Archive for the ‘Crops - Berries’ Category

September 22, 2009 – Golden Raspberries

The golden raspberries are particularly prolific this year. We only have about 15 feet of row, but it’s more than we can use at the moment.

The flavor isn’t quite as good (to my taste buds) as the red berries – not quite as strong as the reds.  However, I think this winter we’ll make a ...Read more.

August 30, 2009 – Raspberries!

It’s more or less the peak of fall raspberry season.  We’ve jammed, canned whole berries, made canned raspberry sauces, pies, crisp, and frozen whole berries.  We also sent 52 cartons to the Des Moines Farmer’s Market yesterday.

These are the golden raspberries – we only have about 15 foot row of these and that is enough.  ...Read more.

June 15, 2009 – Drying Strawberries

We’re getting close to a loss on what to do with all the strawberries. The easiest is to freeze then whole on cookie sheets and then put in freezer bags. This year we are going to try drying them for the first time and I’ve overdocumented different drying methods below. All the ...Read more.

June 12, 2009 – Strawberry Season

Summer is here – the strawberries are in full production now.  We’ve starting the gorging, jam, and freezing season in gusto.

Look good?  It is!
one year ago…”Thingamajig Thursday #121″

April 13, 2009 – New Blackberries

When I read about the first variety of fall-bearing blackberries, PrimeJim, I knew those would go in the 70 foot row I had prepared last year.  This is the first type of blackberry that can be mowed down every fall instead of pruning 2nd year canes out of the patch.

So, I did the old trick ...Read more.

April 7, 2009 – Early Strawberries

Looks like the strawberries made it through the winter ok!

They missed the fall application of mulch, but the constant snow cover was a good substitute!
one year ago…”Gray”

September 9, 2008 – Never-ending Raspberries

Aaah, raspberries.  Fruits of the Gods, as one of our customers is fond of saying.

Again, the fall-bearing varieties are not disappointing.  I love these guys because the bear so long and at the end of the season, they are just mowed down – no pruning out the dead canes.

This picture about tells it all – ...Read more.

September 5, 2008 – Market Berries

We’ve been blessed with an abundance of berries, so much so, that we are able to send them to Des Moines Farmer’s Market and fetch $4.00 half-pint.  A friend has a stand and stops by Friday night with whatever we have and brings it to his stand on Saturday morning.

Here’s one stop’s berry delivery.
one year ...Read more.

September 1, 2008 – Blackberries!

This year’s crop of blackberries has been phenomenal!

The berries this year are large and plentiful – we’ve made jam (my favorite), frozen some, sold many fresh, started soaking some in spirits (brandy, rum, and vodka).  We found out last year that whole canned blackberries aren’t worth doing, so we have to find other uses – ...Read more.

August 17, 2008 – Blackberry Skeptics!

We packed up some goods to be sold by someone else at the Des Moines Farmer’s Market yesterday. Among the items were our gorgeous blackberries.

Customers at the market were suspicious that such nice berries could be grown in Iowa and certainly, they must have been shipped in from Oregon or elsewhere.  This page is ...Read more.

July 16, 2008 – Fruit on the Verge

While the cherries are still hanging on, the next batch of fruit is getting ready.

The peaches are very plentiful – we’ve been culling a lot fruit off the trees to keep the branches from breaking.

The blackberries are in the third year and lookng extremely good this year.
one year ago…”New Tractor Tire”

July 6, 2008 – New Blooms

There are a few new blooms on the farm this week.

These are a variety of allium that were on super close-out late last fall. They add spunk to bouquets and attract beneficial insects as well.

These are the more common elderberry blossoms – this is the first year we’ve had a profusion of blooms, so ...Read more.

July 4, 2008 – Strawberry Renovation

This might not look like much, but it is an important part of strawberry health.  After the berries have completed bearing for the year, I mow them down at the highest level I can and then spread compost on the patch.

This encourages the plants to send out healthy runners to improve the patch.  The berries ...Read more.

June 3, 2008 – Fruit on the Way

It looks like it will be a great fruit year!

The strawberries are on the verge of ripening.

The cherries are very plentiful – thank you bees!
one year ago…”Chickens Movin’ Out”