Looking for a local, pick-your-own farm in Hawkesberry - Bilpin area of New South Wales, Australia,? Scroll down this page and you will see the U-Pick farms in Hawkesberry - Bilpin area of New South Wales, Australia,, sorted by area. Those that offer organic or sustainably grown produce are identified by the words "organic" and/or "sustainable" in Green, next to their name. The U-pick crops they offer follow the name of the farm. To search the page for a specific crop, use Ctrl-F (or on an ipad or Mac, use their "search on this page" function) If they have a website, the name will be in blue and underlined; click on it and it will open their website. Updated frequently during the growing season, I've been maintaining this for 20 years. Help me keep this up to date, please tell me via the let me know of any changes, corrections and updates!
And if you know of any I missed and want to add them or correct the information, please let me know!
What's in season in December 2024, and other timely information:
Notes for December 2024:Apples are usually January to May; Blueberries are ready in December to mid January in MOST areas of Australia. Strawberries can have a long season, November to April - depending on the variety. See your area's crop availability calendar for more specific dates of upcoming crops. The U-pick crops they offer follow the name of the farm. To search the page for a specific crop, use Ctrl-F (or on an ipad or Mac, use their "search on this page" function) If they have a website, the name will be in blue and underlined; click on it and it will open their website.
Home canning and freezing directions. You can access it from the drop down menus at the top of the page or the site search. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to write me!
Hawkesberry - Bilpin area of New South Wales, Australia, U-Pick Farms and Orchards in 2024, by county
Click on the resources drop-down above, if you need a county map. If you know of any other PYO farms I've missed, please write me via the Suggest a farm form (or if you own the farm, use the Add My Farm form).
Australia Harvest Calendar / Typical Crop Ripening Dates for Australia
If you want to start your own food business in Australia, at home or otherwise, see this page.
Keep in mind that the wildfires have devastated many farms and orchards. That, along with COVID, means many farms may not be open this year, or have restrictions. Give them your support!
New South Wales - Hawkesbury - Bipin Area
- 4 Winds Farm
- Organic, blueberries, plums, cherries, peaches, apples, pears,
2840 Bells Line of Road, Bilpin, NSW 2758. Email: 4windsfarmbilpin@gmail.com. Open: See their Facebook page - their farm and family has been devastated by the wildfires, so it is unknown when they will be able to reopen.
We are an organic farm offering farm gate sales and occasionally pick your own organic fruits. Come and enjoy the beautiful scenery and taste the amazing flavours of our delicious organic fruits at 4 Winds Farm Bilpin [known for its winds that can blow in all directions]. Directions: Only an 8 min drive Sydney side of Mt Tomah. Occasionally crops of organic tomatoes, potatoes, corn etc are grown as well -
Bilpin Fruit Bowl - No pesticides are used, apples, beans, beets, broad beans,
carrots, corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplants, herbs or spices, onions, peas,
peaches, peppers, persimmons, pumpkins, summer squash, tomatoes, other
vegetables, Other fruit or veg, U-pick and already picked, gift shop,
concessions or refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, picnic area you may bring your own food, school tours
2093 Bells Line Of Road, Bilpin, NSW 2758. Phone: 45671262. Email: fruit275@tpg.com.au. Open: farm open from mid November to the end of May Weekends and Public Holidays only between 10am and 4pm. Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. We do not use pesticides on the crops. Payment: Cash, only. Click here for our Facebook page. (UPDATED: June 23, 2018, JBS) - Bilpin Springs Orchard - Apples, pears, Plums, Peaches, Plums, Figs, Lemons, oranges, blueberries,
2550 Bells Line Of Road, Bilpin, NSW 2758. Phone: 02 4567 1294. Open: from Australia Day to Queens Birthday Weekend. Please confirm opening times by phone or from their website. Small commercial orchard open for the public to pick fruit from our trees from Australia Day weekend to Queen's Birthday weekend, season permitting. Families enjoy showing their children where apples come from, and older folks remember days when everyone grew their own fruit. The orchard practises Integrated Pest Management is used to minimise the use of chemicals. Phone to confirm availability! Pears include Nashi. - Campanella Cottage - chestnuts,
2-10 Davies Lane, Mt Wilson, NSW 2758. Phone: 02 4756 2035. Open: Weekends only during season unless an appointment is made. - Fern Hill - chestnuts
52 The Avenue, Mt. Wilson, NSW 2758. Phone: 02 4756 2008. Alternate phone: 0418 676 468. Open: Chestnuts available from mid April to mid May. Gloves and buckets supplied. Picking your own walnuts and chestnuts is a fun activity for the family or just the opportunity to find fresh high quality nuts for eating or cooking. There are two seasons for walnuts. The green walnut season is in December, the main season is in autumn at both Mt Irvine and Mt Wilson. -
Kookootonga Walnut and Chestnut Farm - walnuts, chestnuts,
247 Mount Irvine Road, Mount Irvine, NSW 2758. Phone: 02 4756 2136. Open: Mid-March to April; during the main season, 9am-4pm every day until late April; That includes Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. We anticipate that Easter will be very busy, keep in mind that visitors who arrive during the week days find that the farm is much more peaceful than weekends and Easter. There is need to book, just turn up; unfortunately we cannot accommodate large buses. Chestnuts (in 2023) are $10 per kilo and walnuts are $12 per kilo 'pick your own'. Picking your own walnuts and chestnuts is a fun activity for the family or just the opportunity to find fresh high quality nuts for eating or cooking. There are two seasons for walnuts. The green walnut season is in December and some properties are open, so you can use this special product for your own favourite family recipes. Chestnuts need gloves to pick up the spiky shells which have fallen to the ground, and break them open to get the chestnuts. Walnuts are just picked from the ground. Kookootonga facebook page . -
Nutwood Farm - chestnuts, walnuts
22 Danes Way, Mt Irvine, NSW 2758. Phone: 02 4756 2191. Alternate Phone: 029-427-2415. Email: nutwoodfarm@gmail.com. Open: from late March, Saturday and Sunday, from 10am to 4pm. Directions: Travel 55km from Richmond on Highway 40 (Bell's Line of Road) to the Mt. Wilson turnoff. Turn right and proceed through Mt. Wilson and Mt. Irvine T-junction. Turn left again, immediately onto DANES Way. Follow the signs to Nutwood Farm. (2km). 20 hectares set on the edge of Wollangambee National Park. An established nut orchard with large, good quality, fresh chestnuts and walnuts. There is a special paddock for parking on the farm. Stroll across a mown pathway to the orchard. Buckets and bags are provided for you to pick your own nuts. Wear heavy shoes and bring gloves. Plenty of room for children. This is a special farm gate. Enjoy the experience. (ADDED: October 28, 2013X) -
Pinecrest Orchard - apples, peaches, plums, pears, raspberries, walnuts, chestnuts,
2549 Bells Line of Road, Bilpin, NSW 2758. Phone: 02 45671143. Email: johngalbraith06@gmail.com. Open: 10am to 4pm Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Public Holidays, and on Boxing Day from January to May. Directions: situated on Bell's Line of Road, Bilpin, right behind Bilpin School, 30kms west of Richmond, New South Wales, Australia; Click here for a map. Late December through April: peaches, apples, plums, nashi pears. Click here for more details on the varieties and dates of availability. From January to May. Apples: available early January to May. Peaches: Pine Crest Orchard grows delicious peaches, both white and yellow-fleshed varieties, which are available from December to February each year. Plums: The first Blood Plums start in early January followed by the yellow fleshed Narrabeen and then the Radiance. By mid February the Blood Plum and Ruby Red are ready and by mid March 'Autumn Giant' finish off the plum season. Pears: Pears are best purchased green and ripened at home or you have to eat a lot in a short time. They are available from late January. As they only ripen off the tree they must be picked when green. Nashi-fruit: This delicious asian pear is an expensive delicacy in the stores, but available at Pine Crest for you to pick, in many different varieties. The Nashi Pears mature in February. unlike european pears they must be left to fully ripen on the tree. Berries and Nuts: Delicious punnets of ripe sweet raspberries, freshly picked, are available in February and March. Walnuts and chestnuts are available in April and May. Everyone is welcome to Pick Your Own fruit at Pine Crest Orchard, Bilpin. There is no admission fee, just pay for what you pick. Pine Crest Orchard, Bilpin has been a family run business for more than 40 years. (UPDATED: January 02, 2019, JBS) - Shields Orchard -
apples
2270 Bells Line of Road, Bilpin, NSW 2758. Phone: 02 4567 1206. Open: Friday, Saturday, Sunday for Pick Your Own 10 am to 3 pm.. Please note Please call, text or email us if you intend visiting with a name and the number of people prior to the day. On weekends, school & public holidays we may not be able to accept same day bookings after 10 am as we are too busy to answer the phone. Shields Orchard is a small family based orchard that has been retailing our own fruit since 1955. Since 1992 we have been also been providing the opportunity for individuals and small family groups to "Pick Their Own" apples. There is no entry charge; the only charge is for the fruit picked. We provide a basket or you can pick into your own bags. We weigh the bags and charge per kilogram. Helping us to Make it an enjoyable experience, We would encourage every one to either call, text or email us if you intend visiting. -
Stockman's Ridge Cherries - sweet cherries, concessions or refreshment stand, WiFi is available, Cell service cell phones work here, weddings
and wedding parties
21 Boree Lane, Lidster, NSW 2800. Phone: 0263656212. Email: enquiry@stockmansridge.com.au. Open: Call for current hours. Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. Cherries are available from late November through December. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, All credit cards, ApplePay, EftPos.
Click here for our Facebook page.
Click here for our Instagram page.
(ADDED: October 16, 2023) -
TNT Produce - apples, concessions or refreshment stand, restrooms, school tours, group reservations
153 Kurts Road Bilpin, Sydney, NSW 2758. Phone: 0410 676152. Email: tntproduce@hotmail.com. Open: End of January to June 2015 Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays 10am to 4pm. Directions: Travelling on Bells Line of Road take the first Street on the left after the Pines Orchard, which is Kurts Road, follow signs to pick your own. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. We also sell home made Apple Pies, Apple Juice, Apple Cider, Drinks and other snacks. (UPDATED: May 14, 2019, JBS) (ADDED: January 04, 2015)
The listings are frequently updated, but often they don't tell us current prices, so the prices unless you see this year's update date.
Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)
In addition to listings of farms, I hope the following pages are helpful to you!
Picking Tips!
General picking tips and a guide to each fruit and vegetable
How much do I need to pick? (Yields - how much raw makes how much cooked or frozen)
Selecting the right varieties to pick
All about apple varieties - which to pick and why!
Simple instructions:
Canning and Freezing
FAQs - Answers to common questions and problems
Comprehensive addition resources
Free publications to download and print
Canning equipment
To can (bottle, jar) most acidic foods, like jams, jellies, salsa, fruit products like applesauce, apple butter,
peaches, etc, you need the following:
A canner - a large pot, usually 33 qts, which can hold 7 quart jars or 12 8 ounce jars. And large pot with a lid will work, so long
as each jar will be submerged by at least 1 inch of boiling water.
This is a good canner,
and here is a canning kit, but Amazon seems to have difficulty keeping them in stock.
If
you want to can low acid foods like canned green beans, sweet corn, meats, etc., you MUST use a
pressure canner. It reaches higher temperatures which are needed to kill mold and botulism. The jars, lids and other equipment are the
same.
Canning rack - The canning rack is critical, just be sure it fits inside your canning pot. It allows you to safely and easily lift the jars in and out of the canner.
Miscellaneous tools - Some kits contain most of the tools you'll need like this
canning
tools kit.
Jar tongs (to pick up hot jars)
Jar funnel - good ones also help you measure the headspace and cover the rim from splashes
Canning Lid rack - to hold the lids while they are sanitizing in a small pot of boiling water
Supplies -
canning jars - these come in the modern lid and ring system and some
older version. Most have change to the two piece lid and ring method since it ENORMOUSLY reduces spoilage. Like everything else, jars can be hard to
obtain. Some commercial products, like spaghetti sauce, sometimes come in a sturdy jar that fits the standard lid and ring.
lids and rings (a.k.a, "bands")
Pectin (if you are making jam or
jelly)
WECK Small-Batch Preserving: Recipes for Canning, Fermenting, Pickling, and More