Time for an update. Robert and I reached an important conclusion earlier today. It looks like we will have some berries early in June. Updates will follow. As always we will post the dates and times we plan to be open here on the blog. Bookmark this page and check back in early June.
Just a quick word as we leave winter behind. This time of year as the days get longer and the average temperatures rise our thoughts turn to blueberries. It is too early to predict how the coming crop will perform. We hope to have enough berries to be open for u-pick in early June. We shall see. When and if the time comes we will announce it here on the website and email our mailing list. Until then hope that the threat of a late frost is behind us and that Mother Nature will provide all the help that ripening berries require. We shall see.
So this morning as I was preparing my usual muesli for breakfast I took a wander in the blueberry patch. I managed to find seven barely ripe berries. As is often the case we reach the point with each variety when there are just not any berries left to pick. Our earliest variety has come and gone. If pressed to explain we might respond in three ways. The impact of the cicadas from last year, a reduced number of plants and the weather (it always the weather) warmer earlier than usual and then a late frost at just the wrong moment. We will see if and when any of the mid or late season varieties will produce sufficent quantities so we can be open during July or August. When that happens we will post it here. No one is more disappointed than your farmers. Not having berries for you to pick is almost as much work for us as having them. So it goes.
A quick inventory (which means a walk in the berry patch) requires that we share with you that while we announced earlier in the week that we would be open for two hours 10 am to noon tomorrow 6/18 if you are reading this you might want to make other plans. We will have a relatively small amount of ripe berries. No one is more disappointed than your farmers. We will be open as stated but there won’t be a lot of fruit for you to pick.
Thank you to all of you who joined us here on the farm last Sunday. We are hoping for a few bright sunny days along with a bit of rain and some warmer temperatures to help ripen a few more berries for you to pick.
We will be open again on Saturday 6/18 beginning at 10 am. until noon. The long range forecast promises us a nice day. We shall see. If you have questions about how this all works please read the rest of this post.
Please read carefully.
We will be open for u-pick blueberries on Saturday 6-18-22 from 10am to noon. A nod toward social distancing. When you are out in the patch remember to keep your distance from other pickers. The farmer in charge of sales will not be wearing a mask but is old enough to have been vaccinated and boosted months ago. If you have a cough and fever stay home.
The way it works: We try to balance the ripe berries (so there are enough for everyone who shows up), the weather (not raining or excessively hot and humid) with the opportunity to come to the farm and pick. This is not a perfect system. But the forecast for Saturday 6-18-22 from 10am to noon is looking good. The supply of ripe berries may be limited, it will not be the day to pick quarts and quarts easily to fill the freezer.
We have containers. We sell by the pint and quart (not weight). After more than a decade and in recognition of our ever increasing costs we are raising prices. You pick and then pay the farmer $5.00 a pint and $10.00 a quart. The containers are full when the berries are level with the top of the container. Overfilled containers cost more. Really – no pyramids.
Things to keep in mind. No toilets (so plan ahead). Bring a water bottle picking can be thirsty work. We don’t take credit cards (or any other form of electronic payment). Cash or a check payable to Blueberry Gardens will do the trick. No smoking anywhere on the farm. Leave your pets at home. Yes children are welcome. Most parking is directly off the driveway on the grass.
If you have any questions that were not covered above just hit the CONTACT tab and send us an email. The farmer in charge of sales does not own a smart phone. So I won’t be checking email once I’m outside sitting under the canopy. So don’t expect a response between 10am and noon on Saturday.
Yes the moment has arrived. We will be open for the first picking of the season on Sunday 6/12 for two hours from 10 am to 12 noon.
Please read carefully.
We will be open for u-pick blueberries on Sunday 6-12-21 from 10am to noon. A nod toward social distancing. When you are out in the patch remember to keep your distance from other pickers. The farmer in charge of sales will not be wearing a mask but is old enough to have been vaccinated months ago. If you have a cough and fever stay home.
The way it works: We try to balance the ripe berries (so there are enough for everyone who shows up), the weather (not raining or excessively hot and humid) with the opportunity to come to the farm and pick. This is not a perfect system. But the forecast for Sunday 6-12-22 from 10am to noon is looking good. The supply of ripe berries may be limited, it will not be the day to pick quarts and quarts easily to fill the freezer.
We have containers. We sell by the pint and quart (not weight). After more than a decade and in recognition of our ever increasing costs we are raising prices. You pick and then pay the farmer $5.00 a pint and $10.00 a quart. The containers are full when the berries are level with the top of the container. Overfilled containers cost more. Really – no pyramids.
Things to keep in mind. No toilets (so plan ahead). Bring a water bottle picking can be thirsty work. We don’t take credit cards. Cash or a check payable to Blueberry Gardens will do the trick. No smoking anywhere on the farm. Leave your pets at home. Yes children are welcome. Most parking is directly off the driveway on the grass.
If you have any questions that were not covered above just hit the CONTACT tab and send us an email. The farmer in charge of sales does not own a smart phone. So I won’t be checking email once I’m outside sitting under the canopy. So don’t expect a response between 9am and noon on Sunday.
The flowers on the blueberry plants have begun to emerge. With the help of the polinators and some reasonable weather each of these flowers has the potential to be a blueberry.
We are looking forward to the time in early to mid June when we will be able to invite you to join us on the farm as the blueberries ripen and are ready for you to pick. Updates will follow.
As is often the case we reach the point with each variety when there are just not any berries left to pick. Our earliest variety has come and gone. We will see if and when any of the mid or late season varieties will produce sufficent quantities so we can be open during July or August. When that happens we will post it here.
For those who enjoy picking when it is hot and sticky. Tomorrow Wednesday 6-30 from 10 am to 1 pm should be your moment. The cicadas have done their damage and had their once every seventeen year celebration at our expense. Wednesday is our usual harvest and pack vegetable day so you are welcome to visit the patch and do a bit of harvesting of your own.
Berries by the pints and quarts. Remember the sunscreen and the water bottle. Check the previous posts for additional details.
Our announced plan to be open for picking on Saturday from 9 am to noon is still scheduled. There is a caveat. The cicada damage to the ripening fruit has been significant. So those of you who choose to join us should be prepared for an end of the season experience. That means the fruit to be found will take a bit longer to fill your basket. So be prepared to spend a bit more time finding that perfect berry.
