FAQ's

1. How are you?

We are doing well and hope that you are also doing well!

2. Do you have peaches?

We sure do! Our peach season typically runs from early June to around late September. During that time, we should have a plentiful supply of delicious peaches in our farm market!

3. Can I bring my pets?

No, as much as we also love our little friends, we cannot allow them into our market or growing areas. ADA trained service dogs are allowed.

4. Are you growing the crops regeneratively, organically, sustainably, conventionally, or by another farming practice?

Our family farm is a regenerative agriculture and sustainability focused conventional farm. There are two main components to our focus: economic/financial sustainability and environmental sustainability. Farming in Oklahoma is a contest of survival against unpredictable weather events and difficult pests (insects, nematodes, weeds, bacteria, and fungus). The climate in Oklahoma is quite conducive to many pests unlike more desert climates where there is less rainfall and lower humidity, which both lead to lower pest pressures. To compete against those problems we have to make decisions on how best to care for our crops. This means deciding when we have reached an economic threshold (ET) where allowing a pest to continue to harm our crop will affect the short term economic/financial sustainability of our farm. From there we can start determining what the available options are and what their likely impact would be on environmental sustainability of our farm. The environmental sustainability of the farm is directly linked as well to the long term economic/financial sustainability because a short-sighted focus of growing our crops could lead to a deterioration of the growing environment on the farm.

Could we grow our crops without any attempt to control or mitigate pests? Some crops would be dead or decimated before reaching harvest and most of the ones that did reach harvest would have an unmarketable product due to the unchecked spread of plant diseases and insects. This would of course fail the economic/financial sustainability as our farm cannot exist without marketable crops. Does this mean that our only method to protect our crops is through plant protection products (commonly referred to as pesticides)? No, in fact plant protection products are more of a last resort. There is an old phrase from Benjamin Franklin that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” and for farming an ounce of pest prevention is monumentally more economical than a pound of cure. From the start we give the plants the best chance at survival through what is called integrated pest management (IPM).
– We look for cultivars that are known to be more resistant to pests.
– We rotate crops so as to not give the pests another host plant in that same location.
– We plant most of our annual fruit and vegetable crops with a weed barrier which, by reducing weed competition, will make the plants more likely to shrug off insect or disease damage.
– We try to eliminate pest habitat in or near the field by keeping areas mowed or by pruning in such a way that pests are less likely to find the plants as a desirable habitat.
– We also remove and destroy diseased plants or plant limbs to prevent the spread of the pest.
– When we do use plant protection products we try to find ones that are targeted just at the pest species so that there is less disruption to beneficial plants, insects, or mites.
All of the above work to reduce the amount of plant protection products needed because the plants will be healthier from the start.

In short, we take a thoughtful, science-based approach to farming that prioritizes both the health of our crops and the long-term vitality of our land. Our practices reflect a deep commitment to sustainability through integrated pest management, careful decision-making, a mix of time-tested and modern practices to grow healthy crops in a way that’s good for our farm and the environment. Our goal is to grow high-quality, delicious produce in a way that protects the environment, supports our family business, and ensures that Livesay Orchards can keep providing fresh fruit to families for generations to come.

5. Are you a family farm?

Yes! We are a family owned and operated farm since 1966!

6. Can I harvest my own peaches?

Yes, but harvesting your own peaches is not available every day. Please follow our newsletter or our Facebook page for updates on picking days. We are also more than happy to answer questions about picking days by calling us at 918-483-2102!

7. What types of payment do you accept?

We accept cash, cards, Tap to Pay, and checks!

8. Do you sell trees?

We do not sell trees but they generally can be found at a local nursery or specific cultivars can be ordered from places such as Stark Bro’s Nursery.

9. Can you point to where I can learn about growing my fruit trees?

We sure can! Several of the peach cultivars we grow were bred at the University of Arkansas and with them being in our growing region we recommend them as a resource. Here is a link to their fruit and nut tree page. 

For any other questions please ask us through our contact box or call us at 918-483-2102.