March 2022 - 6

Catoctin Mountain Orchard's crops are grown in a mountainside setting. The farm's market is located
near the center of this photo.
CATOCTIN
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
how my dad got the farm. We're super
lucky it was able to work out like that.
We hope we can stay here a real long
time. We can't just pick up the ponds and
move, so we're hopeful we'll have access
to Route 15 and future generations can
still be selling stuff here and growing off
these hillsides because being on a hillside
sure makes for nice drainage and we just
get some good crops. "
After Harry Black got the farm, " We
built four ponds in four years, " Bob said.
" We were so lucky we could build ponds
then. We can't build ponds in Maryland
right now. They won't let us do it because
it warms the water for trout. So, trout rule
over people. Sorry to hear that. "
Today, Bob and his family use trickle
irrigation to water the fruit trees, berries
and vegetables. This process uses less
water and energy to water only the tree
row, thus saving gallons of water by not
over-watering. The water source is still
coming off of those ponds. The irrigation
system is now all piped underground to
minimize loss from evaporation.
Market a Maryland staple
Catoctin Mountain Orchard is known
for its roadside market. Supplying that
Multi-generations of the Black family of Catoctin Mountain Orchard.
operation is done by growing a host of
fruit and vegetable crops.
From June 20-July 31, they sell black
raspberries, sweet cherries, sour cherries
and blueberries. They offer cut-your-own
flowers from July 1-Sept. 30. September
and October features U-pick apples on
weekends.
Other seasonal fruit in the market
include strawberries, peaches, nectarine,
plums, pears, Concord grapes and kiwi
berries. The market sells fresh baked or
frozen pies, jams and preserves, apple
cider and apple cider donuts.
" We're very fortunate that we are
able to grow a lot of plums of all kinds
of varieties, " Black said. " We start in
May and run all the way through to
September with peaches. That's been a
big draw for us.
" We have an acre of Concord grapes
that have been good. I know they're
seeded, but there's nothing like a
wagonload of warm Concord grapes. Put
them in a cooler, and the whole cooler
smells like grapes. I wish we could can
that. "
U-pick drives the show
" We have been lucky to work our
way up the mountain (near a ridge
where Camp David is located), we've
cleared off a lot of land over the years, "
Black said. " It's pretty steep. We have
Line 44, Easy 150
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March 2022

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