This has certainly been a disheartening berry season for us.  Our customers call to ask to pick and we have had to tell them that our berry farm has no berries!  The hail storm that hit last fall did much more damage to our plants than we ever imagined.

We have had no summer raspberries to open to the public for as this year’s producing canes were killed by the hail.  The picture shows that the re-growth for next year looks very very good at this time though, so keep us in mind for next July.

Our fall raspberries were damaged to the point that we will have to replant them.  We should have some falls again next year though around mid-August.

Our blueberries were very short lived this year.  Apparently the hail did it’s thing on them also.  The robins really did a number on them as well by going down the rows and picking one bite out of MANY berries.  The plants have put more re-growth on this year than in the last three years due to the snow cover and ample spring rains.  With a little luck, we should have a good crop next year.

Our strawberry experiment seems to look like a go for us.  Next year we should have strawberries around in mid August as well.

Our field tomatoes are starting to go to the market along with our Russian Heirloom tomato that we raise in the greenhouse.  Customer’s reaction to our Instant Garden tomato plant has been overwhelmingly positive, to the point that we are going to build another greenhouse so we can double their production next year.  We are taking our little Heirloom cherry tomatoes to the markets as well.  They make up a container of a very colorful and tasty assortment of seven different kinds and different colors.  We also are taking our “Godsend” lettuce to the market and we will be producing it until Thanksgiving when we close our greenhouses down for the winter.

Our grapes are looking good.  They should be ready to pick around the 1st week of September.  They are about a week behind last year.  They are a purple grape that makes a good jelly, jam, juice, and red wine.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.  Please keep us in mind for next year.  Things are bound to get better!

John & Ruth