Field to Fork: Sweet Corn Edition 8-5-26

SUNFLOWERS!  The sunflowers are growing nicely thanks to the rain we received a week ago.  We expect them to bloom towards the end of August and will open the field for walking (or sitting!) to enjoy the blooms and take special photos.  We will have many photo ops designed for this.  Stay tuned for more information as we get closer.

SANTA AND MRS. CLAUS.  They contacted us to check on the apple crop as the reindeer have finished all the Michigan apples they had in storage from last year.  They will be stopping by during the Holidays again this year.  It’s never too early to get on the Nice list!

Blueberries, Already Picked.  We have already picked blueberries from Brookside Farms, our long-time supplier.  Blueberry season should continue through August.  Now is the time to get them in bulk.  They are very easy to freeze!  Just put the box directly into your freezer, (do not wash), take out what you need and rinse them off.

Blueberries, U-Pick.  Just a reminder, we lost our blueberry crop to the May frosts this year.  However, if you would like to pick your own, we recommend family-friendly Brookside Farms.   Check their website for information.  They have several locations: Paw Paw, Gobles, and Martin/Otsego.

Fruit – blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, peaches, Early Bartlett pears, Jersey Mac apples

• Starfire peaches starting later this week.  They are a wonderful, sweet, juicy freestone peach, perfect for fresh eating, canning or freezing.  We should have them available by the quart up to a half bushel.
• Early Bartlett pears are ready.  These are sold by the quart for fresh eating.  The regular Barlett pears will be ready in a few weeks.
• Jersey Mac apples are a nice summer apple similar to a McIntosh, soft skinned, tart, good for sauce, pies or just to eat.  We have samples to try.

• SO many cucumbers, zucchini and yellow squash coming in.  All on daily specials, plan them into your menus this week!

After having such a difficult year last year with onions, it’s extra rewarding to see them growing so nicely this year!

Ice cold slushies – apple cider, blueberry lemonade, peach

Fresh herbs – many types ready for you to pick from the Herb Garden

Fresh cut flower bar – Make your own bouquets from assorted flowers.  Available Thursday through Sunday.

• Blueberries – currently available, 5- and 10-pound boxes, just walk in or call first to ensure we have what you want in stock.
• Pickling cukes – preorder, one-peck minimum (quarter of a bushel)
• Green beans – preorder, half bushel minimum.  We are in-between plantings so won’t have any in bulk until about another week.
• Bell peppers – preorder, half bushel minimum
• Specialty peppers – preorder, one-peck minimum (quarter of a bushel)
• Peaches – preorder, pecks and half bushels.  Red Haven are almost finished, Starfire starting soon.
• Canning tomatoes – preorder, half bushel minimum.  Field tomatoes are just starting so tomatoes by the bushel won’t begin until another two weeks.
• Sweet corn – preorder or walk-in, 5-dozen bag minimum
• Bartlett pears – preorder, one-peck minimum (quarter of a bushel).  Expecting them to start in about two weeks.

• “Take and bake” frozen fruit pies – made from assorted fruit, take home to bake.
• Assorted cookies, breads and muffins – daily
• Blueberry-zucchini bread –available for just a couple more weeks, weekends only
• Cinnamon rolls and cinnamon bread – Fresh baked, available on Saturdays and Sundays for a couple more weeks
• Donuts – Saturday and Sunday only – in buttermilk, blueberry, and cherry
• This weekend we are attempting to make our first ever “peach donuts”.  Check Facebook or call us to see if we were successful!  We will start our experiment on Friday!
• Focaccia breads – Basil and Tomato and Olive-Rosemary, made in the bakery using our farm’s produce.  Available Thursday until sold out.
• “Take and bake” frozen Strombolis – 10 different types, ranging from breakfast to pizza to traditional styles.  Take home to bake.

Spirits.  Find apple, peach, grape, and pear brandy; vodka; and white whiskey.

Wines.  Nice assortment to choose from – dry, sweet and semi-sweet wines in whites and reds

Hard Ciders.  Assorted flavors: blueberry, cherry, dry apple, maple, peach pear, rhubarb, semi-sweet apple, and sweet apple

If you haven’t already, try our Peach Pear hard cider, one of our top sellers.  It’s the delicious taste of home-grown apples blended with fresh ripe peaches and sweet pears.  A trio of nature’s divine flavors.

These stickers and stories have become very popular with Corey Lake lovers and Camp Eberhart campers as they stop by CLO and discover these little treasures of information. Kelly could not be more delighted that Corey Lake families know the history of “The Monster”.  Having spent her childhood playing in the creek that connects Corey Lake to Kaiser Lake she saw the “suckers” run up the creek from Kaiser to Corey.  Those sucker fish . . . were those young sturgeon?  Stop by Saturday and pick up your copy of a Sticker & a Story and share in some local history.

The Corey Lake and Camp Eberhart journey started long before Kelly was born.  Her Grandfather Wiseman was the General Secretary (CEO) of the South Bend YMCA, and the Wiseman’s would spend their summers at “The Lazy W” in Little Corey.  Camp Eberhart and sailing were a big part of Kelly’s father, Jerry Wiseman, and he chose Corey Lake as the family’s summer vacation destination.  In 1971, Kelly and her brothers Bruce and Kevin attended Norton Elementary School (then Lake Section) as they lived all year in their new home on Corey Lake (Shafer Bros. Rd.) while their father was serving in Viet Nam.

In 1997 Kelly was asked to locate a lost sign board from one of camp’s historic buildings.  This was the beginning of restoration of the sign boards and the painting of the Corey Lake Monster Mural on the boathouse.  She has been restoring the sign boards ever since and a few are her original designs, but most are the original artwork from the original artist.

Moving back to the area in 2021, Kelly started her work as a new author and established connections for book sales.  Corey Lake Orchards said yes to her book.  As Kelly admired the other artistic creations at Corey Lake Orchards she got the idea to share her art which many have seen but might not have known WHY the Corey Lake Monster is on the Camp Eberhart boathouse.  Kelly’s long family history at Camp Eberhart tells the story of The Corey Lake Monster with a darling sticker and a mini story about the Big Fish.  A second sticker and story about the history we know about the Corey family.

Kelly spent her career professional in the Health & Wellness Industry starting with the YMCA.  A graduate of Ball State University from the school of Exercise Science, she spent 40 years directing large fitness facilities and law enforcement in purposeful programs, hiring talented staff, and assisting many on their way to competitive and healthful outcomes.

Besides painting for Camp Eberhart and writing her book series, she spends a large amount of time networking for global restoration.  Many thanks to Corey Lake Orchards for collaborating to share her creativity.

You can keep up with Katie Ladybug on her website Katieladybugbook.com or on her Facebook or Instagram pages.