The Goodison Gardens was a stop on the fall farm tour this year. The Goodisons – from left Layne, Tarrah, Raegan and Grant – grow a variety of produce including 15 varieties of pumpkins. Below, Raegan with one her favorite pumpkins. (Photos by Roger Sims/Linn County Journal)
The Linn County Farm Tour last Saturday helped acquaint county residents and visitors with producers who sell locally grown products. Several of the producers sell at farmers’ markets in Pleasanton and Mound City and even Louisburg.
New to the tour this fall was Goodison Gardens, 7498 Montgomery Rd., Mound City. The Goodisons have a Pumpkin Patch with 15 different varieties of the favorite fall vegetable. Choose a pink pumpkin to donate towards a local community member fighting cancer, or maybe your prefer a pumpkin that is blue or red or has "warts" – perfect if your Jack-o-lantern is a witch.
Also new was Grace Heritage Dairy, 40681 Hedge Lane, Fontana. Sarah and Colton Easdon operate a four-generation Nubian goat dairy farm offering raw milk and goat cheese. The dairy sells goat milk and cheese on Tuesdays 4 p.m to 8 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon. Check out their website at graceheritagedairy.com This operation is located on the Miami County line north of Prairie View High School on Linn County Highway 1095.
Sarah Easdon is a four-generation goat dairy operator just north of the Linn-Miami county line.
Here are some of the other local operations that continue to sell their produce and other products either on the farm or at local farmers' markets into the fall or throughout the year:
• Skyview Farm and Creamery is at 22722 E. 800 Rd., Pleasanton. Sherri and Bill Nofkee run a Grade A micro dairy that sells fresh raw milk, cave-aged cheese, fresh cheese and other products from their Jersey cattle operation. Products will be available at their shop. Click here to go to their Facebook page.
• Castle Farms Fresh Meats, Pleasanton, is an outdoor based hog farm specializing in pork production. Click here to go to their Facebook page.
• Rocky Suns Farms, 10062 W. 2200 Rd., has an on-farm store just off Kansas Highway 7 in the Cadmus area. It is an operation that specializes in fresh produce, eggs and other farm products. Owners Dustin and Amanda Michelle have an on farm store that features everything from spices to candles, eggs to produce, and pumpkins. Their store is open Thursday and Friday 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Click here to go to their Facebook page. Or visit their website by clicking here.
• Blue Dog Wine Co., La Cygne, offers wine tastings at their operation by appointment. They will also be offering tastings and bottles for sale this Friday at the General Pleasonton Days street dance in Pleasanton and Saturday evening at the rodeo in Pleasanton. They will also be selling wine at the Sugar Mound Arts and Crafts Festival in Mound City on Oct. 8-9. Click here to go to their Facebook page.
• Another new entry from the Fontana area this fall was Courage Farms in southern Miami County. Operated by Crystal and Beau Study, this farm sells sweet corn, green beans, melons and assorted vegetables plus baked goods. The operation also supplies fresh produce to the Pleasanton Food Fair grocery story. Click here for their Facebook page.