WATKINS GLEN (N.Y.) — Like any apple orchard, Reisingers Apple Country, soon to be Apples and Moore, started out small. In the beginning, they only had around 10 rows of trees, but in the last 13 years, they've expanded to over 100. 

Alec Moore and his family lived just down the road from the orchard and at just 12 years old He started working on the farm, planting most of the trees and growing the apples people enjoy today. When Moore was 20, he went away to college, but he still found himself coming back to the farm.

"I tried something new I wanted to do, but it got old for me. This never got old. I was constantly coming back here even while I was in college. I was coming back to work and getting called back here. I could never keep myself away," Moore said.

When Moore saw the 15 acre farm was for sale, he decided to take matters in to his own hands. Now, as the owner of the farm, Moore works 18 hours a day. Even though owning an orchard can be demanding, he says the final result makes it all worth while.

"Something about growing something. When these things start in April and start getting green, there's nothing on them. There's just green leaves, no apples and then you end with all this right here. So, that's why I do it," Moore said.

For people who want to visit Orchards in the area, Reisingers Apple Orchard is one of the 10 farms included in the upcoming finger lakes farm trail weekend.

"This farm trail weekend we're hoping will grow in to an attraction similar to our well known wine trail," said Brett Chedzoy, Cornell Cooperative Extension. 

10 farms will be open to the public for hay rides, tastings, apple picking and some farms even have cows and alpacas for people to interact with. Since many annual events were canceled because of COVID-19, the farm trail was organized to draw more attention to some hidden farms in Watkins Glen. 

"This finger lakes farm trail is an inaugural event that we've organized for this year to highlight many of our other farms in Schuyler County that are not as visible. These are the ones that are off the well known wine trails around the lake," Chedzoy said.

Each farm will operate on their normal hours during the event. For those who decide to go on the finger lakes farm trail this weekend, Moore says the apples may look a little smaller than usual because of the drought, but he says the flavor is exactly the same.

Saturday, Sept. 26

Four Seasons Alpacas — Celebrating National Alpaca Farm Days

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

4418 Six Corners Road, Dundee

Highlights: Farm tours and an array of products for purchase: alpaca rugs, throws, wall hanging, hats, gloves, scarves, pillows 

Hawk Meadow Farm

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
5066 Mott Evans Road, Trumansburg

Highlights: Farm tours, log-grown mushrooms, and mushroom products for sale, plus maple syrup and herbal skincare products 

Mangus Farms

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

3710 Main St., Burdett

Highlights: Farm store with seasonal fruit, pies, baked goods, and jams and jellies

Muddy Fingers Farm

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

3859 Dugue Road, Hector

Highlights: Diverse vegetable production plus produce for sale

Reisinger’s Summer Fruits
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

2855 Ellison Road, Watkins Glen

Highlights: Farm tours of the orchards, plus berries and jams for sale

Russell’s Alpaca Acres — Celebrating National Alpaca Farm Days

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

4047 Newto  Road, Burdett   
Highlights: Take a tour, visit the newborn baby alpaca, and learn about raising alpacas, plus shop alpaca products, yarn, and raw fleece

Shtayburne Farm Creamery

10 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

2909 Chase Road, Rock Stream

Highlights: An old-fashioned working dairy farm with cows and hand-crafted artisan cheeses, featuring cheese-making demos

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
2761 Yorski Road, Bradford

Highlights: More than 100 flavors of fruit jams and jellies plus herbal tea blends, made from fruit and herbs grown on the farm, plus potted fruiting plants 

Reisinger’s Apple Country/Apples and Moore LLC

9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

2750 Apple Lane, Watkins Glen

Highlights: U-pick apples, pears, zinnia flowers, and pumpkins, plus in the farm store: donuts, cider, maple syrup, honey, jams and jellies

Sunset View Creamery

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

4970 County Route 14, Odessa
Highlights: A dairy farm nestled in the rolling hills of Schuyler County, offering tours, hayrides, activities for kids, and shopping: hand-crafted cheese, locally sourced beef, free-range eggs, fudge, maple syrup, honey, jams and jellies

Sunday, Sept. 27

Four Seasons Alpacas: Noon to 4 p.m.

Ort Family Farm: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Reisinger’s Apple Country/Apples and Moore LLC: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunset View Creamery: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.