Fall Farm Tour showcases Thurman’s rich agricultural offerings

Just 11 miles from the bustle of Lake George’s tourism scene, Thurman offers a world of winding country roads, family farms, sugar bushes and lumber mills tucked into the mountains of Warren County. This Saturday, Oct. 9, Thurman farms opened their barns to the public for the Thurman Fall Farm Tour, which is held on the Saturday of Columbus Day Weekend each year.

“We’ve had a steady stream of people today,” says Sarah Whitefield of Whitefield’s Farm on Mountain Road. Whitefield’s was established nearly 20 years ago by Don and Michelle Whitefield on the site of the historic Sun Canyon Dude Ranch. According to Michelle Whitefield, squatters had settled into the old stone barn and left it packed with garbage. It took them three years to clean out and restore the structure.

The 120’ by 60’ barn is now home to Whitefield’s poultry. They raise turkeys, chickens, geese and ducks. Michelle says they sell the geese and ducks to local restaurants, and the Inn at Erlowest on Lake George serves their chicken breasts and specialty sausage in their dining room. The Whitefields offered Thurman Fall Farm Tour visitors free samples of their savory poultry sausage. They are currently taking orders for holiday turkeys.   

Further north on Valley Road, cars lined the street in front of Martin’s Lumber to browse the arts and crafts, rustic furniture, wood plaques and other locally produced items offered by two dozen vendors. Wax ‘n’ Wicks of Lake George was on hand offering their unique candle-making opportunity. At Martin’s, visitors could learn about mushroom propagation and herbs with walks through the woods.

Thurman has a robust maple production industry, and Mud Street Maple demonstrated that their 27-acre sugar bush, boasting 1,700 taps, produces much more than syrup. Their shop sells maple creams, sugar candy, cotton candy, maple-coated nuts and maple coffee, a product available exclusively through New York State maple producers. Mud Street Maple treated Fall Farm Tour visitors to free samples of the roast. In addition to traditional syrup, Mud Street Maple creates infused syrups and their best seller, bourbon maple syrup.

Mud Street Maple owners Robin and Jeff Mahler began production seven years ago in their home. After three years, they outgrew the space, says Robin, and constructed their sugar shack to house processing equipment and their maple products shop. Mahler invited visitors to return in March during Thurman Maple Days to see spring maple syrup production and sample maple recipes.

Just down the road from Mahler’s sugar shack is Blackberry Hill Farm operated by Irene and Bob Barody. Blackberry Hill raises cows, chickens and pigs adhering to organic farming methods. They sell shares of grass-fed cows, a system Irene likens to paying room and board for the animal. The farm stand also sells in-season produce, which this time of year is hearty greens such as kale.

At the Thurman Town Hall on Athol Road, members of the Thurman Quilting Club had their artistry on display, offering quilts, placemats, wall hangings and table runners for purchase. The club has been meeting for approximately 15 years. Gail Frienz says membership in the club is open to anyone interested in quilting. They meet every Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the Thurman Town Hall. Each member brings a current project to work on. Some weeks, Frienz, owner of Frenz Quilting in Brant Lake, brings her quilting arm to stitch together members’ projects.

In total, the 2021 Fall Farm Tour had 9 stops. Visitors could have their tour maps hole-punched at each site and turn them in at their last stop for a chance to win a gift basket of local goods.

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Featured photo: Annachiara and Matteo Jones from Mamaroneck, New York visit with a pet pot-bellied pig at Blackberry Hill Farm at the 2021 Thurman Fall Farm Tour.