farm
HAYRIDE : ANDREW OMELCZUK
FALL HAYRIDES AT THE FARM
Hop aboard the farm ’ s wagon , which ispulled with atractor to the pumpkin patch . Each customer can pick his or her own pumpkin for $ 10 . Through October , anapple is included . Hours are 4p . m ., 4:30 p . m . and 5p . m . on weekdays ; the tractor runs continuously on weekends and on Columbus Day . Reservations may be required for groups .
And the time that the family must devote to the business is extensive . “ I love what Ido ,” he says .“ Iget up every day without an alarm clock . This morning , Igot here at 5:15 — no alarm — I just got up because it was time to go to work . It ’ s the life you choose .”
The Kuehms have chosen to protect the farm from future development . A portion of it is preserved through the Farmland Preservation Program , which isadministered by the state to save properties for agricultural use . It is one of two preserved farms in Passaic County .
According to the 2021 annual report by the state Department of Agriculture , the number of farms that documented sales of $ 1,000 or more in the previous year was 2.1 % greater than itwas in 2016 . The data also shows that the Garden State was the top producer in the U . S . for eggplant , harvesting 14 million pounds at an estimated value of $ 8.1 million .
Farms View contributed to that yield , but in the fall , it is adestination for Halloween and Thanksgiving décor . It also offers a variety of baked goods , including baguettes , cookies , scones , loaf breads and − a favorite this season − cider doughnuts . Of course , there are pies , from apple and blueberry to mincemeat and strawberry rhubarb .
The bakery opened in July 2018 . It was , one may observe , another plan to make dough .
“ I always wanted to do it ,” Irene Kuehm says , noting that her late husband had been wary to expand the business in such a way . “ He said , ‘ You might as well put your bed down there .’ That ’ s exactly what he said , and he was right .”
The long days , says her son , are worth it ; the family provides an important service to the community . “ Can you do that ? Can you grow those flowers , or that broccoli or cauliflower , or that corn over there ?” Kuehm says , pointing from his seat at apicnic table to the far end of his field . “ We ’ re feeding alot of people .” ■
@ waynemagazine WAYNE MAGAZINE FALL 2022
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