Tuesday December 12, 2006 --- The last few weeks have flown by!! All is well at the farm. The Maze has now been cut down and baled, as soon as we get a little rain we will plow it up so we don't lose the shape. The leftover pumpkins from the Fall season are almost all fed to the goats. We are watering a bit because we haven't received any rain in a good while. The plants are not actively growing on top of the ground but they are growing slowly below the ground therefore we want to make sure they don't get very dry.
Our family wishes your family a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Monday November 20, 2006 --- One more school group to go and the Fall season will be over for Sweet Berry Farm. We would like to say 'THANK YOU' to all you folks that came out and shared in the fun with us. We have lots to say thanks for this Thursday, one of which will be our customers.
Now, let the couch sitting begin --------- I wish. Our lives will slow down quite a bit as we start on the laundry list of things to do over the winter. Top priority will be to keep an eye on the Strawberry plants which are growing out nicely now. It seems that most of them are now settled in and have put on a few new leaves. We will watch them closely to make sure they have plenty of water over the winter. They don't use much so it is easy to be lulled asleep then one day I will go out, stick my finger in the dirt and say something like "Yikes, how did these beds dry out like this?". The plants themselves will not mind the temperatures as long as it does not go below 10 degrees F. Early next year we will worry about covering them up in coming freezes.
It was an awesome Fall season and once again THANKS for coming out.
Tuesday November 7, 2006 --- I can not believe it is already the 7th. Time is flying by and I feel like I am standing still. Slowly we are getting a few projects finished. The Strawberries have all been planted and are growing nicely. Still lots of school kids coming out --- that should last through next Tuesday.
I gotta make it short, the tractor bucket is almost filled up and the goats are waiting for some water.. Hey,,,, I never mentioned JJ ----- we have a new cross back Donkey that is now about 2 weeks old ---- he is cute as a button (according to my wife ---- us guys just say he is funny).
Tuesday October 31, 2006 ---- I can't believe the month is over ----- whew! We are going to be open for another two weeks but they will be much slower than the past 4. Alot has certainly transpired this month.
David says "thanks for the business", who's David you ask ----- just some yeahoo that came in off the street one day looking for a job. We wouldn't have hired him but he flashed those poor puppy dog eyes to my wife. I guess we felt sorry for the poor fellow, I mean what do you say to someone that pushes his truck in the front gate to apply. You should have seen his weepy little eyes light up when he saw all the scarecrow clothes. I am sure his closet is now brimming full. Unfortunately our scarecrows don't wear shoes so he is stuck with those duct tape shoes he made.
It did rain last Tuesday and Wednesday, so that brings the 'rain on' days to: 3 Mondays, 5 Tuesdays, 1 Wednesday, 1 Saturday and 4 Sundays since June 1st.
Tuesday October 24, 2006 --- Last week I mentioned we would like it to rain Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday and then clear up for the weekend ------------ I am getting a big head here ------- it is misting this afternoon, and forecast to rain tomorrow only to clear out and be nice for the rest of the week. (I am just giddy with Joy). This is one of those times that things seem to be going our way. I am trying to figure out how to 'can' the moment so I can open it up later when things are not so sweet.
We had a phenomenal weekend, 'Thanks' to all you folks that came out. Our parking lot got kinda full Sunday --- sorry, I did not realize that when I planted the field next door I was cutting out some of our parking lot. I will work on that problem. We also needed another hayride Sunday - I'll fix that problem too. It might be hard to convince my wife we need another tractor for one or two weekends but it is certainly worth a try. Perhaps if we amortized it over 20 years?????
The Strawberries are all planted now, both in Marble Falls and Lexington ----- YIPEE! I had all our planters tell each plant to produce 10 pounds of fruit next year so, if the plants listened, we should have lots of berries to pick next March.
We still have lots of Pumpkins and fun to be had out here, come see us!
Monday October 16, 2006 --- 3.5 inches of rain last Tuesday. half an inch between yesterday and this morning. 'Rain on' totals come to 3 Mondays, 4 Tuesdays, 1 Saturday and 4 Sundays since June 1, 2006 (in case you don't know --- I think it rains more on the weekends, so we are going to do an informal tally over the next year). We sure do hate to have a 'rain out' when we are open, especially when they are on the weekends. We certainly are thankful the rain hit yesterday (Sun) and not Saturday like was forecast. If we had our druthers, we would like it to rain Tuesday evening, dry a little on Wednesday and then we would be back at it on Thursday. We are on pins and needles right now because we need the next two weekends to be nice weather. Now my wife might have a different story because she has LOTS of school groups lined up through the rest of October. She had to cancel 200 kids today because of the rain. So we are between a rock and a hard place ----- we do like the rain for the sake of our plants but we don't like the rain when we are open for business for the sake of our pocketbook. One thing for sure, God said he would take care of us in any situation. So why do we still get uptight??????
We have had an unusual occurrence this year, something that has never happened to us before ------- customers keep getting lost in the kid maze. Since the kid maze is part of the hayride, the amount of time the hayride takes has dramatically increased. So now it is causing a backlog on the number of hayrides we can run. I don't know what I did to make it so hard this year. Actually the kids have had more success navigating it than the adults. I think this should change before long (surprised it hasn't already) because when the hayride driver yells "we're leaving" people come running whether they are on a trail or not.
Monday October 9, 2006 --- Lots of fun was had this past weekend and there is still plenty more for the taking. The Maze is pretty tough this year ---- a few have done it in 30 minutes but most take an hour or two. It really is 'ton's of fun (all the towns end in 'ton').
We are certainly ready for the cooler weather coming up and perhaps a little shower would be nice. The Strawberry plants are here and about to be put in the ground -- all we need is to find a little time.
Tuesday October 3, 2006 --- Boy, we're tired. I guess we should've been doing a little more preparation work leading up to the Fall Season. It is just hard for me to think about the Fall Season in August when it is at least 150 degrees and sweat is running into my eyes.
Speaking of Heat, it is still a little Hot out here. We had a wonderful opening weekend but it was a little too hot for me. Normally Maze goers don't get a free drink unless they find all 12 towns. Well, Saturday I just couldn't resist giving out drinks even if they only found 10. Something about their sad little red faces brought out the giver in me. You really need to go through the Maze in the mornings when it is much more enjoyable. This is the best Maze we have done yet, it is extremely tall and pretty hard this year. Now is the time to try the Maze.
Pumpkins galore!
Strawberry plants coming next week.
LOTS to do ---- I think I will go home and sleep on it ---- I can do it tomorrow.
Tuesday September 26, 2006 --- and another half inch last Saturday -- 2 Mons, 3 Tues, 1 Sat, 3 Suns since June 1. The recent rains have been awesome! I hope I am not jinxing us but we have started rolling up water hoses. The grass looks great and the Maze is unbelievable. It is sooo tall (about 10 feet in most places). I think it is going to be pretty hard this year.
Pumpkins galore!!!!! We are ready to open up this weekend ------ come on out.
Monday September 18, 2006 --- and another 6 tenths of rain yesterday. 3 suns, 2 Mons, 3 Tues since June 1.
Saturday September 16, 2006 --- Oh, my Gosh! Pumpkin season is 2 weeks away!!! AAAAAArrrrgggghhhhh! My wife is a nervous wreck, I (of course) am as cool as a cucumber.
Two rain events this past week ---- the rain has been Wonderful! ---- 1.6 inches Monday afternoon (it started less than an hour after we finished making Strawberry beds, whew) and .2 inches Tuesday. So we have had rain on 2 Suns, 2 Mons and 3 Tuesdays since June 1st. If my theory of "it rains more on the weekends" does not work out, I am going to change it to "which day has 30% chance of rain or more".
Friday September 8, 2006 ---- Hey, we have received some very beneficial rain lately. Last Sunday we had 8 tenths, and Tuesday we had another 8 tenths. That brings us to 2 Sundays, 1 Monday and 2 Tuesdays since June 1st as 'rain on' days. The rain has picked everything up and dad has been running the wheels off his mower trying to keep it all mowed. We did have one heavy downpour that laid some of 'Texas' down but it seems to be standing back up now and is shooting out a new flush of growth.
Hopefully we will be building some Strawberry beds the next few days, we are just waiting on a delivery of supplies that was supposed to be here a week ago. The waiting is just killing me because everything is right to make beds. The Strawberry plants are being rooted out and should be here in a month ---- things are really starting to heat up around here.
Tuesday morn August 29, 2006 --- And let the rain begin! Yesterday we had .6 inches and it is raining now. Since the first of June it has now rained three times, a Sunday, a Monday (yesterday) and now a Tuesday [ I am going to try to keep an informal tally of which day of the week it rains on the most].
The tractor is just itching to plow but we have to wait just a bit ---- we want the water to soak in a little. I can smell that sweet smell of freshly turned soil already.
Monday August 22, 2006 --- I am not going to complain about it being very hot and very dry today. Instead we are going to be thankful that we have irrigation. The pathways have been cut through the Texas Maze, the kid Maze, kid Maze #2 and the Lexington kid Maze (sorry, no America Maze in Lexington this year). The grass in all Mazes is growing well, some almost 6 feet tall already. We have so far been able to control the worms and grasshoppers - hope that continues.
The Blackberries have all been pruned now for a little training and they will be in good shape for the remainder of the year. Last year we did not water the Blackberries in Marble Falls enough. This lead to a poor crop in 2006. We are trying to give them extra attention this summer, so far the canes look pretty good and we are hoping for a good crop next year.
Fall Season is quickly approaching!!!!!
Monday August 14, 2006 --- I just asked my wife what to write ...... she said "It's Hot, It's Dry and I'm cranky". Obviously she must of been talking about HER crankiness ---- surely I am not the cranky one. She has been a little stand offish lately ................... I know what the problem is, it has been too dry to plow and I am all out of my "essence of tierra" cologne. I mean it is plenty dry enough to get covered in dust but dry dirt doesn't smell near as good as moist dirt. Maybe it is the combination of 4 gallons of sweat and dry dust that doesn't smell OK.
All the paths in Texas have now been cut. It is growing pretty good except on the upwind side of the panhandle. It is bad enough that it is dry but it has also been windy and the sprinklers are not covering all the way to New Mexico.
Blackberries are almost all pruned, now to train them. Surely it will rain some day and we will be able to plow up the Strawberry fields, which we will be building beds in in a couple of weeks.
Monday August 8, 2006 ---- This seems to be a recurring theme here -------- "we were thaaaaat close to getting some rain". Once again we could see the rain falling around us but it just missed us. Oh well, maybe next time. The scattered showers did lower the temps a little - that was sure nice.
The 'Texas' Maze is coming along nicely. We cut most of the paths in East Texas today. It can always change in a heartbeat but this Maze looks like it has the potential to be our best one yet. Far West Texas is the only area that is struggling, the grass in the rest of the state is uniform and growing nicely. Other than planting it a little too thick, we are very pleased with it.
Elsewhere at the patch: we can't hardly get any work done because we are constantly moving water sprinklers, when we get a chance we are pruning Blackberries, planting Fall vegetables, and tending the animals.
Monday July 31, 2006 --- No rain last week either --- lots of good looking water clouds but not a drop fell. As long as the wells hold out we can at least keep most everything alive. We are definitely blessed with what seems like an ocean of water right under us. Every one in our little valley has gotten tons of water when drilling a well. We hit water at just 14 feet down so I expect any time now I will be driving the tractor along and whoosh! we'll fall right into a big lake. I always wanted to hand dig a well and now I think I now where I will be doing it. I am having trouble figuring out how to brick the sides as we dig down --- any suggestions?
The Strawberry plastic is now all gone (well almost) and we are waiting on that rain to soften the ground up enough to cultivate.
Still pruning Blackberries -- that is one hot and not so nice job. The Blackberries are the ones we are having trouble getting enough water on. We had a terrible crop this year and I think one of the reasons was the lack of water in July/August/September 2005.
The wife planted some Tomatoes. She has pretty good ideas so I would not be surprised to see fresh maters for sale in October.
Monday July 24, 2006 ---- We were thaaaat close to getting some rain over the weekend. We have another chance tomorrow and Wednesday ------ a nice rain sure would be nice but of course we will deal with whatever happens.
We are watering like crazy and the Texas Maze is starting to come up. We have another kid Maze in the field next door - Saturday I cut the paths (it is now about 5 feet tall) and just like clockwork ------ a straightline wind came through Saturday evening and blew down some of it. I think it will straighten back up --- I guess we will see. Don't worry, we planted the original kid maze in New Mexico also so between the two - one should be operational.
Other than constantly moving water around, we are working on pruning Blackberries and removing the last of the Strawberry plastic. We also have a little experiment going on --- we have been planting Sunflowers. We are trying to target the bloom to October when we will be having Pumpkin fun. If they bloom, along with the Zinnias and Marigolds, we will allow customers to pick them for bouquets. So far they seem to be growing well, we will keep you up to date on their progress.
Thursday July 20, 2006 --- Did you read the July 8 update? We cut the Maze down that Saturday -- guess what? Yep, it rained that Sunday after. It wasn't much rain and it did not hurt or help any but it is the principle of when it rained --- I think we are Murphy's Law spokepersons. I was talking to a lady at church and she had a saying --- "What do you call the day after two days of rain? ------------- Monday". I have decided to keep track of the day of the week it rains to see if that is indeed true (so far this summer we certainly have not had much rain to deal with). So, beginning July 1, 2006 it has rained once --- Sunday July 9 (.1 inches). We have a chance this weekend --- I hope I can add it to the list.
It has been so hot and dry lately that the work seems extra hard. Today I sent some pics of the farm to a magazine that wants to run an article this fall. As I looked at the pictures I caught myself saying "is that our farm?". After looking at those pictures I have a renewed vision and renewed goals. I should look at them more often.
The Maze has been replanted and we are working on getting the water out on it. We will push it as hard as possible and it should be ready for the Fall. Now to prepare for our annual worm battle - I'm ready for you worms and I'm goin to get you this year (I just had to put that down in case they are on the net ---- sure you laugh now but have you ever wondered why that moth hovers around your monitor? what is it 'really' doing?).
Well, the 2006 berry season is now finished but not before we went to Lexington and picked 25 boxes of some of the biggest berries even I have ever seen. I ate the biggest one ---- and I kid you not --- just barely got it in my mouth. Then it was so big I couldn't even chew. I would like to have some more of those next year, they surely gave us something to look forward to.
Saturday July 8, 2006 --- I feel like I have been stuck in a bad dream. The last 8 days have had a chance of rain forecast, some as high as 80%, and we did not even get a drop. It rained all around us but not on us. The part that makes it hard to swallow is the clouds were there, and I knew they had rain in them and, and, and it was the anticipation that was hard to stand. I know better, but still fell victim to "I don't need to put out that water - it is surely going to rain this afternoon". Now we are going to pump non stop to catch back up.
Just a little shower would have gone a loooonnnngggg way in helping us work up the patch. Our soil gets as hard as concrete when it is dry, nothing can penetrate it. Put a little water on it and you can shove your hand in it up to your elbow. We need to build some planting beds, remove the remainder of the Strawberry plastic and prepare the Maze for replanting - all of which would be a lot easier with workable soil.
Speaking of the Maze, we are going to cut it down today. We were set to do it the 4th but "better not cut the Maze down - don't want to get it rained on before we bale it". One thing for sure, we have a 10% chance of rain today ---- if it is going to rain it is liable to let loose this afternoon right after we get the Maze laying on the ground.
Well, the Blackberries are just about finished. Mom and the wife are gleaning the fields so to speak. I think they have froze about 250 pounds of Blackberries so far and I keep saying "don't you think you have enough berries now?" to which I get a laugh and "you just have no idea what we need do you? We just barely have enough to make jam for the Fall not to mention next Strawberry season and then there is Ice Cream and Popsicles". So I just shrug my shoulders and go on about my business.
You know, at the least the clouds did lower the temps a little and it has been much more pleasant working in the afternoons. I hope I don't sound like sour grapes -- I like to gripe about the rain but we know very well that it will all work out in the long run. You know, I can remember years past when I was complaining about it raining all the time and "we can't get in the field to pick the berries because it is a swamp".
The patch is looking very good for this time of the year and we are working hard to get ready for Pumpkin time.
Saturday July 1, 2006 ---- Yehaw! We have a chance of rain this afternoon and tomorrow. I know, it is the weekend but we sure could use a little rain. Actually I hope Mother Nature gets the "rain only on the weekend" out of her system by the Fall. I tell you, one of these years I am going to keep track of what day it rains on --- I am just certain that it rains on Saturday more than any other day of the week.
The 'Texas' Maze is about to be cut down. We will work from dawn to dusk as soon as we get the hay off it getting it ready to replant. I will have to remember how I made the paths this year because it was hard this Spring.
We are watering like crazy and things look pretty good. After such a dismal producing Spring I am determined to get all our Blackberry canes in fine form for next years crop. If they keep growing like they are, we might have to pick them off ladders next year.
Still working on renovating the Strawberry patch. Don't worry, we will have it ready for planting .
We are going to close the Marble Falls farm for the Summer at the end of the day today. My mom and wife want the remainder of the Blackberries for jam and ice cream.
Friday June 23. 2006 --- And let the work begin! Trying to capitalize on a little moisture in the ground means its time to get off the couch and go to work! This is the hardest work time of the year for Sweet Berry Farm, we have lots to do and it is very HOT while doing it.
We are now picking some Tomatoes and a limited amount of Blackberries. This has been far and away the worst producing Strawberry and Blackberry year for us. We always want to have tons of fruit available for folks to pick. We had two good weeks of Strawberry picking in March and it has been downhill ever since. Not much we can say other than "oh well, it is just one of those years". We are ANXIOUSLY awaiting the Fall season ---- surely we can turn the year around. Can you believe it ------- Pumpkins in 3 months?!?!
One thing that has done pretty good this year is the 'Texas' Maze (we have a chance of rain tonight ---- I hope it doesn't come a gully warsher and knock it all down), It is pretty hard this year, even Tracy (the girl that lives down the road and always tries to go though it in record time) had much trouble this year. She is the one I gauge how hard it is by. Even when cutting the paths I ask myself "how can I make this harder for Tracy? which way would she go here?". Of course she gave me the "well I had two kids holding me back" excuse when she could not find all the towns. I think she just can't admit defeat --- Ha Ha (I'm sorry but that makes me feel better --- I should go home now).
Wednesday June 7, 2006 --- A few more Blackberries are beginning to ripen. If you know how to look for them, you will find the good ones. My wife is the Queen of 'I Spy' and she can find Blackberries like no one else. She can find a box full of ripe berries on rows that customers have picked all day. The secret ...... you have to squat. If you will squat down, look up into the plant, you will find all the berries people walking along looking down miss. Take a stick and move some of the branches hanging over to the side -- the big berries are hiding in the inside of the bush, watch out though --- when you reach in there to get that big berry ----- the plant is not going to let it go without a fight.
Still picking a few Strawberries. Size is small but taste is Big.
Potatoes almost all gone.
'Texas' Maze is a ton of fun. If you go through it in the mornings it is not too hot. If you can find all the towns it will take an hour or so.
Thursday June 1, 2006 ---- The Blackberry patch needs a rest. We are keeping it picked so closely that supply has not caught up to the demand. Not that we have that many customers just because this will be a below normal crop and they are just taking their sweet time getting ripe. Come early to get Blackberries.
the Strawberries are still producing, the berries are small but sure are tasty.
the Maze is now open! I just finished putting out the towns so no one has tried it yet. As soon as we find out how hard it is we will let you know.
Saturday May 13, 2006 --- Ok, Ok ...... I twice stand corrected. First, we still have Strawberries to pick. The first customer of yesterday came up with a full box of very nice berries are said "where is that guy who wants to pull them up? take a look at these beauties". Yes, there are some very nice berries to be had now but be prepared to look for them.
Second, I missed 4 inches of rain, Wed. I said we had 4.5 over a week, actually we had 8.5 inches over the week - no wonder it was so wet..
Wednesday May 10, 2006 ---- The 2006 Strawberries are about played out. We are still picking a few but not many. It would be easy for us to say this has been a dismal Strawberry season but perhaps we should instead be thankful for the Strawberries we did end up picking. We still had a decent crop just not as much as years past. With all the hail in the area this year we could have had a complete loss. So thanks be to God for giving us the Strawberries we did pick. I am now ready to renovate the field but the wife wants to hold out and pick every last cotton pickin Strawberry she can. Being the loving caring husband I am, always lookin out for her interests, goin the extra mile to please her ---- I suppose we will leave the plants in the ground for a little while longer (no I am not in trouble nor do I need a new farm implement (at the moment)). Actually, assuming the Strawberry patch dries out enough to get into, we will still have some nice Strawberries to pick for another week or so.
Speaking of rain ---- Wow! We have gone from 'dry' to 'wet' in one week. Amazing how 4.5 inches or rain spread over a week has made things grow. I am afraid to sit here too long lest a weed grow around my feet.
Let the Diggin begin!!!! those potatoes are ready to dig!!! and boy are they good! I have had several meals out of them already.
Blackberries ---yep, we are picking some. We don't have enough for everyone YET but if you come early you will be able to get a box or two.
Monday night May 1, 2006 --- I hate to be honest (that doesn't sound quite right) but if your main objective is ripe Strawberries - do not come to the Marble Falls farm. I don't know who is more disappointed, me or the customer who wanted a full box. We are sorry and feel bad when there is not enough fruit to pick. We would much rather fruit go to waste than there not be enough to pick. There is still some green berries waiting to ripen so the Strawberry season is not completely over. We just need to stay off the field for a few days and let them ripen. If you do come out do what dad says "you have to get down there and part those vines kinda like you are pickin beans, the berries are on the inside of the plant". He then says to me "those people who just walk along without getting down amongst the vines aren't going to find anything". Those of you with short kids should put them to work filling your box, it will make the picking go much quicker and your back will thank you.
I do think we will start digging a few potatoes tomorrow. The plants could stand to stay in the ground a bit longer but we need something to do other than eat Ice Cream and pet the goats.
Speaking of goats .... the neighbors dogs got in the pen and killed one of the nannies. Another is hurting pretty bad but maybe she will pull out of it. Luckily their kids have just now been weaned. You can tell we are not much of a goat herder -- another nanny had a kid the other day and I didn't even realize she was pregnant (she is only a yearling). A lady came up and said "one of your goats just had a baby" to which I responded "what?!". No tellin what your going to see on your visit.
Blackberries are still two or so weeks away. There was one getting ripe over by the hydrant. I was wondering how long it would go before someone picked it ---- it did not last through the weekend. I would have liked to see the face of that person when they ate it because it was still bright red and not even close to being ripe.
Saturday morning April 29, 2006 --- 3.8 inches of rain and so far I can't see any hail damage out of last nights storms. The field that is dry enough to get into does not have many ripe berries in it today ------ sooooo, if you want to come out for a pleasant day in the country, pet some animals, eat some ice cream, pick a couple of pounds of Strawberries -- come on. If you are after more than 6 pounds of Strawberries --- I am afraid that time in the Strawberry season has passed.
We are in a fruiting lull at the moment but not to worry ----- Blackberry and Potato season is right around the corner. We are starting to see a little color on some Blackberries. Hopefully by May 16th we will have an ample amount to pick.
Potato's --- almost ready, perhaps by next Saturday (May 6th).we'll be diggin.
Friday April 21, 2006 --- I am glad to report that we have had Dads' chickens at the farm for almost three weeks and they have not been eaten by a varmit. I spent two whole days working on that chicken coup and it occurred to me that it is very well fortified. I have decided that if we catch someone treating the Strawberry patch as a Buffet, we will put them in the coup for awhile to settle down. Believe me, if you get locked in that Chicken Coup, you won't get out till someone lets you out. (don't worry, we don't mind if you taste a few while you are picking, that is normal. But some people, like my Granny, eat two for every one picked. Just as bad are a few people that have brought water bottles into the field to wash the berries off before they eat them or the ones that don't even take a box, just walk through the field eating. Then there are some that pick a box of berries, proceed to the water hydrant, toss out 1/4 on the ground that they don't like, wash the rest then go to the picnic table to eat them - then leave while giving us a big 'Thanks' along with a wave. Thankfully this is only a very small percentage of our customers, most of you are the best patrons in the world and we love having you.).
The Rains over the last two days certainly were nice. It will be a bet wet here today but tomorrow should be nice.
Thursday afternoon, April 13, 2006 ---- I am pleasantly surprised at how many very nice berries we have picked today. The supply for tomorrow is going to be a littlet better than I thought. Just to make sure you get plenty, come in the mornings. Did you see that we are going to have additional activities for the weekend? should be a lot of fun so come on out we would love to have you!
oh, by the way, RILEY (a young lady popsicle connoisseur) said "this is the best popsicle I have ever had!". She of course was speaking of the homemade popsicles we have here in Marble Falls.
Monday night, April 10, 2006 --- Wow, what a weekend! Thanks for coming out, we appreciate it. The weather sure was nice and lots of people enjoyed the picking. Speaking of weather, this has been an unusual Spring. We have lost berries to a freeze and sun scorching 90+ degree temps in the same week. Lately the wind won't seem to stop, this coupled with the absence of rain, means that we are pumping water on the plants as fast as we can.
Many are probably wondering about berry supply for this upcoming weekend. Those coming Friday morning will have berries to pick, after that I think it is going to be tough picking. I'm sorry but the plants just are not performing as well as they normally do (perhaps the grower (me) is not performing as well as he normally does, that's more than likely the problem). But who knows how many berries we will have, Dad and I were commenting just the other day "Boy, it seems that God just keeps putting those berries on the plant as fast as they are picked". I will try to post and update on berry supply a little later in the week.
The Blackberries are on the way. The Arkansas varieties seem to be having a tough time breaking dormancy. Dr. Moore (their plant breeder) once told me that we might be pushing the southern limits of those varieties. We did not accumulate many chilling units (temps between 32 and 45) this past winter and I think the Blackberry canes are showing it. Don't worry though, both farms look like they will have a decent crop of Blackberries.
'Texas' is finally planted and being watered. This is wayyyy late to get it in the ground. It might be very late May before it is ready to go. The grass likes warm weather and if the temps stay as high as they have been it will probably should grow like mad and perhaps be ready by mid May.
Friday morning, April 07, 2006 ---- By the hair on our chinny chin chin we escaped without any damage from yesterday's storms. We did have a little bit of hail but not enough to hurt the berries. I am sure there is a few with a divot but not too many. About 3 tenths of an inch of rain fell, just enough to settle the dust and wash off the berries. The harvest is plentiful, the berries are clean and the dust is settled ---- now is a great time to pick.
Monday morning, April 03, 2006 --- Maybe we are just getting sentimental as we grow old. This is our 7th Strawberry season and it seems that we are enjoying seeing those customers that have picked with us several years in a row, more than usual. We don't know names but we recognize faces. I bet that in the first week of this season we recognized half of the customers from last year, and the year before, and the year before that, and ........ At checkout we put a date on the box so we know it is now your box and we can tell in what year you came out first. We have had several customers bring boxes back that they first got several years ago. Just yesterday I noticed two different couples with kids that had picked before. After talking with them a bit they both pointed to a kid and said something like: "We started coming out when this one was 3 and now this one has come along and .......". Last year a couple came out in Strawberry season with a small baby, I recognized them and the lady said "see this (pointing to her baby), this as a result of your hayride" I said "what?", with a raised eyebrow. She said "We came out last fall when I was pregnant, after riding on the hayride we got in the car and went straight to the hospital to have this baby". While we enjoy having all our customers come out ---- perhaps those that are ready to give birth should stay closer to home. Thanks to all you return customers who are giving us a chance to be a part of your lives.
I don't know what happened, it just happened in the blink of an eye. It seems that I looked one way and then looked back and what did I see ????????? a Sea of red berries! Every year they do this to us. There is a small window in which it would take half the population of Austin to pick all the ripe berries. It normally happens right after a warm spell in the first of April. Well, now is the time. We had a really good weekend and after sending a multitude of folks into the front block of Strawberries I thought that surely the ripe berries were beginning to get picked. When I walked through the plants I found big areas that didn't even look like they had been picked on. The wife said she needed a lot of berries put in the freezer, it looks like she is about to get her wish.
We lost the first Blackberry blooms to the freeze we had a week and a half ago. Not to worry though, the blooms coming on behind them seem OK. This might push the Blackberry season back by a week but we should still have a good crop for all to pick.
Tuesday morn, March 28, 2006 --- It's a good thing I am updating this, when I typed in the date I remembered it's our wedding anniversary. He, he, he - the wife has not remembered yet. I wonder if I can get a free dinner out of this......
We had a wonderful past weekend. The weather was near perfect for Strawberry picking on Saturday and we had a great turnout. Sunday was a bit windy but the turnout was still good and by the end of the day we were scratching for ripe berries. Yesterday even I was surprised at how the berries recovered. When the nights are warm the berries ripen like crazy over night. I would imagine that today we have a bunch turning red, with the rain today, closed tomorrow, maybe rain on Thursday = tons of berries available for the weekend.
Saturday morn, March 25, 2006 --- I think I am ready to trade January for March. It has been colder the last few days than it ever was in January. Not to worry though, the Strawberries and plants are doing just fine. We have most of them covered up here in Marble Falls --- we will be pulling those covers off this morning so you can pick. We did have some plants uncovered that we lost a few blooms on. I am not too worried about those blooms that translate to berries the week after Easter ---- when we normally experience a slow down in customer traffic. I have a feeling this cold weather is a 'blessing in disguise" for the Strawberry plants.
Poor taters! They were looking soooo good. Now the tops are laying on the plastic. They look so dismal after the tops are killed by a freeze that you wouldn't ever imagine they would come back. They will though. This is the third year running the tops of our potatoes were frozen, and every year before they have grown back perhaps better than before. Don't worry, we'll be diggin em by mid May.
We do have a few blooms showing on the Brazos Blackberry plants. I am certainly glad there is not more than a few. Once these blooms are killed you have lost a crop for a year. There is no practical way for us to protect the Blackberries from a freeze, luckily they normally bloom late enough to avoid late freezes. My favorite variety, Kiowa, is just starting to grow out of winter so they won't have any damage at all.
We covered most of our Tomatoes and I am glad we did. The ones the covers blew off of are history. I am sure those plants would have been hit by a cut worm anyway and they needed to be replaced.
Are we done now with freezes in Spring '06? The Mesquite trees are in full leaf so I was a bit surprised by this one. Our Pecan trees are still pretty tight though which means they are not for certain. I did see Geese going North yesterday.............. only to see a bunch (the same ones?) going South soon after.
Anyway ---- today looks like it will be a glorious day. Come on out and enjoy it with us.
Monday Morning March 20, 2006 --- It's the first day of Spring, we had some rain last night, the sun is out in brilliant form ------ I think we will just go ahead and open for the 2006 Spring Season. I just came out of the Strawberry field where I left lots of big juicy ripe berries for you to pick. You should have no problem finding plenty of berries from now till May 20th. These first berries are always pretty large and I think you will be very happy with what you find.
Back in mid February we had a cold spell that killed a lot of blooms even under the covers Those blooms we would have been berries for picking last week. It did not get cold enough to kill the blooms that were just about to open. Soon after that cold spell it warmed into the 80's ------ all those emerging blooms popped out and the field looked like it was covered in popcorn. Well, now those blooms are turning into ripe berries. We are going to go from no berries to pick (last week) to "Holy Cow, where did all these berries come from?" in no time at all.
Wednesday March 08, 2006 --- I guess you noticed that the Lexington farm will be opening for the 2006 season tomorrow. While production is not to the "ma, there is more berries out there than you can shake a stick at" level yet, there is a decent supply to start out with. The first berries are normally pretty large and this year is no exception. This should be a banner production year in Lexington.
Here in Marble Falls ----- still holding. Mom picked about 120 pounds the other day but that is going to Jelly. That was a good amount to start out with but there is not much green fruit to ripen right behind that picking. This problem can be traced back to the cold spell in the first of February. Green fruit can take lower temps than blossoms -- in that cold spell, temps at the Marble Falls farm were in the upper teens. We did have the plants covered but the covers will only give us about 6 - 10 degrees protection. So under the covers the plants were realizing temps in the lower 20's, cold enough to kill blooms but not some green fruit. The plant is continuously making blooms at this time of the year. Since one set of blooms was frozen you have to wait a week or so for new blooms to emerge and subsequently turn to fruit. Therefore, we have a few berries to pick for mom to make jam with right now but will experience a week or so slump and then be back into production in a big way. If the weather holds out like it is right now, I think that "production in a big way" will start around the 23rd of March. I do not believe Strawberry production will start slow and "ramp up" this year. Instead, when we Open I think we will immediately be in the "holy cow" stage. Stay tuned in here, perhaps my wife's singing will urge those berries to ripen quicker. If her singing doesn't do the trick then this 80 degree weather should. Better use those frozen berries up --- fresh ones are right around the corner.
Wednesday March 1, 2006 ---- Did anyone see February? I blinked and it must have went by. Today was a warm one, you know it was warm and sunny when I get a sunburn and take a cold shower instead of a warm one. I think those Strawberries will put it in high gear if we have many more days like this. Speaking of Strawwwwwwwbrrrrrss (sorry about that, my mouth was full of Strawberries). They are coming! When? not soon enough! The Lexington Farm should open Saturday March 11th and maybe the Marble Falls farm will open by the 18th. It looks like production will start out with a bang in Lexington. By the first of April I would expect both farms to be producing very well.
This happens every year, you would think I could get a grip. We seem to be coasting through winter well, then March hits and it's like "WOW, we have a lot to do --- all these things need to be done yesterday!". Oh well, it is a good thing that the sun is setting a little later now. It is time to lose that 20 pounds I gained over the winter.
Tuesday February 21, 2006 --- Good Morning. It appears we are in a topsy turvey weather pattern. You can see in the last update we covered up most of the Strawberry plants on Monday the 6th in Lexington and the Saturday before that in Marble Falls. Those covers were applied for a cold event on the following Tues, Wed, Thur in which the plants in Lex were just fine, MF sustained a little blossom loss even under the covers (27 for a low in Lex, 21 in MF). Then it warmed up into the 70's for a couple of days. We just left the covers down in preparation for a cold spell last weekend. It just barely froze in Lex. over the weekend (30 for a low, 38 for the high) so the fruit there should be fine. Here in MF we went into the mid 20's Sat morn. I think that most everything should be OK, we probably lost a few blooms that were touching the covers. Last Friday we were re-deploying a cover that had blown up and I found a red ripe Strawberry the size of my hand! I guess it weighed at least a pound, maybe two. Yes, being the loving husband I am, I took it straight to my wife and let her eat it. (farmer chivalry!) She said it was wonderful.
We have now warmed up a bit but it has turned off cloudy and damp with drizzle forecast for the rest of the week. I would like to pull up the covers but we can't until they dry out. We take a risk of ruining them if we roll them up wet. So for now imagine the Strawberry plants nice and cozy under the covers.
I did go to Lex. last week to help plant potatoes. After we planted the potatoes, guess what we did? Yes, picked Strawberries! We have two rows of the Camarosa variety that are ready to go. No, we did not pick a lot but it was plenty to wet our appetite. I still believe the Lexington farm will be open before the Marble Falls farm. We are shooting to open the Lexington farm Saturday March 11th! I don't know if the Marble Falls farm will be open for spring break but am fairly confident that the Lexington farm will be.
As I was watching the Olympics last night I began to think "what if we had a Sweet Berry Farm Olympics?" What would be the events? who would win? So I imagined we had the games and here are the winners.
2006 Sweet Berry Farmlympics
Best score on milking Miss Bessie (the fake cow) --- Josh
First one to have a multi thousand dollar void on the register ---- Tina (this was a close race with several right behind)
First one to get to the Golf Cart to ride around --- Tie between Raelynn and Lacy
First one to try to jump the golf cart and get high centered --- Lacy
First one to run the Golf Cart into a picnic table in the wide open (and then look around to see if anyone saw) -- Lacy
First one to get out of feeding the animals ---- another tie between Raelynn and Lacy
Quickest time in and out of the Port O Can - Gretchen (it is the WINTER farmlympics you know)
"Last one to the gate has to close it" event ---- David (winner?)
and then there are the Tractor events which Dan was the undisputed champion. there is one tractor event that Dan won in the 2002 farmlympics but was defeated in the 2006 games. That is the "Run into a building with the Frost Cover Roller" event. This was a tie between Carl running into the Kitchen and Raelynn running into the barn. So we had to change the event somewhat to "Person hitting a building the hardest with the Frost Cover Roller on the back of the Tractor" event --- which Carl emerged as the champion.
Monday February 06, 2006 --- We went to Lexington today ---- "katy bar the door", the Strawberries are coming! we covered up most of the field with frost covers. The plants are way too advanced to risk them getting froze. The Lexington farm will have ripe Strawberries before the Marble Falls farm ------ maybe by the first of March! The weather over the next three weeks is crucial. A little cold weather is OK, we just don't want any extreme temps.
We also covered up the plants in Marble Falls. The Marble Falls farm is a good 4 to 5 degrees colder than the Lexington farm. The plants in both locations look good and we are hoping for a stellar crop. We almost have the potatoes planted, a little early according to the Almanac. I guess we will find out if planting in the wrong phase of the moon is a bad thing or not. I suppose we should wait but now seems to be a convenient time.
the excitement is looming, and so is my anxiety level. It is about to be make or break time .......... I know what the Bible says about worrying, but it is still hard to stop.
Monday January 30, 2006 --- I hate it when that happens! Yesterday I opened the door on my way to church and was met with a cold slap in the face (no, not from my wife). I said "whoa, it's cold out here ........ I wonder how cold it is?" It did not take long to answer that question "hey, there's ice on the porch! Was it supposed to get cold last night?" It is a nuisance to get surprised like that We did have a few open blooms on the Strawberry plants and if I would have guessed it was going to get that cold we probably would have covered them up. Not to worry, the little freeze did not hurt us much. It is still a little early and surely we are going to have a cold spell in February. Remember, it takes about 35 days in cooler weather to turn a blossom into a ripe fruit. Our target to open would be in mid March so mid February on is the most critical time.
I mentioned it was 29 yesterday morning --- by afternoon it was 82. A 53 degree difference --- that's incredible. But not near as amazing as the fact that most of January has been that way. Mom picked a couple of pounds of ripe Strawberries today. These are just a few berries that escaped the freezes as a bloom. The older the berry gets, the colder the temperature it can take. Now don't rush out to the farm just yet. I imagine she won't pick another ripe berry for a week or two.
Hoping to build the potato beds tomorrow. Soon after we will get those spuds in the ground. Dad has been busy cutting the seed potato's. (if you are not familiar with this process ---- the seed potato is simply a tater like the one you buy in the store. Each dimple (eye) will yield a tater plant when buried. The idea is to take the tater and cut it in chunks so there is only an eye or two on each piece).
the excitement is growing!
Tuesday January 24, 2006 --- Things are looking up around here. I suppose now is the time to get ready for Spring because it is quickly approaching, I can feel it in the air and can see it in the plants. We will start protecting blooms now ----- maybe by mid March we'll be picking? the excitement begins to build.
Thursday January 19, 2006 --- Sorry about the lack of updates, I have been too lazy to do anything lately. That's about to come to an end, time to get back into the swing of things around here. Yep, break time is over. Time to get out of the Recliner and work up a little dirt. Goin to have to get up with the Chickens and plow them fields ------------------------ I don't want to get in a hurry to get busy, so I better take it slow. Maybe we will get up with the chickens next week (oh yeah, Raccoons ate all our chickens, guess that gets us off that hook). I guess we will just have to get up with the goats ...... wonder when that is?
I went to the Lexington farm today. While driving the back roads I realized something, my family has finally reached true 'farmer' status (since my wife and I do not come from direct 'farmer families' I suppose up to now we have just been "wanna be's"). How do you know when you reach 'farmer' status? at least two ways: 1.when you have a barn three times the size of the house you live in! 2.when your tractor is more expensive than both your cars put together.
I mentioned the Lexington farm ---- it looks great. The East side of Austin (Lexington) is much warmer than the West side (Marble Falls). On average I would say it is a good 4 to 5 degrees warmer in Lexington. That would explain why the Strawberry plants are larger and even have a few blooms on them. We know how quickly things can change but at this moment it appears that we will have a boomer Strawberry crop in Lexington. We are approaching the 2006 season with a great deal of optimism.
Things are looking equally as impressive at the Marble Falls farm. While not quite as advanced as in Lexington, the plants are beginning to show some growth and are in fine shape heading into the coming months. The temperature over the next few weeks is crucial in determining an 'open' date. This is the time of the year when we check about five different weather forecasts each day.
Our family wishes your family a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Monday November 20, 2006 --- One more school group to go and the Fall season will be over for Sweet Berry Farm. We would like to say 'THANK YOU' to all you folks that came out and shared in the fun with us. We have lots to say thanks for this Thursday, one of which will be our customers.
Now, let the couch sitting begin --------- I wish. Our lives will slow down quite a bit as we start on the laundry list of things to do over the winter. Top priority will be to keep an eye on the Strawberry plants which are growing out nicely now. It seems that most of them are now settled in and have put on a few new leaves. We will watch them closely to make sure they have plenty of water over the winter. They don't use much so it is easy to be lulled asleep then one day I will go out, stick my finger in the dirt and say something like "Yikes, how did these beds dry out like this?". The plants themselves will not mind the temperatures as long as it does not go below 10 degrees F. Early next year we will worry about covering them up in coming freezes.
It was an awesome Fall season and once again THANKS for coming out.
Tuesday November 7, 2006 --- I can not believe it is already the 7th. Time is flying by and I feel like I am standing still. Slowly we are getting a few projects finished. The Strawberries have all been planted and are growing nicely. Still lots of school kids coming out --- that should last through next Tuesday.
I gotta make it short, the tractor bucket is almost filled up and the goats are waiting for some water.. Hey,,,, I never mentioned JJ ----- we have a new cross back Donkey that is now about 2 weeks old ---- he is cute as a button (according to my wife ---- us guys just say he is funny).
Tuesday October 31, 2006 ---- I can't believe the month is over ----- whew! We are going to be open for another two weeks but they will be much slower than the past 4. Alot has certainly transpired this month.
David says "thanks for the business", who's David you ask ----- just some yeahoo that came in off the street one day looking for a job. We wouldn't have hired him but he flashed those poor puppy dog eyes to my wife. I guess we felt sorry for the poor fellow, I mean what do you say to someone that pushes his truck in the front gate to apply. You should have seen his weepy little eyes light up when he saw all the scarecrow clothes. I am sure his closet is now brimming full. Unfortunately our scarecrows don't wear shoes so he is stuck with those duct tape shoes he made.
It did rain last Tuesday and Wednesday, so that brings the 'rain on' days to: 3 Mondays, 5 Tuesdays, 1 Wednesday, 1 Saturday and 4 Sundays since June 1st.
Tuesday October 24, 2006 --- Last week I mentioned we would like it to rain Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday and then clear up for the weekend ------------ I am getting a big head here ------- it is misting this afternoon, and forecast to rain tomorrow only to clear out and be nice for the rest of the week. (I am just giddy with Joy). This is one of those times that things seem to be going our way. I am trying to figure out how to 'can' the moment so I can open it up later when things are not so sweet.
We had a phenomenal weekend, 'Thanks' to all you folks that came out. Our parking lot got kinda full Sunday --- sorry, I did not realize that when I planted the field next door I was cutting out some of our parking lot. I will work on that problem. We also needed another hayride Sunday - I'll fix that problem too. It might be hard to convince my wife we need another tractor for one or two weekends but it is certainly worth a try. Perhaps if we amortized it over 20 years?????
The Strawberries are all planted now, both in Marble Falls and Lexington ----- YIPEE! I had all our planters tell each plant to produce 10 pounds of fruit next year so, if the plants listened, we should have lots of berries to pick next March.
We still have lots of Pumpkins and fun to be had out here, come see us!
Monday October 16, 2006 --- 3.5 inches of rain last Tuesday. half an inch between yesterday and this morning. 'Rain on' totals come to 3 Mondays, 4 Tuesdays, 1 Saturday and 4 Sundays since June 1, 2006 (in case you don't know --- I think it rains more on the weekends, so we are going to do an informal tally over the next year). We sure do hate to have a 'rain out' when we are open, especially when they are on the weekends. We certainly are thankful the rain hit yesterday (Sun) and not Saturday like was forecast. If we had our druthers, we would like it to rain Tuesday evening, dry a little on Wednesday and then we would be back at it on Thursday. We are on pins and needles right now because we need the next two weekends to be nice weather. Now my wife might have a different story because she has LOTS of school groups lined up through the rest of October. She had to cancel 200 kids today because of the rain. So we are between a rock and a hard place ----- we do like the rain for the sake of our plants but we don't like the rain when we are open for business for the sake of our pocketbook. One thing for sure, God said he would take care of us in any situation. So why do we still get uptight??????
We have had an unusual occurrence this year, something that has never happened to us before ------- customers keep getting lost in the kid maze. Since the kid maze is part of the hayride, the amount of time the hayride takes has dramatically increased. So now it is causing a backlog on the number of hayrides we can run. I don't know what I did to make it so hard this year. Actually the kids have had more success navigating it than the adults. I think this should change before long (surprised it hasn't already) because when the hayride driver yells "we're leaving" people come running whether they are on a trail or not.
Monday October 9, 2006 --- Lots of fun was had this past weekend and there is still plenty more for the taking. The Maze is pretty tough this year ---- a few have done it in 30 minutes but most take an hour or two. It really is 'ton's of fun (all the towns end in 'ton').
We are certainly ready for the cooler weather coming up and perhaps a little shower would be nice. The Strawberry plants are here and about to be put in the ground -- all we need is to find a little time.
Tuesday October 3, 2006 --- Boy, we're tired. I guess we should've been doing a little more preparation work leading up to the Fall Season. It is just hard for me to think about the Fall Season in August when it is at least 150 degrees and sweat is running into my eyes.
Speaking of Heat, it is still a little Hot out here. We had a wonderful opening weekend but it was a little too hot for me. Normally Maze goers don't get a free drink unless they find all 12 towns. Well, Saturday I just couldn't resist giving out drinks even if they only found 10. Something about their sad little red faces brought out the giver in me. You really need to go through the Maze in the mornings when it is much more enjoyable. This is the best Maze we have done yet, it is extremely tall and pretty hard this year. Now is the time to try the Maze.
Pumpkins galore!
Strawberry plants coming next week.
LOTS to do ---- I think I will go home and sleep on it ---- I can do it tomorrow.
Tuesday September 26, 2006 --- and another half inch last Saturday -- 2 Mons, 3 Tues, 1 Sat, 3 Suns since June 1. The recent rains have been awesome! I hope I am not jinxing us but we have started rolling up water hoses. The grass looks great and the Maze is unbelievable. It is sooo tall (about 10 feet in most places). I think it is going to be pretty hard this year.
Pumpkins galore!!!!! We are ready to open up this weekend ------ come on out.
Monday September 18, 2006 --- and another 6 tenths of rain yesterday. 3 suns, 2 Mons, 3 Tues since June 1.
Saturday September 16, 2006 --- Oh, my Gosh! Pumpkin season is 2 weeks away!!! AAAAAArrrrgggghhhhh! My wife is a nervous wreck, I (of course) am as cool as a cucumber.
Two rain events this past week ---- the rain has been Wonderful! ---- 1.6 inches Monday afternoon (it started less than an hour after we finished making Strawberry beds, whew) and .2 inches Tuesday. So we have had rain on 2 Suns, 2 Mons and 3 Tuesdays since June 1st. If my theory of "it rains more on the weekends" does not work out, I am going to change it to "which day has 30% chance of rain or more".
Friday September 8, 2006 ---- Hey, we have received some very beneficial rain lately. Last Sunday we had 8 tenths, and Tuesday we had another 8 tenths. That brings us to 2 Sundays, 1 Monday and 2 Tuesdays since June 1st as 'rain on' days. The rain has picked everything up and dad has been running the wheels off his mower trying to keep it all mowed. We did have one heavy downpour that laid some of 'Texas' down but it seems to be standing back up now and is shooting out a new flush of growth.
Hopefully we will be building some Strawberry beds the next few days, we are just waiting on a delivery of supplies that was supposed to be here a week ago. The waiting is just killing me because everything is right to make beds. The Strawberry plants are being rooted out and should be here in a month ---- things are really starting to heat up around here.
Tuesday morn August 29, 2006 --- And let the rain begin! Yesterday we had .6 inches and it is raining now. Since the first of June it has now rained three times, a Sunday, a Monday (yesterday) and now a Tuesday [ I am going to try to keep an informal tally of which day of the week it rains on the most].
The tractor is just itching to plow but we have to wait just a bit ---- we want the water to soak in a little. I can smell that sweet smell of freshly turned soil already.
Monday August 22, 2006 --- I am not going to complain about it being very hot and very dry today. Instead we are going to be thankful that we have irrigation. The pathways have been cut through the Texas Maze, the kid Maze, kid Maze #2 and the Lexington kid Maze (sorry, no America Maze in Lexington this year). The grass in all Mazes is growing well, some almost 6 feet tall already. We have so far been able to control the worms and grasshoppers - hope that continues.
The Blackberries have all been pruned now for a little training and they will be in good shape for the remainder of the year. Last year we did not water the Blackberries in Marble Falls enough. This lead to a poor crop in 2006. We are trying to give them extra attention this summer, so far the canes look pretty good and we are hoping for a good crop next year.
Fall Season is quickly approaching!!!!!
Monday August 14, 2006 --- I just asked my wife what to write ...... she said "It's Hot, It's Dry and I'm cranky". Obviously she must of been talking about HER crankiness ---- surely I am not the cranky one. She has been a little stand offish lately ................... I know what the problem is, it has been too dry to plow and I am all out of my "essence of tierra" cologne. I mean it is plenty dry enough to get covered in dust but dry dirt doesn't smell near as good as moist dirt. Maybe it is the combination of 4 gallons of sweat and dry dust that doesn't smell OK.
All the paths in Texas have now been cut. It is growing pretty good except on the upwind side of the panhandle. It is bad enough that it is dry but it has also been windy and the sprinklers are not covering all the way to New Mexico.
Blackberries are almost all pruned, now to train them. Surely it will rain some day and we will be able to plow up the Strawberry fields, which we will be building beds in in a couple of weeks.
Monday August 8, 2006 ---- This seems to be a recurring theme here -------- "we were thaaaaat close to getting some rain". Once again we could see the rain falling around us but it just missed us. Oh well, maybe next time. The scattered showers did lower the temps a little - that was sure nice.
The 'Texas' Maze is coming along nicely. We cut most of the paths in East Texas today. It can always change in a heartbeat but this Maze looks like it has the potential to be our best one yet. Far West Texas is the only area that is struggling, the grass in the rest of the state is uniform and growing nicely. Other than planting it a little too thick, we are very pleased with it.
Elsewhere at the patch: we can't hardly get any work done because we are constantly moving water sprinklers, when we get a chance we are pruning Blackberries, planting Fall vegetables, and tending the animals.
Monday July 31, 2006 --- No rain last week either --- lots of good looking water clouds but not a drop fell. As long as the wells hold out we can at least keep most everything alive. We are definitely blessed with what seems like an ocean of water right under us. Every one in our little valley has gotten tons of water when drilling a well. We hit water at just 14 feet down so I expect any time now I will be driving the tractor along and whoosh! we'll fall right into a big lake. I always wanted to hand dig a well and now I think I now where I will be doing it. I am having trouble figuring out how to brick the sides as we dig down --- any suggestions?
The Strawberry plastic is now all gone (well almost) and we are waiting on that rain to soften the ground up enough to cultivate.
Still pruning Blackberries -- that is one hot and not so nice job. The Blackberries are the ones we are having trouble getting enough water on. We had a terrible crop this year and I think one of the reasons was the lack of water in July/August/September 2005.
The wife planted some Tomatoes. She has pretty good ideas so I would not be surprised to see fresh maters for sale in October.
Monday July 24, 2006 ---- We were thaaaat close to getting some rain over the weekend. We have another chance tomorrow and Wednesday ------ a nice rain sure would be nice but of course we will deal with whatever happens.
We are watering like crazy and the Texas Maze is starting to come up. We have another kid Maze in the field next door - Saturday I cut the paths (it is now about 5 feet tall) and just like clockwork ------ a straightline wind came through Saturday evening and blew down some of it. I think it will straighten back up --- I guess we will see. Don't worry, we planted the original kid maze in New Mexico also so between the two - one should be operational.
Other than constantly moving water around, we are working on pruning Blackberries and removing the last of the Strawberry plastic. We also have a little experiment going on --- we have been planting Sunflowers. We are trying to target the bloom to October when we will be having Pumpkin fun. If they bloom, along with the Zinnias and Marigolds, we will allow customers to pick them for bouquets. So far they seem to be growing well, we will keep you up to date on their progress.
Thursday July 20, 2006 --- Did you read the July 8 update? We cut the Maze down that Saturday -- guess what? Yep, it rained that Sunday after. It wasn't much rain and it did not hurt or help any but it is the principle of when it rained --- I think we are Murphy's Law spokepersons. I was talking to a lady at church and she had a saying --- "What do you call the day after two days of rain? ------------- Monday". I have decided to keep track of the day of the week it rains to see if that is indeed true (so far this summer we certainly have not had much rain to deal with). So, beginning July 1, 2006 it has rained once --- Sunday July 9 (.1 inches). We have a chance this weekend --- I hope I can add it to the list.
It has been so hot and dry lately that the work seems extra hard. Today I sent some pics of the farm to a magazine that wants to run an article this fall. As I looked at the pictures I caught myself saying "is that our farm?". After looking at those pictures I have a renewed vision and renewed goals. I should look at them more often.
The Maze has been replanted and we are working on getting the water out on it. We will push it as hard as possible and it should be ready for the Fall. Now to prepare for our annual worm battle - I'm ready for you worms and I'm goin to get you this year (I just had to put that down in case they are on the net ---- sure you laugh now but have you ever wondered why that moth hovers around your monitor? what is it 'really' doing?).
Well, the 2006 berry season is now finished but not before we went to Lexington and picked 25 boxes of some of the biggest berries even I have ever seen. I ate the biggest one ---- and I kid you not --- just barely got it in my mouth. Then it was so big I couldn't even chew. I would like to have some more of those next year, they surely gave us something to look forward to.
Saturday July 8, 2006 --- I feel like I have been stuck in a bad dream. The last 8 days have had a chance of rain forecast, some as high as 80%, and we did not even get a drop. It rained all around us but not on us. The part that makes it hard to swallow is the clouds were there, and I knew they had rain in them and, and, and it was the anticipation that was hard to stand. I know better, but still fell victim to "I don't need to put out that water - it is surely going to rain this afternoon". Now we are going to pump non stop to catch back up.
Just a little shower would have gone a loooonnnngggg way in helping us work up the patch. Our soil gets as hard as concrete when it is dry, nothing can penetrate it. Put a little water on it and you can shove your hand in it up to your elbow. We need to build some planting beds, remove the remainder of the Strawberry plastic and prepare the Maze for replanting - all of which would be a lot easier with workable soil.
Speaking of the Maze, we are going to cut it down today. We were set to do it the 4th but "better not cut the Maze down - don't want to get it rained on before we bale it". One thing for sure, we have a 10% chance of rain today ---- if it is going to rain it is liable to let loose this afternoon right after we get the Maze laying on the ground.
Well, the Blackberries are just about finished. Mom and the wife are gleaning the fields so to speak. I think they have froze about 250 pounds of Blackberries so far and I keep saying "don't you think you have enough berries now?" to which I get a laugh and "you just have no idea what we need do you? We just barely have enough to make jam for the Fall not to mention next Strawberry season and then there is Ice Cream and Popsicles". So I just shrug my shoulders and go on about my business.
You know, at the least the clouds did lower the temps a little and it has been much more pleasant working in the afternoons. I hope I don't sound like sour grapes -- I like to gripe about the rain but we know very well that it will all work out in the long run. You know, I can remember years past when I was complaining about it raining all the time and "we can't get in the field to pick the berries because it is a swamp".
The patch is looking very good for this time of the year and we are working hard to get ready for Pumpkin time.
Saturday July 1, 2006 ---- Yehaw! We have a chance of rain this afternoon and tomorrow. I know, it is the weekend but we sure could use a little rain. Actually I hope Mother Nature gets the "rain only on the weekend" out of her system by the Fall. I tell you, one of these years I am going to keep track of what day it rains on --- I am just certain that it rains on Saturday more than any other day of the week.
The 'Texas' Maze is about to be cut down. We will work from dawn to dusk as soon as we get the hay off it getting it ready to replant. I will have to remember how I made the paths this year because it was hard this Spring.
We are watering like crazy and things look pretty good. After such a dismal producing Spring I am determined to get all our Blackberry canes in fine form for next years crop. If they keep growing like they are, we might have to pick them off ladders next year.
Still working on renovating the Strawberry patch. Don't worry, we will have it ready for planting .
We are going to close the Marble Falls farm for the Summer at the end of the day today. My mom and wife want the remainder of the Blackberries for jam and ice cream.
Friday June 23. 2006 --- And let the work begin! Trying to capitalize on a little moisture in the ground means its time to get off the couch and go to work! This is the hardest work time of the year for Sweet Berry Farm, we have lots to do and it is very HOT while doing it.
We are now picking some Tomatoes and a limited amount of Blackberries. This has been far and away the worst producing Strawberry and Blackberry year for us. We always want to have tons of fruit available for folks to pick. We had two good weeks of Strawberry picking in March and it has been downhill ever since. Not much we can say other than "oh well, it is just one of those years". We are ANXIOUSLY awaiting the Fall season ---- surely we can turn the year around. Can you believe it ------- Pumpkins in 3 months?!?!
One thing that has done pretty good this year is the 'Texas' Maze (we have a chance of rain tonight ---- I hope it doesn't come a gully warsher and knock it all down), It is pretty hard this year, even Tracy (the girl that lives down the road and always tries to go though it in record time) had much trouble this year. She is the one I gauge how hard it is by. Even when cutting the paths I ask myself "how can I make this harder for Tracy? which way would she go here?". Of course she gave me the "well I had two kids holding me back" excuse when she could not find all the towns. I think she just can't admit defeat --- Ha Ha (I'm sorry but that makes me feel better --- I should go home now).
Wednesday June 7, 2006 --- A few more Blackberries are beginning to ripen. If you know how to look for them, you will find the good ones. My wife is the Queen of 'I Spy' and she can find Blackberries like no one else. She can find a box full of ripe berries on rows that customers have picked all day. The secret ...... you have to squat. If you will squat down, look up into the plant, you will find all the berries people walking along looking down miss. Take a stick and move some of the branches hanging over to the side -- the big berries are hiding in the inside of the bush, watch out though --- when you reach in there to get that big berry ----- the plant is not going to let it go without a fight.
Still picking a few Strawberries. Size is small but taste is Big.
Potatoes almost all gone.
'Texas' Maze is a ton of fun. If you go through it in the mornings it is not too hot. If you can find all the towns it will take an hour or so.
Thursday June 1, 2006 ---- The Blackberry patch needs a rest. We are keeping it picked so closely that supply has not caught up to the demand. Not that we have that many customers just because this will be a below normal crop and they are just taking their sweet time getting ripe. Come early to get Blackberries.
the Strawberries are still producing, the berries are small but sure are tasty.
the Maze is now open! I just finished putting out the towns so no one has tried it yet. As soon as we find out how hard it is we will let you know.
Saturday May 13, 2006 --- Ok, Ok ...... I twice stand corrected. First, we still have Strawberries to pick. The first customer of yesterday came up with a full box of very nice berries are said "where is that guy who wants to pull them up? take a look at these beauties". Yes, there are some very nice berries to be had now but be prepared to look for them.
Second, I missed 4 inches of rain, Wed. I said we had 4.5 over a week, actually we had 8.5 inches over the week - no wonder it was so wet..
Wednesday May 10, 2006 ---- The 2006 Strawberries are about played out. We are still picking a few but not many. It would be easy for us to say this has been a dismal Strawberry season but perhaps we should instead be thankful for the Strawberries we did end up picking. We still had a decent crop just not as much as years past. With all the hail in the area this year we could have had a complete loss. So thanks be to God for giving us the Strawberries we did pick. I am now ready to renovate the field but the wife wants to hold out and pick every last cotton pickin Strawberry she can. Being the loving caring husband I am, always lookin out for her interests, goin the extra mile to please her ---- I suppose we will leave the plants in the ground for a little while longer (no I am not in trouble nor do I need a new farm implement (at the moment)). Actually, assuming the Strawberry patch dries out enough to get into, we will still have some nice Strawberries to pick for another week or so.
Speaking of rain ---- Wow! We have gone from 'dry' to 'wet' in one week. Amazing how 4.5 inches or rain spread over a week has made things grow. I am afraid to sit here too long lest a weed grow around my feet.
Let the Diggin begin!!!! those potatoes are ready to dig!!! and boy are they good! I have had several meals out of them already.
Blackberries ---yep, we are picking some. We don't have enough for everyone YET but if you come early you will be able to get a box or two.
Monday night May 1, 2006 --- I hate to be honest (that doesn't sound quite right) but if your main objective is ripe Strawberries - do not come to the Marble Falls farm. I don't know who is more disappointed, me or the customer who wanted a full box. We are sorry and feel bad when there is not enough fruit to pick. We would much rather fruit go to waste than there not be enough to pick. There is still some green berries waiting to ripen so the Strawberry season is not completely over. We just need to stay off the field for a few days and let them ripen. If you do come out do what dad says "you have to get down there and part those vines kinda like you are pickin beans, the berries are on the inside of the plant". He then says to me "those people who just walk along without getting down amongst the vines aren't going to find anything". Those of you with short kids should put them to work filling your box, it will make the picking go much quicker and your back will thank you.
I do think we will start digging a few potatoes tomorrow. The plants could stand to stay in the ground a bit longer but we need something to do other than eat Ice Cream and pet the goats.
Speaking of goats .... the neighbors dogs got in the pen and killed one of the nannies. Another is hurting pretty bad but maybe she will pull out of it. Luckily their kids have just now been weaned. You can tell we are not much of a goat herder -- another nanny had a kid the other day and I didn't even realize she was pregnant (she is only a yearling). A lady came up and said "one of your goats just had a baby" to which I responded "what?!". No tellin what your going to see on your visit.
Blackberries are still two or so weeks away. There was one getting ripe over by the hydrant. I was wondering how long it would go before someone picked it ---- it did not last through the weekend. I would have liked to see the face of that person when they ate it because it was still bright red and not even close to being ripe.
Saturday morning April 29, 2006 --- 3.8 inches of rain and so far I can't see any hail damage out of last nights storms. The field that is dry enough to get into does not have many ripe berries in it today ------ sooooo, if you want to come out for a pleasant day in the country, pet some animals, eat some ice cream, pick a couple of pounds of Strawberries -- come on. If you are after more than 6 pounds of Strawberries --- I am afraid that time in the Strawberry season has passed.
We are in a fruiting lull at the moment but not to worry ----- Blackberry and Potato season is right around the corner. We are starting to see a little color on some Blackberries. Hopefully by May 16th we will have an ample amount to pick.
Potato's --- almost ready, perhaps by next Saturday (May 6th).we'll be diggin.
Friday April 21, 2006 --- I am glad to report that we have had Dads' chickens at the farm for almost three weeks and they have not been eaten by a varmit. I spent two whole days working on that chicken coup and it occurred to me that it is very well fortified. I have decided that if we catch someone treating the Strawberry patch as a Buffet, we will put them in the coup for awhile to settle down. Believe me, if you get locked in that Chicken Coup, you won't get out till someone lets you out. (don't worry, we don't mind if you taste a few while you are picking, that is normal. But some people, like my Granny, eat two for every one picked. Just as bad are a few people that have brought water bottles into the field to wash the berries off before they eat them or the ones that don't even take a box, just walk through the field eating. Then there are some that pick a box of berries, proceed to the water hydrant, toss out 1/4 on the ground that they don't like, wash the rest then go to the picnic table to eat them - then leave while giving us a big 'Thanks' along with a wave. Thankfully this is only a very small percentage of our customers, most of you are the best patrons in the world and we love having you.).
The Rains over the last two days certainly were nice. It will be a bet wet here today but tomorrow should be nice.
Thursday afternoon, April 13, 2006 ---- I am pleasantly surprised at how many very nice berries we have picked today. The supply for tomorrow is going to be a littlet better than I thought. Just to make sure you get plenty, come in the mornings. Did you see that we are going to have additional activities for the weekend? should be a lot of fun so come on out we would love to have you!
oh, by the way, RILEY (a young lady popsicle connoisseur) said "this is the best popsicle I have ever had!". She of course was speaking of the homemade popsicles we have here in Marble Falls.
Monday night, April 10, 2006 --- Wow, what a weekend! Thanks for coming out, we appreciate it. The weather sure was nice and lots of people enjoyed the picking. Speaking of weather, this has been an unusual Spring. We have lost berries to a freeze and sun scorching 90+ degree temps in the same week. Lately the wind won't seem to stop, this coupled with the absence of rain, means that we are pumping water on the plants as fast as we can.
Many are probably wondering about berry supply for this upcoming weekend. Those coming Friday morning will have berries to pick, after that I think it is going to be tough picking. I'm sorry but the plants just are not performing as well as they normally do (perhaps the grower (me) is not performing as well as he normally does, that's more than likely the problem). But who knows how many berries we will have, Dad and I were commenting just the other day "Boy, it seems that God just keeps putting those berries on the plant as fast as they are picked". I will try to post and update on berry supply a little later in the week.
The Blackberries are on the way. The Arkansas varieties seem to be having a tough time breaking dormancy. Dr. Moore (their plant breeder) once told me that we might be pushing the southern limits of those varieties. We did not accumulate many chilling units (temps between 32 and 45) this past winter and I think the Blackberry canes are showing it. Don't worry though, both farms look like they will have a decent crop of Blackberries.
'Texas' is finally planted and being watered. This is wayyyy late to get it in the ground. It might be very late May before it is ready to go. The grass likes warm weather and if the temps stay as high as they have been it will probably should grow like mad and perhaps be ready by mid May.
Friday morning, April 07, 2006 ---- By the hair on our chinny chin chin we escaped without any damage from yesterday's storms. We did have a little bit of hail but not enough to hurt the berries. I am sure there is a few with a divot but not too many. About 3 tenths of an inch of rain fell, just enough to settle the dust and wash off the berries. The harvest is plentiful, the berries are clean and the dust is settled ---- now is a great time to pick.
Monday morning, April 03, 2006 --- Maybe we are just getting sentimental as we grow old. This is our 7th Strawberry season and it seems that we are enjoying seeing those customers that have picked with us several years in a row, more than usual. We don't know names but we recognize faces. I bet that in the first week of this season we recognized half of the customers from last year, and the year before, and the year before that, and ........ At checkout we put a date on the box so we know it is now your box and we can tell in what year you came out first. We have had several customers bring boxes back that they first got several years ago. Just yesterday I noticed two different couples with kids that had picked before. After talking with them a bit they both pointed to a kid and said something like: "We started coming out when this one was 3 and now this one has come along and .......". Last year a couple came out in Strawberry season with a small baby, I recognized them and the lady said "see this (pointing to her baby), this as a result of your hayride" I said "what?", with a raised eyebrow. She said "We came out last fall when I was pregnant, after riding on the hayride we got in the car and went straight to the hospital to have this baby". While we enjoy having all our customers come out ---- perhaps those that are ready to give birth should stay closer to home. Thanks to all you return customers who are giving us a chance to be a part of your lives.
I don't know what happened, it just happened in the blink of an eye. It seems that I looked one way and then looked back and what did I see ????????? a Sea of red berries! Every year they do this to us. There is a small window in which it would take half the population of Austin to pick all the ripe berries. It normally happens right after a warm spell in the first of April. Well, now is the time. We had a really good weekend and after sending a multitude of folks into the front block of Strawberries I thought that surely the ripe berries were beginning to get picked. When I walked through the plants I found big areas that didn't even look like they had been picked on. The wife said she needed a lot of berries put in the freezer, it looks like she is about to get her wish.
We lost the first Blackberry blooms to the freeze we had a week and a half ago. Not to worry though, the blooms coming on behind them seem OK. This might push the Blackberry season back by a week but we should still have a good crop for all to pick.
Tuesday morn, March 28, 2006 --- It's a good thing I am updating this, when I typed in the date I remembered it's our wedding anniversary. He, he, he - the wife has not remembered yet. I wonder if I can get a free dinner out of this......
We had a wonderful past weekend. The weather was near perfect for Strawberry picking on Saturday and we had a great turnout. Sunday was a bit windy but the turnout was still good and by the end of the day we were scratching for ripe berries. Yesterday even I was surprised at how the berries recovered. When the nights are warm the berries ripen like crazy over night. I would imagine that today we have a bunch turning red, with the rain today, closed tomorrow, maybe rain on Thursday = tons of berries available for the weekend.
Saturday morn, March 25, 2006 --- I think I am ready to trade January for March. It has been colder the last few days than it ever was in January. Not to worry though, the Strawberries and plants are doing just fine. We have most of them covered up here in Marble Falls --- we will be pulling those covers off this morning so you can pick. We did have some plants uncovered that we lost a few blooms on. I am not too worried about those blooms that translate to berries the week after Easter ---- when we normally experience a slow down in customer traffic. I have a feeling this cold weather is a 'blessing in disguise" for the Strawberry plants.
Poor taters! They were looking soooo good. Now the tops are laying on the plastic. They look so dismal after the tops are killed by a freeze that you wouldn't ever imagine they would come back. They will though. This is the third year running the tops of our potatoes were frozen, and every year before they have grown back perhaps better than before. Don't worry, we'll be diggin em by mid May.
We do have a few blooms showing on the Brazos Blackberry plants. I am certainly glad there is not more than a few. Once these blooms are killed you have lost a crop for a year. There is no practical way for us to protect the Blackberries from a freeze, luckily they normally bloom late enough to avoid late freezes. My favorite variety, Kiowa, is just starting to grow out of winter so they won't have any damage at all.
We covered most of our Tomatoes and I am glad we did. The ones the covers blew off of are history. I am sure those plants would have been hit by a cut worm anyway and they needed to be replaced.
Are we done now with freezes in Spring '06? The Mesquite trees are in full leaf so I was a bit surprised by this one. Our Pecan trees are still pretty tight though which means they are not for certain. I did see Geese going North yesterday.............. only to see a bunch (the same ones?) going South soon after.
Anyway ---- today looks like it will be a glorious day. Come on out and enjoy it with us.
Monday Morning March 20, 2006 --- It's the first day of Spring, we had some rain last night, the sun is out in brilliant form ------ I think we will just go ahead and open for the 2006 Spring Season. I just came out of the Strawberry field where I left lots of big juicy ripe berries for you to pick. You should have no problem finding plenty of berries from now till May 20th. These first berries are always pretty large and I think you will be very happy with what you find.
Back in mid February we had a cold spell that killed a lot of blooms even under the covers Those blooms we would have been berries for picking last week. It did not get cold enough to kill the blooms that were just about to open. Soon after that cold spell it warmed into the 80's ------ all those emerging blooms popped out and the field looked like it was covered in popcorn. Well, now those blooms are turning into ripe berries. We are going to go from no berries to pick (last week) to "Holy Cow, where did all these berries come from?" in no time at all.
Wednesday March 08, 2006 --- I guess you noticed that the Lexington farm will be opening for the 2006 season tomorrow. While production is not to the "ma, there is more berries out there than you can shake a stick at" level yet, there is a decent supply to start out with. The first berries are normally pretty large and this year is no exception. This should be a banner production year in Lexington.
Here in Marble Falls ----- still holding. Mom picked about 120 pounds the other day but that is going to Jelly. That was a good amount to start out with but there is not much green fruit to ripen right behind that picking. This problem can be traced back to the cold spell in the first of February. Green fruit can take lower temps than blossoms -- in that cold spell, temps at the Marble Falls farm were in the upper teens. We did have the plants covered but the covers will only give us about 6 - 10 degrees protection. So under the covers the plants were realizing temps in the lower 20's, cold enough to kill blooms but not some green fruit. The plant is continuously making blooms at this time of the year. Since one set of blooms was frozen you have to wait a week or so for new blooms to emerge and subsequently turn to fruit. Therefore, we have a few berries to pick for mom to make jam with right now but will experience a week or so slump and then be back into production in a big way. If the weather holds out like it is right now, I think that "production in a big way" will start around the 23rd of March. I do not believe Strawberry production will start slow and "ramp up" this year. Instead, when we Open I think we will immediately be in the "holy cow" stage. Stay tuned in here, perhaps my wife's singing will urge those berries to ripen quicker. If her singing doesn't do the trick then this 80 degree weather should. Better use those frozen berries up --- fresh ones are right around the corner.
Wednesday March 1, 2006 ---- Did anyone see February? I blinked and it must have went by. Today was a warm one, you know it was warm and sunny when I get a sunburn and take a cold shower instead of a warm one. I think those Strawberries will put it in high gear if we have many more days like this. Speaking of Strawwwwwwwbrrrrrss (sorry about that, my mouth was full of Strawberries). They are coming! When? not soon enough! The Lexington Farm should open Saturday March 11th and maybe the Marble Falls farm will open by the 18th. It looks like production will start out with a bang in Lexington. By the first of April I would expect both farms to be producing very well.
This happens every year, you would think I could get a grip. We seem to be coasting through winter well, then March hits and it's like "WOW, we have a lot to do --- all these things need to be done yesterday!". Oh well, it is a good thing that the sun is setting a little later now. It is time to lose that 20 pounds I gained over the winter.
Tuesday February 21, 2006 --- Good Morning. It appears we are in a topsy turvey weather pattern. You can see in the last update we covered up most of the Strawberry plants on Monday the 6th in Lexington and the Saturday before that in Marble Falls. Those covers were applied for a cold event on the following Tues, Wed, Thur in which the plants in Lex were just fine, MF sustained a little blossom loss even under the covers (27 for a low in Lex, 21 in MF). Then it warmed up into the 70's for a couple of days. We just left the covers down in preparation for a cold spell last weekend. It just barely froze in Lex. over the weekend (30 for a low, 38 for the high) so the fruit there should be fine. Here in MF we went into the mid 20's Sat morn. I think that most everything should be OK, we probably lost a few blooms that were touching the covers. Last Friday we were re-deploying a cover that had blown up and I found a red ripe Strawberry the size of my hand! I guess it weighed at least a pound, maybe two. Yes, being the loving husband I am, I took it straight to my wife and let her eat it. (farmer chivalry!) She said it was wonderful.
We have now warmed up a bit but it has turned off cloudy and damp with drizzle forecast for the rest of the week. I would like to pull up the covers but we can't until they dry out. We take a risk of ruining them if we roll them up wet. So for now imagine the Strawberry plants nice and cozy under the covers.
I did go to Lex. last week to help plant potatoes. After we planted the potatoes, guess what we did? Yes, picked Strawberries! We have two rows of the Camarosa variety that are ready to go. No, we did not pick a lot but it was plenty to wet our appetite. I still believe the Lexington farm will be open before the Marble Falls farm. We are shooting to open the Lexington farm Saturday March 11th! I don't know if the Marble Falls farm will be open for spring break but am fairly confident that the Lexington farm will be.
As I was watching the Olympics last night I began to think "what if we had a Sweet Berry Farm Olympics?" What would be the events? who would win? So I imagined we had the games and here are the winners.
2006 Sweet Berry Farmlympics
Best score on milking Miss Bessie (the fake cow) --- Josh
First one to have a multi thousand dollar void on the register ---- Tina (this was a close race with several right behind)
First one to get to the Golf Cart to ride around --- Tie between Raelynn and Lacy
First one to try to jump the golf cart and get high centered --- Lacy
First one to run the Golf Cart into a picnic table in the wide open (and then look around to see if anyone saw) -- Lacy
First one to get out of feeding the animals ---- another tie between Raelynn and Lacy
Quickest time in and out of the Port O Can - Gretchen (it is the WINTER farmlympics you know)
"Last one to the gate has to close it" event ---- David (winner?)
and then there are the Tractor events which Dan was the undisputed champion. there is one tractor event that Dan won in the 2002 farmlympics but was defeated in the 2006 games. That is the "Run into a building with the Frost Cover Roller" event. This was a tie between Carl running into the Kitchen and Raelynn running into the barn. So we had to change the event somewhat to "Person hitting a building the hardest with the Frost Cover Roller on the back of the Tractor" event --- which Carl emerged as the champion.
Monday February 06, 2006 --- We went to Lexington today ---- "katy bar the door", the Strawberries are coming! we covered up most of the field with frost covers. The plants are way too advanced to risk them getting froze. The Lexington farm will have ripe Strawberries before the Marble Falls farm ------ maybe by the first of March! The weather over the next three weeks is crucial. A little cold weather is OK, we just don't want any extreme temps.
We also covered up the plants in Marble Falls. The Marble Falls farm is a good 4 to 5 degrees colder than the Lexington farm. The plants in both locations look good and we are hoping for a stellar crop. We almost have the potatoes planted, a little early according to the Almanac. I guess we will find out if planting in the wrong phase of the moon is a bad thing or not. I suppose we should wait but now seems to be a convenient time.
the excitement is looming, and so is my anxiety level. It is about to be make or break time .......... I know what the Bible says about worrying, but it is still hard to stop.
Monday January 30, 2006 --- I hate it when that happens! Yesterday I opened the door on my way to church and was met with a cold slap in the face (no, not from my wife). I said "whoa, it's cold out here ........ I wonder how cold it is?" It did not take long to answer that question "hey, there's ice on the porch! Was it supposed to get cold last night?" It is a nuisance to get surprised like that We did have a few open blooms on the Strawberry plants and if I would have guessed it was going to get that cold we probably would have covered them up. Not to worry, the little freeze did not hurt us much. It is still a little early and surely we are going to have a cold spell in February. Remember, it takes about 35 days in cooler weather to turn a blossom into a ripe fruit. Our target to open would be in mid March so mid February on is the most critical time.
I mentioned it was 29 yesterday morning --- by afternoon it was 82. A 53 degree difference --- that's incredible. But not near as amazing as the fact that most of January has been that way. Mom picked a couple of pounds of ripe Strawberries today. These are just a few berries that escaped the freezes as a bloom. The older the berry gets, the colder the temperature it can take. Now don't rush out to the farm just yet. I imagine she won't pick another ripe berry for a week or two.
Hoping to build the potato beds tomorrow. Soon after we will get those spuds in the ground. Dad has been busy cutting the seed potato's. (if you are not familiar with this process ---- the seed potato is simply a tater like the one you buy in the store. Each dimple (eye) will yield a tater plant when buried. The idea is to take the tater and cut it in chunks so there is only an eye or two on each piece).
the excitement is growing!
Tuesday January 24, 2006 --- Things are looking up around here. I suppose now is the time to get ready for Spring because it is quickly approaching, I can feel it in the air and can see it in the plants. We will start protecting blooms now ----- maybe by mid March we'll be picking? the excitement begins to build.
Thursday January 19, 2006 --- Sorry about the lack of updates, I have been too lazy to do anything lately. That's about to come to an end, time to get back into the swing of things around here. Yep, break time is over. Time to get out of the Recliner and work up a little dirt. Goin to have to get up with the Chickens and plow them fields ------------------------ I don't want to get in a hurry to get busy, so I better take it slow. Maybe we will get up with the chickens next week (oh yeah, Raccoons ate all our chickens, guess that gets us off that hook). I guess we will just have to get up with the goats ...... wonder when that is?
I went to the Lexington farm today. While driving the back roads I realized something, my family has finally reached true 'farmer' status (since my wife and I do not come from direct 'farmer families' I suppose up to now we have just been "wanna be's"). How do you know when you reach 'farmer' status? at least two ways: 1.when you have a barn three times the size of the house you live in! 2.when your tractor is more expensive than both your cars put together.
I mentioned the Lexington farm ---- it looks great. The East side of Austin (Lexington) is much warmer than the West side (Marble Falls). On average I would say it is a good 4 to 5 degrees warmer in Lexington. That would explain why the Strawberry plants are larger and even have a few blooms on them. We know how quickly things can change but at this moment it appears that we will have a boomer Strawberry crop in Lexington. We are approaching the 2006 season with a great deal of optimism.
Things are looking equally as impressive at the Marble Falls farm. While not quite as advanced as in Lexington, the plants are beginning to show some growth and are in fine shape heading into the coming months. The temperature over the next few weeks is crucial in determining an 'open' date. This is the time of the year when we check about five different weather forecasts each day.
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Hours:
Thursday: 8:30-5:30 Friday: 8:30-5:30 Saturday: 8:30-5:30 Sunday: 11:00 - 5:00 Monday: 8:30-5:30 Tuesday: 8:30-5:30 Wednesday: CLOSED Phone: (830)-798-1462 E-mail: info@sweetberryfarm.com |
We accept CASH , CHECK OR CREDIT
NO PETS ALLOWED. Click the Facebook link above to visit our page!
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Address:
1801 FM 1980 Marble Falls, Texas 78654 |