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Fresh from Crisp Country Acres: A Holland, Michigan Farm JournalGlow Night
Join us at Crisp Country Acres for our special Glow Night event on Saturday, September 27th from 7:00-9:00 PM.
What awaits you:
- Navigate our corn maze in the dark – Experience the thrill of finding your way through our maze in the darkness, guided only by the soft glow of your light sticks. The corn maze is just under a half mile – perfect for kids (and adults!) of all ages!
- Evening animal feeding – Help our farm friends settle in for the night by giving them their bedtime snacks with special mini feed cups
- Nighttime wagon ride – Take a ride through our Halloween-decorated woods under the starlit sky
- Glow sticks will be provided!
Perfect for the whole family!
This event is completely scare actor-free, ensuring a fun and safe adventure for children of all ages. We provide the glow sticks, but feel free to bring a flashlight from home.
- When: Saturday, September 27th, 7:00-9:00 PM
Where: Crisp Country Acres – 5888 120th Ave, Holland, MI 49424
We can’t wait to see you!
Fall Fest is September 20
Hope your day is off to a great start! I just wanted to send a quick reminder that we are having Fall Fest at the farm THIS Saturday, 10am – 2pm. Here is what we are planning:
- Wagon rides around the farm and in the woods.
- Give our fudge a try with fudge samples.
- Spend some time in the playground and animal barn.
- Vote for your favorite straw bale.
- Fun games for the entire family.
- The corn maze will be open – $3.00/person.
The farm’s address is 5888 120th Ave, Holland, MI 49424.
Fall Fest is a FREE family friendly event.
We would love to have you out to the farm to celebrate the season.
PS – We will be hosting GLOW NIGHT at the farm on September 27. Come out and enjoy the farm at night. We will be giving out glow sticks – see if you can navigate the maze in the dark. Take a night time wagon ride under the stars and feed the animals their bedtime snack. This is going to be a family friendly fun night at the farm. We are super excited for it! 
Get your tickets here.
Get your tickets here.Let’s talk about fall squash!
Fall is here, and that means it’s time to embrace all the wonderful winter squashes that are now in season! I’ve put together this comprehensive guide to help you make the most of the seven varieties you have available.
Each one has its own unique flavor profile and ideal cooking methods, so you can discover new favorites and cook with confidence.
Whether you’re looking for something sweet and creamy for soup, a healthy pasta alternative, or a new side dish to impress your dinner guests, this guide has you covered.
Let’s dive into the delicious world of fall squashes!
Butternut Squash
Taste & Texture: Sweet, nutty flavor with a smooth, creamy texture when cooked. The flesh is bright orange and dense.
What It’s Like: Think of it as the “sweet potato” of squashes – rich, velvety, and naturally sweet with earthy undertones.
Best Cooking Methods:
- Roasting: Cut in half lengthwise, scoop out seeds, roast cut-side down at 400°F for 45-60 minutes
- Soup: Perfect for creamy butternut squash soup – roast first, then puree with broth
- Cubing: Peel and cube for roasted vegetables, risottos, or grain bowls
Buttercup Squash
Taste & Texture: Sweet and creamy with a slightly drier texture than butternut. Orange flesh with a rich, almost custard-like consistency.
What It’s Like: Similar sweetness to butternut but with a more concentrated, less watery texture – like a cross between sweet potato and pumpkin.
Best Cooking Methods:
- Stuffing: Cut off top, scoop out seeds, stuff with rice, nuts, and herbs
- Roasting: Cut into wedges, roast at 425°F for 30-40 minutes
- Mashing: Steam or roast, then mash as a side dish with butter and herbs
Ambercup Squash
Taste & Texture: Exceptionally sweet with dense, fine-grained flesh. Deep orange color with a smooth, creamy texture.
What It’s Like: The sweetest of the winter squashes – almost dessert-like with honey and maple notes.
Best Cooking Methods:
- Roasting whole: Pierce skin, roast at 350°F for 60-90 minutes until tender
- Baking: Cut into rings, remove seeds, bake with a drizzle of maple syrup
- Puree: Perfect for pies, muffins, and other baked goods
Spaghetti Squash
Taste & Texture: Mild, slightly sweet flavor with a unique stringy texture that separates into spaghetti-like strands.
What It’s Like: Think of it as nature’s pasta – neutral flavor that takes on whatever seasonings you add, with a satisfying, noodle-like texture.
Best Cooking Methods:
- Classic method: Cut in half lengthwise, scoop out seeds, roast cut-side down at 400°F for 40-50 minutes
- Microwave: Pierce whole squash, microwave 12-15 minutes, turning halfway through
- Use as pasta substitute: Scrape out strands with a fork, toss with marinara, pesto, or butter and herbs
Delicata Squash
Taste & Texture: Sweet and creamy with hints of corn and sweet potato. Tender, edible skin when cooked.
What It’s Like: The most convenient winter squash – no peeling required! Sweet like butternut but with a more delicate, less dense texture.
Best Cooking Methods:
- Roasted rings: Slice into half-moons, remove seeds, roast at 425°F for 20-25 minutes
- Stuffed: Cut in half lengthwise, stuff with quinoa, cranberries, and nuts
- Pan-fried: Slice thin and sauté as a side dish
Sweet Dumpling Squash
Taste & Texture: Very sweet with dense, smooth flesh. Small size makes them perfect for individual servings.
What It’s Like: Like eating a natural dessert – incredibly sweet with notes of honey and brown sugar. Dense like a sweet potato but sweeter.
Best Cooking Methods:
- Whole roasted: Pierce skin, roast at 350°F for 45-60 minutes
- Stuffed individual portions: Cut off top, scoop out seeds, stuff with wild rice mixture
- Halved and baked: Cut in half, scoop out seeds, bake with butter and cinnamon
Mashed Potato Squash (NEW this year!)
Taste & Texture: Mild, slightly sweet flavor with a dry, fluffy texture that’s remarkably similar to mashed potatoes.
What It’s Like: The name says it all – when cooked and mashed, it has the exact consistency of fluffy mashed potatoes but with a subtle sweet flavor.
Best Cooking Methods:
- Mashed: Steam or roast until tender, then mash with butter, salt, and pepper
- Roasted wedges: Cut into wedges, roast at 400°F for 35-45 minutes
- Soup base: Use as a creamy soup base – naturally thick without cream
General Cooking Tips
Storage: All winter squashes keep well in a cool, dry place for 2-6 months.
Prep shortcuts: For hard-to-cut squashes, pierce and microwave for 2-3 minutes to soften slightly before cutting.
Roasting basics: Most squashes benefit from a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper before roasting.
Seed bonus: Don’t throw away the seeds! Clean, season, and roast them at 300°F for 20-30 minutes for a healthy snack.
The bales are decorated – now YOU pick the winner!
This past weekend was so fun having families out decorating the round bales. The creativity blew me away – they all look absolutely fantastic!
Now it’s YOUR turn to help decide the winner!
Just swing by the farm anytime between now and the end of October and let us know which one caught your eye.
These families really went all out and we would love to have you out to see them!
Just stop by during our regular hours, check them all out, and vote for your favorite.
Huge thanks to all the families who participated – you guys made something really special that everyone can enjoy.
PS – The corn maze & scavenger hunt is now open at the farm! It cost’s $3.00/person. Check in at the market when you arrive to pay and for directions.
Tomato Season = Perfect Salsa Time!
Hope you’re doing well! With tomatoes at their absolute peak right now, I couldn’t resist sharing this incredibly simple and fresh salsa recipe. There’s nothing quite like the flavor of ripe, in-season tomatoes – they’re so juicy and flavorful that they practically make the salsa themselves.
Simple Fresh Salsa
- 4-5 medium ripe tomatoes, diced
- 1/2 onion, finely chopped
- 2-3 jalapeño peppers, seeded and minced (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Just mix it all together, let it sit for 15-30 minutes, and you’re done! The natural tomato juices create the perfect base – no need for anything else.
Perfect timing to take advantage of these gorgeous late-summer tomatoes!
Come and visit us at the markets this week and see all of the delicious produce we have available right now:
- Market at the Farm (5888 120th Ave, Holland): Monday – Friday, 8am – 6pm & Saturday, 8am – 5pm.
- Muskegon Farmers Market: Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday, 8am – 2pm.
- Kalamazoo Farmers Market: 7am – 1pm.
See you soon!
Psst… Want to Know a Tomato Secret?
With tomato season in full swing, now’s the perfect time to preserve that fresh flavor for the months ahead! Freezing tomatoes is so easy and a great way to enjoy summer’s bounty year-round.
How to Freeze Tomatoes (It’s So Easy!)
- Wash your tomatoes thoroughly.
- Remove the core.
- Cut a small “X” on the bottom of each tomato.
- Place them in freezer bags and freeze.
That’s it! No blanching, no complicated prep work required.
Ready to Use Them? When you’re ready to cook with your frozen tomatoes, simply set them out to thaw. The skins will come right off.
This Week’s Suggestion: Consider picking up a few extra tomatoes during your visit this week – your future self will thank you when you’re making hearty winter soups with that captured summer flavor!
Here is where you can find us this week:
- Muskegon Farmers Market: Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday | 8am – 2pm.
- Kalamazoo Farmers Market: Saturday | 7am – 1pm.
- Market at the Farm (5888 120th Ave, Holland): Monday – Friday, 8am – 6pm & Saturday, 8am – 5pm.
Where does food really come from? Find out in our fields!
The summer harvest is in full swing, and our u-pick fields are bursting with fresh vegetables ready for your family to discover! There’s something truly special about letting kids experience where their food really comes from – not from grocery store shelves, but straight from the earth.
Now Available for U-Pick:
- Carrots
- Potatoes
- Green Beans
- Yellow Beans
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Grape Tomatoes
- Roma Tomatoes
- Regular Tomatoes
Cost to U-Pick: $1.00/lb
The sunflowers are finishing up for the season, but there are lots of zinnias and strawflowers to pick! All flowers are $5.00/10 stems.
Why U-Pick?
Watching children’s faces light up as they pull a carrot from the ground or pluck a sun-warmed tomato from the vine is priceless. It’s a hands-on education that no classroom can provide – showing kids that real food grows from seeds, soil, and sunshine, not from packages and plastic containers.
Visit Information:
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8am – 6pm & Saturday, 8am -5pm.
Location: 5888 120th Ave, Holland, MI 49424. Please check in at the market when you arrive for a bag and directions to the field.
What to Bring: Make sure you wear comfy shoes and clothes that can get dirty. Don’t forget a water bottle!
Come and make some memories at the farm. We can’t wait to see you!
PS – We have a Summer Picking Party at the farm on Saturday, 9am – 11am. Enjoy a wagon ride out to the field where you will be able to harvest your own produce.
Strawtastic Showdown
CALLING ALL CREATIVE FAMILIES! What: Decorate up to 3 straw bales with your most imaginative design.
When: September 6th, 10am-12pm (decorating day).
Where: Crisp Country Acres – 5888 120th Ave, Holland.
How it works: 
We’ll provide various spray paint colors 
Bring any other decorating items you want to use 
Create your family-friendly masterpiece together 
Community votes throughout September & October 
Bale with the most votes wins a $100 gift card!
We’ll provide various spray paint colors Bring any other decorating items you want to use Create your family-friendly masterpiece together Community votes throughout September & October Bale with the most votes wins a $100 gift card!Important details:
Use up to 3 bales per family.
All creations must be family-friendly.
We provide spray paint, you bring the extras!
Voting runs from September 8th through October 31st.
Email [email protected] to save your spot!
Only 10 families will be chosen, so don’t wait! Let’s see what STRAW-SOME creations your family can dream up! 
10lbs Green Beans for $20 – Canning Season is Back!
My first project for today was getting a load of beans in the canner. My canner is now cooling off and I can’t wait to hear that “pop” sound knowing my work was successful.
I used to love canning when my kids were little, but you know how it is – life just got so busy and I didn’t have the time to do a lot of preserving. But I have big plans for this year!
I’ve really been enjoying preserving food and trying new recipes. I even made my own butter this past weekend. My kids thought it was so funny how excited I was about my little bowl of butter. 🙂
Anyway, our green beans are absolutely perfect right now, and I figured you’d want to know! We’re doing a special deal for the next two weeks – 10 pounds for $20. Whether you’re planning to can them like I did this morning, toss them in the freezer, or just eat them fresh (they’re seriously that good), now’s the time to stock up. You will need to pre-order the beans. HERE is the link.
HERE is the link.You can pick up your beans on August 2nd or August 9th at any of these spots:
- Market at the Farm (5888 120th Ave, Holland)
- Muskegon Farmers Market (242 W. Western Ave, Muskegon)
- Kalamazoo Farmers Market (1204 Bank Street, Kalamazoo)
Oh, and hey – if you’re into making pickles, they are ready too! If you are looking for larger quantities, please order ahead.
Alright, that’s all for now! Don’t forget to pre- order your beans HERE.
HERE.Field Update!
I hope this message finds you well during these hot summer days. I wanted to share what’s been happening here on the farm and let you know about some exciting fresh produce that’s ready for you.
Weather Challenges
It’s been an exceptionally dry stretch here at the farm – we haven’t received any significant rainfall in several weeks. While this presents challenges, it’s also fascinating to see how resilient our crops can be. The radishes in the photo below are a perfect example of nature’s incredible adaptability. Look at those extraordinarily long roots! They’ve stretched deep into the soil, sometimes twice their normal length, searching for water far below the surface.
Fresh Harvest Ready Now
Despite the dry conditions, we’re thrilled to share that several crops are now ready for harvest:
- Peaches – They look and smell amazing! I am excited to try them on the grill this season.
- Plums – These plums are sweet & delicious!
- Sweet Corn – Nothing beats fresh-picked corn on the cob!
- Bell Peppers – Lots of green, with some purple & yellow just starting.
- Jalapeño Peppers – Just the right amount of heat for your favorite dishes.
How to Get Your Fresh Produce – Here is where you can find us each week:
- Market at the Farm (5888 120th Ave, Holland): Monday – Friday, 8am – 6pm & Saturday, 8am – 5pm.
- Muskegon Farmers Market: Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday, 8am – 2pm.
- Trufant Market: Thursday, 7am – 12pm.
- Kalamazoo Farmers Market: Saturday, 7am – 1pm.
Thank you for your continued support, especially during challenging growing seasons like this one. Your commitment to local, fresh produce means the world to us and helps sustain farming in our community.
Stay cool, and we’ll see you soon!