 3pm.  There will be live music, The Fairy Circus, hayrides and pony rides.  Also, a Strawberry Dessert Recipe Contest will be part of the day so bring your best recipe to be judged! For more information visit Verrill Farm.

Wine Tastings

Alfalfa Farm Winery offers wine-tastings on Sundays from 1pm - 5pm. The wines are award-winning, New England-style wines from Aurore and Foch grapes that are grown in their vineyard to fruit wines that include blueberry and cranberry. For more information about Alfalfa Farm Winery, please click here.

Gibney Gardens Becomes Greener

The old-style greenhouses have been replaced with a large 4-bay gutter connect environmentally-friendly structure. When completed, the goal is to be off fossil fuel and save on water and electricity by having dropped sidewalls for cooling and flood benches to recapture the water and fertilizer to be used again. Construction continues, but they are open! The houses are filled with annuals, perennials, herbs, and beautiful hanging baskets.  Stop by for a tour.