🍁 October at the Estate: The end of our season.
The 2025 season at The Gauger Estate was a year of creativity, collaboration, and heartfelt community spirit across every space on the property. The Gauger House fostered warmth and reflection through gatherings like the Gauger House Book Club and Alicia Lassiter’s MOODS art show, while Fay Flower + Food Farm flourished with the launch of its CSA program and colorful U-Pick days that connected guests directly to the land. Over at The G Lodge, the calendar was packed with memorable events—from the Winter Benefit, Super Bowl Work Party, Locals Only, Kentucky Derby Day & Pop-Up Pride to the season’s signature festivals: Family Hoedown, Cultivate, Big ‘G’ Jam, and The Fall Down. Each gathering blended music, art, education, and family-friendly fun while raising funds for causes such as the Hannibal Resource Center and The Teska Family. Through every show, meal, and shared moment, the 2025 season reflected the true heart of The Gauger Estate—rooted in love, creativity, and the power of community coming together.
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🌼 The Final U-Pick Pop-Up: Pumpkins
📅 Sunday, October 12th | 11AM–3PM
📍 Fay Flower + Food Farm | Free Entry
We’re closing out the U-Pick season with one more celebration — Pumpkins & Fall Blooms!
🎶 Live Music: Tim Braley + Alison & Zoë
🛍 Vendors: Dixon Farms • Heady to Toe • Freedom Blooms Farm • Mike’s Country Kitchen • Darling Creative Arts & more
Come stroll the fields one last time before winter, pick your pumpkins, shop local, eat good food, and enjoy live music surrounded by fall color.
It’s the perfect goodbye to a season full of sun, soil, and community + the weather should be nice!
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🥕 CSA & Farm Stand – Coming to a close
Our CSA program continues for just one more week — we’ll bring our last boxes to Rochester this Thursday (October 9th) and our last boxes to Syracuse next Thursday (October 16th). We will still be offering our Hannibal boxes the next two Tuesdays for pickup at the Farm Stand. We are planning for a Winter Box option (makes a great gift!), with shelf-stable goods we’ve prepared throughout the season, so stay tuned for more info on that.
💐 If we still have anything viable come Saturday, October 18th, you may be able to catch Gabi at the Pollinator Party at Rice Creek Field Station in Oswego. She’ll be sharing the last bits of what we’ve cultivated and information on our CSA Program and how you can join for next year.
🍎 Farm Stand Update:
We’ll be open up to two more weeks with the last of the season’s greens, herbs, and late produce. Stock up before it’s gone for the year!
📲 Reserve your CSA share or sign up for winter updates here:
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💍 Say “I Do” at the Estate – Weddings that feel like home, made just for you.
Though it has always been special, over the past five years, we have transformed these properties into something we believe is truly worth sharing — a space that can hold everything: love, laughter, campfires, and connection. We’ve been offering nuptials to friends & family for the past few years, and we’re thrilled to announce that the Gauger Estate is officially offering inclusive, full-estate wedding packages to the public through our new wedding site: 🌐 www.GaugerEstateWeddings.com & you can also now find us on The Knot 💍
When you book with us, you’re not just renting a venue. You’re getting:
Fay Flower + Food Farm for your floral ceremony backdrop and bouquets
The G Lodge for your dinner and reception (can also host ceremony)
The Gauger House for wedding party lodging, morning prep and incredible photos
Camping & glamping options for guests, bonfire circles, and starlit nights
Whether you want something intimate or wild, we’ll build it around you.
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👶 New at the Estate – Little Roots Nursery & Date Night Drop-Off
This fall, we’re excited to welcome Little Roots Nursery School & Collaborative to the Gauger Estate family!
🌱 Mondays: Ages 1–3
🌱 Wednesdays: Ages 4–7
🕘 9–11AM | $40 per day
Led by Miss Krystal, these small-group sessions blend learning, nature play, and creativity — right here on the property.
📧 Email : KrystalJohnston.PA@gmail.com
or call/text 315-630-8029 for more info.
…And for parents looking for a little time out — there’s a Date Night Drop-Off option too!
🍕 Two Saturday evenings a month | 5–8PM | $35 per child, with discounts for siblings (pizza & activities included!)
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🌻 Meet Miss Krystal
When she’s not busy dreaming up adventures for kids, Krystal is jumping into her new role as House Manager in Training, helping to keep the Airbnbs cozy and welcoming. She’s thrilled to be part of the farm family and can’t wait to share her love of learning, play, and community with everyone who visits.
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🌿 Not Getting Married? You Can Still Host Here
Our estate isn’t just for weddings — it’s for whatever you’re dreaming up.
We’re happy to host:
✨ Creative retreats & yoga weekends
🎶 Private concerts & jam sessions
🍽️ Farm-to-table dinners
📸 Photo shoots & content days
🌸 Workshops, reunions, & seasonal events
If you’ve got an idea, we’ve got the space. Let’s make it happen.
📩 Inquire by reaching out to this email directly, or anytime at thegaugerlodge@gmail.com
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Our photographer Emily has been capturing the little pieces of magic that happen when no one’s looking — a quiet laugh in the garden, a bouquet being tied, the glow of sunset on the pavilion.
📸 In the Moment with Em — Photographer Spotlight
1. What first drew you to photography, and how did it become a part of your creative life?
The ability to describe how I see the world without having to say a single word.
It became a part of my creative life by a suggestion from a really good friend/mentor of mine, Anna Kinney. One day while working together she said something I had never considered. And honestly, I don’t remember the words that prefaced this important statement; “you should buy a camera.” And then I did. That was a little over two years ago.
2.When you’re out at the Estate, what kinds of moments or details usually catch your eye?
What catches my eye are all pieces of the story. There is the main story which is the event that is happening. Within that story is the story of the people that attend and the story of the people that run the event all intertwined and happening at the same time. When I photograph, I am learning about the story as I go, one detail at a time. Finding new angles and perspectives each and every time.
Moments like these include the set up for an event, painting or hanging up signs. The tools that are being used, ladders, hammers, and markers. The interactions between people such as hugs or laughter. I often feel drawn to the parts of people such as just the feet or hands in my frame. Even the details in someone’s feet can tell a story. Other details that intrigue me are knick-nacks that are lying around, tattoos, people’s jewelry, outfit details, and the remnants of people’s things after the festivities have ended.
3.Do you have a favorite photo you’ve captured here so far? What is the story behind it?
Yes. The cover photo to the Kentucky Derby album. I was drawn in by her bright blue, sparkly eye makeup. I love the way her face fills my frame and how her eyes are looking away from me. When I look at this photo, I see a photo full of texture and a moment of overcoming my fears. I haven’t always been brave in asking people to take a close up photo. The only lens I use is a 35mm prime lens. If you know anything about prime lenses, they have a fixed focal length. To zoom means to move my body closer to the subject.
After this moment, I realized how much I love close-up portraits. And everything I desire is on the other side of fear.
4.How would you describe the feeling or energy of the Estate through your lens?
These questions have me revisiting all of my albums from this year.
I’d say connected.
5. What do you hope people experience or feel when they see your photos?
I hope that people see the beauty in themselves that I see in them. And the beauty that surrounds them. Most people will jump out of my frame or tell me that they don’t like to be photographed. I’ve encountered more people that dislike their photo being taken than liked. They say this and then I see them change their profile pictures on social media. This makes me happy.
6.When you’re not behind the camera, what’s your favorite way to spend time around the Estate?
Hanging in a hammock in the woods, wandering in the fields, laying in the grass, admiring nature, soaking in the sunset, taking deep breathes of fresh air, and feeling grateful to witness such a beautiful place.
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🧡 Thank You for a Beautiful Season
From the first bloom to the last bonfire, this year has been unforgettable. Thank you for showing up — for the flowers, for the food, for the music, and for each other.
We’ll keep growing through the fall and winter — and we hope you’ll grow right alongside us.
See you soon,
– The Fay Flower Farm, Gauger House & G Lodge Team
📍 42 Keller Rd, Hannibal, NY
🌐 www.GaugerEstateOfMind.com
