So far, almost all of the items I have been writing about for this blog have been located within the City of Oakley boundaries. Since Cypress Storage is a part of the Oakley community by having our business located here, I felt it was only fair to highlight services, other businesses, events, and locations inside the same city where we are located. For this blog, however, I decided to journey just a bit outside of the city limits, and if you know of or have gone to Smith Family Farm in the past, you probably know why. This place is awesome!
Though I haven't verified this information to be true, after having spoken to a few teachers at the various schools in Oakley, it appears that there isn't a single school who hasn’t taken a field trip to Smith Family Farms over the years. And I can see why. There is an amazing assortment of activities to participate in, and they have something going on for just about every season of the year.
When it comes to fall, after the harvest is done, Smith Family Farms really kicks it into a new gear. It's time for their pumpkin patch! Families come from all over the Bay Area to spend a day at the farm, which is easy to do! Besides picking out your favorite pumpkin, you and your family can go on a mile-long hayride, have a picnic lunch, walk through their famous corn maze, or even participate in a hoedown! If you've never participated in one, or don't know what a hoedown is, then you really need to get out there! There are also live music performances, an observation beehive, an herb garden where you can make an herb bouquet, and a replica Native American village.
The History Behind the Farm
So how did all of this get started? I found one of the farmhands, a wonderful woman who told me she has been working for 25 years at the farm, and asked her what she knew about the place. The farm, which is located at 4350 Sellers Avenue in Brentwood, has been in business for over 30 years now. During that time, they have hosted a fruit and vegetable stand, which is open daily, May until December, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and can draw quite a crowd, especially when certain summer-time fruits are in season. Cherries are the primary fruit, and the one that gets everything started every year.
They also grow and are known for their stone fruits, such as peaches, nectarines, plums, and apricots. And though they don't grow berries, they do have locally sourced berries available at their stand starting in June. In terms of vegetables, they are famous for their heirloom tomatoes, and even have a Tomato Day festival every year to celebrate that harvest. Towards the end of summer you can find peppers, eggplant, zucchini, fresh herbs, strawberries, and more, and as the days grow shorter and colder, the winter vegetables arrive, such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, swiss chard, and collard greens. And of course, pumpkins!
In addition to the pumpkin harvest, the farm hosts other special events, like their annual Dutch Oven Cook-Off, an Antique Tractor Expo, Cornhole tournaments, and so much more! And don't forget about the Christmas season, when Smith Family Farms becomes a little winter wonderland! Every year they choose a new theme, like the year they decorated the farm like a Reindeer Flight Training Academy or the year before, it was all about Mrs. Claus' Bakeshop! If you head out in December, make sure to bring a blanket and some rope so you can pick out the perfect Christmas tree. And set aside some time to shop through the Country Store, where you can find holiday decorations, ornaments, stocking stuffers, gifts and snacks, and handmade wreaths and garland too!
Cypress Storage is the Pick of the Bunch!
If your garage is starting to look like a corn maze, Cypress Self Storage has your solution! We can help you find exactly what you need to store all of your extra belongings. From drive-up self-storage units, to weather-protected interior units, and even some climate-controlled units, too! Plus, every unit is individually alarmed and protected by our video surveillance system. Not only that, but our employees are some of the nicest people you will meet! We will be opening for business soon, and cannot wait to meet you!
