Community Corner

Down on the Farm: Fall News and Notes from Gale Woods

Words from Tim
The beauty of fall is here. The Sugar Maples are gloriously cloaked in red and yellows, the mornings are cool and for the first time in several years the pastures are green again. The fall rain has been very welcomed and we are glad that animals will have lush grass to eat late in the season because with another dry summer, hay production was low again this year. We have a new guard animal visiting – Priscilla the Llama is on loan from Carlson’s Lovable Llamas and is guarding one of our flocks of sheep. Come out to the farm to enjoy the fall colors and see our newest addition!

Limited number of turkeys still available – call to reserve 
Just in case October 1 snuck up on you and you think you may have missed the tractor completely, we have a limited number of turkeys still available. If you are interested, call the front desk at763.694.2001 to reserve one now with a $25 deposit. Price for turkey this year is $3.50/lb. Here are a few things to remember about getting a free-range turkey from us:

  • Please, one turkey per family.
  • You pick your turkey up fresh the two days before Thanksgiving (times TBD).
  • We have tried over the years to predict the size of the turkeys based on their life here on pasture, but have learned that we have no control over the size. We won’t know the size of the turkeys until they return from processing. Average size is 14-28 lbs.
  • Turkeys are picked up and purchased on a first come, first served basis. If you have your heart set on a specific size, the turkey that’s available may be larger or smaller than you were expecting. Know that although the turkey is delicious, there is an element of risk to this process.

Apples for sale in our Farm Store!
Mother Nature outdid herself this year at the farm in lining up the variables just perfectly early on in the year. The right amount of rain, sun, and temperatures has resulted in a plethora of seasonal fruit on our trees. Our staff have been busy harvesting apples by the bushels! And we are excited to be able to share these contents with you. 1st quality Haralson and Liberty apples are on sale for $2.00/lb. (regularly priced at $2.50/lb.). Haralson are nice, slightly tart apples great for a pie and Liberty are sweet, red skinned, and bright, white-fleshed eating apples. As with all things seasonal, they are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, while supplies last. 

Find out what's happening in Lake Minnetonkawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Harvest Hoedown
October 12 – Saturday, 5-8:30 PM
Join us for an evening of fiddling, fun, and farm-fresh food! Enjoy string-band music and learn the basics of easy and fun family folk dancing. Take a wagon ride, meet the farm animals, and explore the farm. Farm-raised concessions available for an additional fee. $6; Ages 2+. Learn more...

Lowry Nature Center + Gale Woods Farm = loads of fun!
Combining efforts and talents, 2 popular parks are joining forces to offer you 2 fun-filled programs:

Find out what's happening in Lake Minnetonkawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

MEA: Fall on the Farm
Thursday, Oct. 17 and Friday, Oct. 18, 9:30 AM-2:30 PM
$6/person; Ages 2+

Enchanted Forest Halloween
Saturday, Oct. 26, 5-9 PM 
$5/adult and $9/child. Children under 2 are free.

Meet the Farm’s Round Pigs and Plump Pumpkins
Drop off your child for fun and learning on the farm! Each day we'll explore a new farm theme through stories, songs and more. They'll help farmers with chores and make a farm-fresh snack of their own. Reservations required by theThursday before. $10; Ages: 4-6

Lil' Farmhands - Plump Pigs
Monday, Oct. 21, 9:30-11:30 AM

Lil' Farmhands - Pumpkins, Squash and Gourds....Oh My!
Monday, Oct. 28, 9:30-11:30 AM

'Tis the Season! – Warm up with our Fiber Workshops
We welcome all skill levels and look forward to sharing with you the wonders of wool! Reference this e-news and receive 10% off any of our upcoming fall fiber workshops:

Wet-Felted Handbag
Saturday, Oct. 19, 10 AM-2 PM | $45; Ages 12+

Basics of Bengala Dyeing
Saturday, Oct. 19, 1-4 PM | $40; Ages 12+

Introduction to Wet Felting
Saturday, Oct. 26, 1-4 PM | $30; Ages 12+

Fleece to Yarn
Saturday, Oct. 26, 1-4 PM | $35; Ages 12+

Wet Felting for Children: Perfect Little Pouch!
Saturday, Nov. 2, 1-3:30 PM | $20; Ages 6-12

Beginning Crochet
Saturday, Nov. 2, 1-4 PM | $30; Ages 8+

“Funny Farm” – A live production at Gale Woods
Monday, Nov. 4, 10-11 AM
Come hear all about the adventures of our farm puppet friends. Explore introductory activities with your preschooler before the show and take a hike on your own to see the wonders of the farm. This is an adult-child class. Families welcome. Adults must accompany children and pay program fee. Reservations are recommended; phone only763.559.6700.$4; Ages 1-9. Learn more...


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Lake Minnetonka