The weather is getting colder and the leaves are beginning to turn.  Fall is finally arriving.  One of my favorite things to do during the fall is to go apple and pumpkin picking.  A few weeks ago while driving around in St. Charles county I ran into a couple of folks who felt the same way.

For years Tom and Elsie Goeke owned Herman’s Farm Orchard in Florissant. A couple years ago they retired and sold their farm not realizing how much they would miss it.  Last winter they started looking to purchase a new farm and saw a “for sale” sign in front of Millie Phillips’ property at the corner of state Route 94 and Highway B in St. Charles county.

Phillips, 80, was looking to sell her family’s property. Her original goal was to sell it for commercial use.  Knowing this, the Goekes put in an offer for the farm, but doubted anything would come of it. They figured the land was worth so much more commercially. A few weeks went by and they didn’t hear anything and figured their offer had been turned down.  What they didn’t know was that when Phillips heard that someone wanted to start farming the property again she was thrilled.  She said she would be so happy to see vegetables and fruits grown there just like when her father was still alive. It was a happy ending for both.

Phillips now lives down the street with her husband and visits the Goekes’ new farm almost daily. The Goekes’ are thrilled to be farming again.

Tom Goeke and Indalecio Robles carry a 60 lbs pumpkin to Goeke's tractor.

Elsie Goeke sorts through fresh produce from their garden.