BAINBRIDGE – With milder temperatures in the air and the focal point of life in Upstate New York looking away from mere winter survival, farm stands that litter the back roads of Chenango County are springing to action, preparing the displays of their livelihood and offering up a palette of seasonal goods – and fun.
One of the most successful and iconic independent retail produce suppliers in the county kicked off the 2014 season over the weekend, and business couldn’t be better.
“Too many to count,” replied Karen Noxon when asked about how many patrons walked through the Frog Pond Farms Facility on Sunday afternoon. “We don't focus that much on the numbers. Never have,” she said.
For 27 years, The Noxons' Frog Pond Farm has grown from a full-time family farm with a vegetable stand in the front yard to a full-sized retail operation that draws customers from as far away as Binghamton and Earlville.
“I've shopped here for – I'd say – at least the last six or seven years,” said Beth Shearer of Endicott. “We make the trip up about twice a month in the summer and this is where we get all of our seedlings and starter plants for our garden at home.”
With each passing year, the operation grows a little more and pushes the boundaries of what it offers in addition to the basic staples found at any farm stand. Noxon indicates that the series of greenhouses located about the property are in constant evolution throughout the year and loosely explained how the individual greenhouses are used specifically for produce, peaches, flowers and the like.
“Right now, our Easter flowers are in full bloom,” said Noxon of the entire annual greenhouse that transitions the most through the summer. “Once we get through the Easter season, this will become the peach house and later the apple house,” she explained.
A tradition for several area families for nearly three decades, one Frog Pond anchor that has seen some improvement this year is the corn bin for the children. Much like an indoor sandbox – sans sand – the corn bin was redesigned and relocated to a brighter, more accessible part of the facility. And with the addition of two new picnic tables, parents now have a much more accommodating place to rest and interact with their children.
“It's a pretty big deal and the kids love spending time in it while mom or dad shop and browse ... and that is very much what we're about,” Noxon explained. “We're farm oriented and feel that exposing agriculture and farms to children and families is just as important a offering good quality produce at a great value. It's much more than just a place to shop; it's an experience.”
Staying true to its working farm roots, Frog Pond still enlists the charm factor of friendly goats, pigs, bunnies and chicks – some of which are for sale along with all the necessary feeds and equipment – to draw people in. Many who shop there are looking to offset their grocery bills by raising their own laying hens, or simply looking for a furry friend to bring home.
On a brief tour of the greenhouses, Noxon said, “We don't start everything from seed. We have some shipped in but we are very picky about the quality of the produce and plants that we do buy. Most of our winter squash, tomatoes, cucumbers and pumpkins are all grown by us though.”
Also new this year coming to Frog Pond on Saturdays, fresh made-to-order doughnuts will be prepared on the spot by Martha Cherry. Another recent offering is an assortment of arts and crafts and americana-style hand crafted décor and planters stationed around the greenhouses.
Frog Pond Farm is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and is located at 2001 state Route 7, Bainbridge. For more information, like Frog Pond Farms on Facebook or call 967-2009.