During the late 1970s, Ed Harbes married his college sweetheart, Monica, and looked to his father for the opportunity to work and learn alongside him on the family potato farm. As the potato farming demand on Long Island decreased over the years, Ed proceeded to cultivate other vegetables while Monica tended the home and nurtured their growing family. In 1989, corn was introduced to the farm in lieu of potatoes, and the Harbes' ambitious ten-year-old son took charge of selling the results to neighbors in the vicinity. The response was enthusiastic, and the harvested crops expanded over the years to include an array of fresh produce. By 2003, Ed had made the decision to add winemaking to his repertoire of talents when he planted Bordeaux grapes and later renovated the 100-year old potato barn into a wine tasting room.
Today, the Harbes family business has multiplied to include the Harbes Family Farm and Vineyard in Mattituck, the Harbes Farm and Orchard in Riverhead and the Harbes Western Farm in Jamesport. All three locations provide the perfect venues for wiling away the season entrenched in a host of fall activities, including the ever-popular pastime of pumpkin picking. A trip to Harbes Family Farm must include a quest for the perfect pumpkins to stand in as grinning Jack-o-lanterns and pie filling. Wagons are provided for hauling the piles of pumpkins that are personally selected from within the several acres of crawling vines that blanket the pumpkin patch.
In Mattituck, the farm includes the five acre Barnyard Adventure, where guests can socialize with a menagerie of farm animals, including Shetland ponies, Nigerian goats, Canadian royal potbellied pigs, cows and sheep. Visitors can watch the bees and learn how honey is created, cheer on their favorite porcine at the pig races, visit the rabbits and enjoy a scenic musical hayride.
The farm stand is brimming with a colorful cornucopia of freshly harvested fruits and vegetables. A delectable selection of autumn treats are also available, including roasted corn, caramel apples, candied apples, hot cider, apple cider doughnuts, chicken corn chowder, homemade ice cream, fresh squeezed lemonade and warm-from-the-oven home baked fruit pies. Don't forget to also select some autumnal hued mums to deck out your deck, porch and patio for the season.
Other outdoor fun includes live musical performances, corn mazes, hayrides, pony rides and outdoor adventures and crafty activities for the little people in your party. While the kids run themselves ragged until they drop, grownups can take a time out in the Wine Barn, an elegantly finished, rustic tasting room. Relax to the sounds of live music while sampling a tasting flight, sipping a glass and purchasing a bottle to take home.
Fall festivals take place every weekend and on Columbus Day at all three locations throughout the month of October. For directions and scheduled events, visit www.harbesfamilyfarm.com