I don’t know about you, but after all the cold and snow we’ve had this winter, I’m ready to get outside and enjoy spring in the Hudson Valley! There’s lots to look forward to over the next few months, like farmers markets, spring hiking, food festivals, strawberry picking, swimming holes, bike rides and so much more!
Hudson Valley Day Trip: Arrowood Farms and Westwind Orchard
Spring is also the perfect time to visit two of our favorite local places to spend an afternoon in the quaint hamlet of Accord. Located across from one another on Lower Whitfield Road, Arrowood Farms and Westwind Orchard are both great options for a fun day in the Hudson Valley this season!
Arrowood Farms
Don’t let the name fool you – this is no ordinary farm. It’s an organic brewery with organic farming as the central philosophy. Not only do they brew beer from grains they grow on their farm, but Arrowood Farms is actually a self-sustaining farm brewery where the farm animals contribute to the bio-dynamic environment. Everyone has their role… the ducks fertilize the hops, the pigs forage and eat spent grain, the sheep clean and fertilize, and the bees pollinate the hops.
You can visit the three-barrel brewing facility and tasting room located right in the center of the farm in Accord. The tasting room opens out onto the farm land allowing for visitors to walk through the hop yard and around the farm while enjoying a cold beer.
Arrowood Farms
236 Lower Whitfield Road, Accord
(845) 253 – 0389
http://www.arrowoodfarms.com
Photo credit: Jay Paavonpera
Westwind Orchard
This historic orchard can trace its early roots back to the 1930’s. Bought by it’s current owners in 2005 and renovated, it has now become a vision for local farming in the Hudson Valley. This certified organic farm doesn’t just have apples – pears, plums, cherries, paw paws, berries, garlic, winter squash, and grapes – can all be found growing at Westwind Orchard. They also make maple syrup, jams, apple sauce, honey, and raise chickens for eggs.
Westwind also started making their own unfiltered cider a few years ago. The older vines have only gotten better with age allowing for the creation of some pretty incredible traditional ciders. Plus they’ve added in newer flavors like raspberries and wild cider apples for some interesting varieties.
Make a visit this summer to pick your own fruit, enjoy some wood-fired pizza and hard cider while taking in scenic views from the orchard grounds.
Westwind Orchard
215 Lower Whitfield Road, Accord
(845) 626.0659
http://westwindorchard.com
Happy Spring!
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