ROUNDUP: PICK, EAT, REPEAT

Finding your way around farmland.

Time to toss aside the metaphorical and literal summer jorts: fall is here, whether you like it or not. Thankfully, New England is just about the best goddamn place to be in the fall and listed here are a few spots for you to successfully experience the autumn season.

So guzzle down that one last Hefeweizen and bring on the pie and pumpkin ale (hold the sugar rim).

How do ya like them apples?

For all you day trippers, Honey Pot Hill Orchards, in Stow, Mass., is worth the drive. Get as comfortable as you can on a hay bale as you ride behind a tractor across acres of pastoral scenery and seemingly endless orchards. Once you’re dropped off, you’re on your own to pick as many apples and pears as your heart desires … or your basket can hold. Whichever comes first. Fill a basket or two and watch for another tractor to come on by to catch a ride back to the farm.
[138 Subdbury Rd., Stow. @Honeypothill. honeypothill.com]

Right in the [Brookline] backyard

A day on the farm doesn’t have to mean a trek out to the country. Just a hop, skip, and a bus ride away in Brookline, Allandale Farm has everything you need to get your autumn harvest fix: fall produce, pumpkins, and even local seafood (available for sale every Wednesday from 2 p.m.-6 p.m.).
[259 Allandale Rd., Brookline. @allandalefarm. allandalefarm.com]

Warning: Young punks need not apply

Got little kiddies? A trip to the Belkin Family Lookout Farm is one of those guaranteed ways to snag you a “best parent” award. Magic shows, train rides, music, snack shack, burlap maze, moon bounce—this place has everything to overwhelm your children with excitement. That said, I wouldn’t recommend moon bouncing after the snack shack.
[89 Pleasant St., South Natick. @Lookout_Farm. lookoutfarm.com]

Learn, Grow, Connect, Repeat

Their mission is simple: to connect people to the land. Located in Weston, 11 miles outside of Cambridge, Land’s Sake is a nonprofit community farm complete with a farm stand, CSA, pick-your-own, and perhaps most importantly, DIY courses and workshops. Drop by to pick up a variety of goods grown on the farm or from neighboring family businesses, or check out their monthly calendar for community events (like supper club!) that will connect you to the land.
[90 Wellesley St., Weston. @landssake. landssake.org]

And then to run off those cider donuts …
Oktoberfest 5K Run

The Cambridge 5K Series is an awesome opportunity to sign up for a healthy community event that also serves beer. And if you don’t care about that stuff, let me make this very clear: post-race block party sponsored by Cambridge Brewing Company and Swiss Bakers. I spoke with Ed O’Connor, Race Director and Cambridge 5K Series Founder and he assured me that this was no polka fest. “Mollie, listen” he said, “Swiss Bakers is baking several thousand pretzels for this party.” Plus, the music featured is “an awesome mix of German hip hop and electronica.” Aren’t you just a little bit interested in what that will sound like?
[Sun 10.14.12. October 14, 10am/race all ages, after party 21+/$38. @Cambridge5K. cambridge5k.com/Oktoberfest]