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Frequently Asked Questions
Every business has questions that are frequently asked of their staff. Here are some questions that people frequently ask us, and answers:
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| Why do farmers leave so much corn in the fields until it gets old and dry? |
| That "old corn" is field corn, or corn specially grown as food for livestock (i.e. cattle, horses, pigs, sheep, etc.). This corn is developed to be large in size, and harvested when the moisture level within the corn is low. The low moisture is to prevent spoilage, and the corn is often dried further after harvesting.
This corn is NOT sweet corn. In the Fall, you will see many fields with this ”old corn" still standing.
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How do I make a birdhouse out of a gourd? |
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There are LOTS of things you can do with gourds, and making a real birdhouse is one of them. Go read our web page on how to make one or download this .pdf file.
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Cattle Guard? What is a Cattle Guard? |
| We've put great expenses and effort into fencing Homestead Farm to keep the hordes of deer from destroying the crops. The fence has helped keep the deer herds out, but the open gate at the main entrance has been a weak spot. Deer have been able to walk right in. To prevent this, yet keep traffic moving, Farmer Ben has put in a Cattle Guard. This feature is a concrete "grate" that makes it less likely for deer to just walk in (they will not walk on it). The only recognition you will have is the bumping as you drive over it. Let's hope it works! |
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Can I drive to the fields to pick?
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No, due to the number of children on the farm at any given time we have stopped everyone from driving past the parking area when you arrive.
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Where are the restrooms? |
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Port-a-potties are located near the barn. |
Can we arrange private birthday parties at the farm? |
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We do not offer private birthday parties, but we do offer private hayrides at the farm. For details click on the blue link. |
Where is the nearest gas station? |
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Darnestown or Poolesville. |
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- To get to Poolesville, turn left out of the farm entrance onto Sugarland Road. At the stop sign, turn left onto Rt. 107 (White's Ferry Road) and go about 6 miles into Poolesville. At the stop sign, the gas station will be straight ahead on the right.
- To get to Darnestown, turn left out of the farm entrance onto Sugarland Road. At the stop sign, turn right onto Rt. 107. At the next stop sign (about 100 yards) go straight. You are now on Rt. 28. Stay on that road through 2 stoplights (about 5 miles). The gas station will be on your right.
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Where is the nearest restaurant? |
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| Poolesville. Its called Bassetts. To get to Poolesville, turn left out of the farm entrance onto Sugarland Road. At the stop sign, turn left onto Rt. 107 (White’s Ferry Road) and go about 6 miles into Poolesville. At the stop sign turn left and Bassetts is on your immediate right. There is a McDonalds, a sub shop, pizza place as well as Chinese restaurant there too. |
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Can I leave my kids at the animals/store while I go picking? |
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No. We ask that your children are supervised at all times. |
Do you accept credit cards? |
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Not yet, we are putting that expense off as long as possible. |
Can I preorder fruits or vegetables to be picked for me? |
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We have most fruits and vegetables already picked for you in the store, but if you have a large order, it is a good idea to call ahead to be sure of availability. |
Do you plan to ever sell the farm? |
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That is certainly not in our business plan. |
Can I buy lunch here? |
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On the weekends and most holidays our kitchen is open selling hotdogs and seasonal sweets. |
Any good recipes for what I just picked? |
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See our web site — http://www.homestead-farm.net/RecipesFreeze.html. |
Where do your animals come from? |
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We often buy them from auctions or local farms in the area. Most of our chicks and ducks come from school classrooms that have done Spring hatchings on their own. |
What is hybridizing? |
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Hybridizing (genetics) the act of mixing different species or varieties of animals or plants and thus to produce hybrids. Hybrids are usually more hardy and can be more disease and pest resistant than the non-hybrid variety. |
What are Heirloom tomatoes? |
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An heirloom tomato is generally considered to be a variety that has been passed down, through several generations of a family because of it's valued characteristics. Since 'heirloom' varieties have become popular in the past few years there have been liberties taken with the use of this term for commercial purposes. Heirloom tomato experts have classified down heirlooms into four categories:
 1. Commercial Heirlooms: Open-pollinated varieties introduced before 1940.
2. Family Heirlooms: Seeds that have been passed down for several generations through a family.
3. Created Heirlooms: Crossing two known parents (either two heirlooms or an heirloom and a hybrid) and dehybridizing the resulting seeds for how ever many years/generations it takes to eliminate the undesirable characteristics and stabilize the desired characteristics, perhaps as many as 8 years or more.
4. Mystery Heirlooms: Varieties that are a product of natural cross-pollination of other heirloom varieties.
(Note: All heirloom varieties are open-pollinated but not all open-pollinated varieties are heirloom varieties.)
Homestead Note: This definition was taken from www.tomatofest.com.
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What is this Ag-Reserve that I keep hearing about? |
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Celebrate Rural Montgomery
On the 25th Anniversary of the Agricultural Reserve
 2005 marked the 25th Anniversary of Montgomery County's nationally acclaimed Agricultural Reserve, a rural crescent of more than 90,000 acres crowning the northwestern third of the county. We celebrated the beauty of Montgomery County's scenic countryside and working farms with events held throughout the year (2005). Although Montgomery County is best known for its attractive, livable suburbs, the Agricultural Reserve has preserved farmland and open space for all area residents to enjoy. The Reserve provides countless benefits, including farm fresh produce, access to historic rural landscapes, numerous recreational opportunities, and protection of air and water resources. We invite you to join us as we honor Montgomery County farmers, their productive farms, and the vision of the county planners who brought the Agricultural Reserve to fruition a quarter century ago. For more information, a full listing of Celebration events and ways to get involved, visit www.ruralmontgomery.org.
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Elderberries? Never heard of them... |
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Go to a whole page on Elderberry information. |
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