Cooley Family Farm

We are members of a Community Supported Agriculture program (CSA). Each Wednesday from May through October, we receive a harvest basket from Cooley Family Farm. We love receiving and eating these delicious organic vegetables and fruits. They taste so much more flavorful than what we buy at the store. We also like supporting a local business and their family. Each fall, they have an open house on their farm and today was the day! Simon has been truly looking forward to visiting the farm -- especially the tractor ride.

We took a ride on the tractor to tour the farm and see where and how our food is grown. It was a gorgeous day to be on the farm -- sunny, breezy and cool -- a perfect autumn day. We stopped at a few spots around the farm so that Kevin, the farmer, could show us different things and techniques of harvesting. Below, Simon is watching him dig up white sweet potatos.

Checking to make sure we are still sitting behind him on the wagon ...

They had LOTS of toy tractors, cars and trucks for the kids to play with -- they even had a large pile of dirt. Good thing it was bath night! And see the black lunch bag cooler in the back of the wagon? Simon never leaves home without his milk. : )

We are participating in Purdue's International Friendship program this year and have been matched with two students from China. One of them, Ace, was able to join us today. (Harry had a special class project he needed to participate in. Studies first!) Ace is a freshman and this is his first trip to America. We are enjoying getting to know him. Simon loves him and Ace can make Simon giggle until he gets the hiccups. They worked together to choose the perfect pumpkin.

Before we left for home, we stopped by the Cooley's roadside farm stand to buy a few more pumpkins to bring home for decorating ... and a few photos, too.

We had an awesome day and are already looking forward to next year's open house! Just four more weeks of harvest baskets remain. Sigh. We are certainly going to miss farmer's market season!