Dear Friends of Riley's Farm,

Harvest News September 30: First of all, although we are pretty Saturday focused around here, you can pick apples all week (Tuesday to Saturday), so if you like more mellow days, by all means stop on by. Bakery/Grill and retail are open as well. This week, we are picking the following apple varieties: Senshu, Gala, Standard Delicious and King David. We also have pumpkins, berries (very light), flowers, and pears. In the general store, you can buy corn stalks for your fall decorating. Stay up to date with all the crops here.

Here is a complete PDF Harvest Map and schedule of Saturday activities (including two live bands, crop report, children's activities, and more).

Sleepy Hollow: Almost all of our 17 shows are sold out, but October 4th -- next Wednesday -- still has about 90 seats left. Take a mid-week break and kick off fall with a lot of fun. Use the super-secret, decoder-ring link, rileysfarm.com/LQ, to get 20% off a stay at the beautiful new La Quinta Yucaipa. If you are the cruise director for a church or company, call Mandy at 909-797-7534 and she will give you a deal on October 4..

The Harvest Feast: When was the last time you sang a hymn in a tavern? Lots of folks don't know that in the 18th century, the tavern or public house was usually built across from the meeting house. Families would take refreshment in the tavern between morning and evening services. So, if you have ever wondered what it might have been like to enjoy a meal in an 18th century tavern, with a great feast, redcoats, patriots, dancing, live music, and hymn-singing, now is your chance. (My wife, the Greek, taught me how to celebrate, and I've never regretted the life lesson. Count your blessings with us.)

Can we talk? About apples. Even if the urban snobs on the SNL writing team once made fun of u-pick, the truth is that a ripe apple right off the tree doesn't need to be hyped. It really is substantially better than apples stored in nitrogen gas for 18 months. BUT we need your help preserving the crop. A lot of families can't resist the urge to jump out of the car and start picking right away. Please check in first and only pick from trees that are marked. Otherwise, you could be picking a starchy, not-ready-for-prime-time apple. On busy Saturdays, to cover the enormous staff we dedicate to parking, we are charging $5 per car, so exact change is a big help. Thank you!

Living History Field Trips: A little Riley's Farm trivia. Since 2001, 992,730 teachers, parents, and students have attended the Revolutionary War Adventure. Since our record-keeping goes back to 1997, on other systems, we're fairly sure more than one million people have engaged in the George Tavern mock battle with us. Bring your school and your family. It's open to individuals! Don't wait. Dates are going quickly for the 2023-24 school year.

PragerU's Street Smarts: If your child missed a chance to compete on "Street Smarts" in July, you'll have another chance on October 6 & 7. Details.

Battle Update: We are in the dreaded discovery phase of our lawsuit against multiple districts for hating the First Amendment and cancelling the farm because I made fun of Louis Farrakhan. We could use your help. Opposing counsel, funded by huge resources (your tax dollars), are playing hard to get with us. Help the little guy stick it to them.

People Thank Me: Sometimes, I feel as though we reside in "Fort Riley." A lot of people who have corporate or government jobs in Southern California -- folks who have to sit through cult indoctrination on climate change, woke sensibility, and gender confusion -- come up here and they tell me it's something like finding America again. The good news? I count heads. There are more of us than there are of the weirdos who want to put your little boy in a dress. If we all speak up, we win. What say ye? Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.

See you soon!

James Riley

Riley's Farm

RileysFarm.com

Follow us on..

MeWe - Instagram - TikTok - Twitter

What are you thankful for? Our ancestors had pretty simple, but touching, lists..

Public Thanks Giving Day Morning November 21 1793

As I was musing on my bed being awake as usual before Day-Light;

recollecting the many mercies and good things I enjoy for which I ought to be thankful this Day;  Some of which I have Noted after rising as follows. viz.

The life & health of myself & family, and also of so many of my children, grand children & great grandchildren; also of my other relations and friends & neighbors, for Health peace & plenty amongst us.

for my Bible, and Many other good and Useful Books, Civil and Religious Priviledges, for the ordinances of the gospel; and for my Minister.

for my land, house and barn and other buildings, and that they are preserved from fire and other accidents.

for my wearing Cloathes to keep me warm, my Beds & Beding to rest upon

for my Cattle, Sheep & Swine & other Creatures for my support.

for my corn, wheat rye, grass, and Hay; Wool, flax, Syder, Apples, Pumpkins, Potatoes, Cabages, turnips, carrots, Beets, peaches and other fruits.

for my Clock & Watch to measure my passing time by Day and by Night

Wood, Water, Butter, Cheese, Milk, Pork, Beefe & Fish & for tea, sugar, rum, wine, gin, molasses, pepper, Spice and money for to buy other Necessaries and to pay my debts and taxes and for my leather, lamp oil, candles, husbandry utensils, and other tools of every sort.

Bless the Lord o My soul and all that is within me, bless his holy name, bless the lord O my Soul, and forget not all his benefits, who Satisfieth thy mouth with good things..

--Samuel Lane

A New Hampshire Farmer, Surveyor and Shoemaker