Lots of berries for u-pick on Monday June 29

We are opening for u-pick strawberries tomorrow morning (Monday June 29) starting at 7 am. This is the later part of berry season There are so many thousands of ripe berries out in the patch that I do not expect to have the patch all picked till late in the day tomorrow but one never knows for sure how many people will come.
The picking pattern we are using is a random one to allow for the best possible social distancing. I do not care which patch you pick in or where you start even if it is smack in the middle somewhere. What I do care about is that you give other groups of pickers reasonable space and that wherever you start picking that you pick all the ripe berries that are in the section of row you work. A section of row needs to be either picked clean or it should not be picked at all. Roaming, grazing type picking is not OK. We will be keeping track of which parts of the patch have ripe berries and be helping incoming pickers find good spots throughout the day.
We did not finish the patch Saturday even though there was a near record amount of berries picked by many hundreds of pickers with people in the patch for the entire day. ( I badly underestimated the patch on Friday) As is normal for the second week of the season the berries are smaller than they are early in the season. There are still some green berries left; the season should last till the 4th of July before gleaning, but the question of how these later berries will size up is still open.
We had a lovely rain shower this afternoon. To give you an idea of how much this means look at these numbers. It gave 6/10 inch x 27,150 gallons per acre inch x 20 acres =325,800 gallons of precious water on a desperately thirsty garden. I hope this is the beginning of more!!
Hours for u-pick are Monday starting at 7 AM; Wednesday, start 2 PM (no morning picking on Wednesdays); Saturday, start 7 AM. This repeats through out the whole season. The patch closes when the berries are all picked or at 6 PM.
When you arrive you do not need to stop at the stand to weigh your containers if you know the empty weight already. Also you do not need to stop if you are picking into standard Quart or gallon containers.

You have the option of bringing your own containers or buying empties from us.(Quart boxes 25 cents each or $20 per hundred. Gallon buckets$2.50 each.)
As you walk out to the patch you will be expected to walk on the right side of the field roads. Same when you are returning. We will do our best to spread groups apart in the field. I expect family/friend groups to stay together as much as is reasonable to allow for social distancing where it matters. NO DOGS in the field or stand areas.
Pricing (u-pick) $3.50 per Quart; $24 for 8 quart tray and $10 for 4 liquid quart buckets, water pitchers, bowls and other similar sized containers. All containers are expected to well filled but not heaped. We will adjust prices up or down as needed for over or under-filled containers. By the pound price is $2/# (limited to bigger containers or larger amounts); By using volume rather than weight when it makes sense we can bypass the stand for most of the berries and reduce congestion. Daniel

Picking info for Saturday June 27 Time corrected

We are opening for u-pick strawberries tomorrow morning (Saturday June 27) starting at 7 am. The previous email I sent had a wrong opening time, ignore that time. This is the later part of berry season (Wednesday was the peak) There are many thousands of ripe berries but the size is running down quickly so containers will fill slower. There are still some green berries left; the season should last at least though next week before gleaning, but the question of how these later berries will size up is still open. We need rain. Irrigation helps a lot but is not the same as a rainy day.
Hours for u-pick are Monday starting at 7 AM; Wednesday, start 2 PM (no morning picking on Wednesdays); Saturday, start 7 AM. This repeats through out the whole season. The patch closes when the berries are all picked or at 6 PM.
When you arrive you do not need to stop at the stand to weigh your containers if you know the empty weight already. Also you do not need to stop if you are picking into standard Quart or gallon containers.
You have the option of bringing your own containers or buying empties from us.(Quart boxes 25 cents each or $20 per hundred. Gallon buckets$2.50 each.)
As you walk out to the patch you will be expected to walk on the right side of the field roads. Same when you are returning. We will do our best to spread groups apart in the field. I expect family/friend groups to stay together as much as is reasonable to allow for social distancing where it matters. NO DOGS in the field or stand areas.
Pricing (u-pick) $3.50 per Quart; $24 for 8 quart tray and $10 for 4 liquid quart buckets, water pitchers, bowls and other similar sized containers. All containers are expected to well filled but not heaped. We will adjust prices up or down as needed for over or under-filled containers. By the pound price is $2/# (limited to bigger containers or larger amounts); By using volume rather than weight when it makes sense we can bypass the stand for most of the berries and reduce congestion. Daniel

Posted by: Daniel Martin at Friday June 26, 2020 02:18 PM EDT Edit Entry (Expires June 26, 2030)

Weblog Entry

We are opening for u-pick strawberries tomorrow morning (Saturday June 27) starting at 7 am. This is the later part of berry season (Wednesday was the peak) There are many thousands of ripe berries but the size is running down quickly so containers will fill slower. There are still some green berries left; the season should last at least though next week before gleaning, but the question of how these later berries will size up is still open. We need rain. Irrigation helps a lot but is not the same as a rainy day.
Hours for u-pick are Monday starting at 7 AM; Wednesday, start 2 PM (no morning picking on Wednesdays); Saturday, start 7 AM. This repeats through out the whole season. The patch closes when the berries are all picked or at 6 PM.
When you arrive you do not need to stop at the stand to weigh your containers if you know the empty weight already. Also you do not need to stop if you are picking into standard Quart or gallon containers.
You have the option of bringing your own containers or buying empties from us.(Quart boxes 25 cents each or $20 per hundred. Gallon buckets$2.50 each.)
As you walk out to the patch you will be expected to walk on the right side of the field roads. Same when you are returning. We will do our best to spread groups apart in the field. I expect family/friend groups to stay together as much as is reasonable to allow for social distancing where it matters. NO DOGS in the field or stand areas.
Pricing (u-pick) $3.50 per Quart; $24 for 8 quart tray and $10 for 4 liquid quart buckets, water pitchers, bowls and other similar sized containers. All containers are expected to well filled but not heaped. We will adjust prices up or down as needed for over or under-filled containers. By the pound price is $2/# (limited to bigger containers or larger amounts); By using volume rather than weight when it makes sense we can bypass the stand for most of the berries and reduce congestion. Daniel

U-pick update for Wednesday June 24

We are opening for u-pick strawberries tomorrow afternoon (Wednesday June 24) starting at 2 PM. NO MORNING PICKING ON WEDNESDAY! Picking conditions are good with an estimated 3,000+ lbs of berries ripe. It looks to me like this is likely to be the peak picking for this season. The size is already dropping off though. There are still a good amount of green berries left; the season should last for another 10 days or so before gleaning but the question of how these later berries will size up is still open. We need rain. Irrigation helps a lot but is not the same as a rainy day.
Hours for u-pick are Monday starting at 7 AM; Wednesday, start 2 PM (no morning picking on Wednesdays); Saturday, start 7 AM. This repeats through out the whole season. The patch closes when the berries are all picked or at 6 PM.
When you arrive you do not need to stop at the stand to weigh your containers if you know the empty weight already. Also you do not need to stop if you are picking into standard Quart or gallon containers.
You have the option of bringing your own containers or buying empties from us.(Quart boxes 25 cents each or $20 per hundred. Gallon buckets$2.50 each.)
As you walk out to the patch you will be expected to walk on the right side of the field roads. Same when you are returning. We will do our best to spread groups apart in the field. I expect family/friend groups to stay together as much as is reasonable to allow for social distancing where it matters. NO DOGS in the field or stand areas.
Pricing (u-pick) $3.50 per Quart; $24 for 8 quart tray and $10 for 4 liquid quart buckets, water pitchers, bowls and other similar sized containers. All containers are expected to well filled but not heaped. We will adjust prices up or down as needed for over or under-filled containers. By the pound price is $2/# (limited to bigger containers or larger amounts); By using volume rather than weight when it makes sense we can bypass the stand for most of the berries and reduce congestion. Daniel

U-pick update for Monday June 22

We are opening for u-pick strawberries tomorrow morning (Monday June 22) starting at 7 AM. This heat is ripening them fast. Picking conditions will be very good with an estimated 3,000 + lbs of berries ripe. If I am reading my patch right this week will be the peak week and it looks to me like the conditions are set to have an intense, short strawberry season.
Will we have picked berries on the stand tomorrow? We will be picking what we can and I expect intermittent availability of picked berries at the stand.. The chances of having lots of picked berries at the stand for purchase is much higher on Tuesday afternoon when we are not dealing with u-pick. The price for picked berries is $6.50 per quart or $40 for 8 quarts (when supply allows)

There are some changes to allow for better social distancing-* read this information all the way through.* During busy times there will be an outside express checkout option for berries that are being bought by volume.
Hours for u-pick are Monday starting at 7 AM; Wednesday, start 2 PM (no morning picking on Wednesdays); Saturday, start 7 AM. This repeats through out the whole season. The patch closes when the berries are all picked or at 6 PM.
When you arrive you do not need to stop at the stand to weigh your containers if you know the empty weight already. Also you do not need to stop if you are picking into standard Quart or gallon containers.
You have the option of bringing your own containers or buying empties from us.(Quart boxes 25 cents each or $20 per hundred. Gallon buckets$2.50 each.)
As you walk out to the patch you will be expected to walk on the right side of the field roads. Same when you are returning. We will do our best to spread groups apart in the field. I expect family/friend groups to stay together as much as is reasonable to allow for social distancing where it matters. NO DOGS in the field or stand areas.
Pricing (u-pick) $3.50 per Quart; $24 for 8 quart tray and $10 for 4 liquid quart buckets, water pitchers, bowls and other similar sized containers. All containers are expected to well filled but not heaped. We will adjust prices up or down as needed for over or under-filled containers. By the pound price is $2/# (limited to bigger containers or larger amounts); By using volume rather than weight when it makes sense we can bypass the stand for most of the berries and reduce congestion. Daniel

Open for u-pick Saturday June 20

We are opening for u-pick strawberries tomorrow morning (Saturday June 20) starting at 7 AM. This heat is ripening them fast. Picking conditions will be very good with an estimated 2-3,000 lbs of berries ripe. This is an unusually quick start during a year that is unusual in many ways.

There are some changes to allow for better social distancing-* read this information all the way through.* During busy times there will be an outside express checkout option for berries that are being bought by volume.
Hours for u-pick are Monday starting at 7 AM; Wednesday, start 2 PM (no morning picking on Wednesdays); Saturday, start 7 AM. This repeats through out the whole season. The patch closes when the berries are all picked or at 6 PM.
When you arrive you do not need to stop at the stand to weigh your containers if you know the empty weight already. Also you do not need to stop if you are picking into standard Quart or gallon containers.
You have the option of bringing your own containers or buying empties from us.(Quart boxes 25 cents each or $20 per hundred. Gallon buckets$2.50 each.)
As you walk out to the patch you will be expected to walk on the right side of the field roads. Same when you are returning. We will do our best to spread groups apart in the field. I expect family/friend groups to stay together as much as is reasonable to allow for social distancing where it matters. NO DOGS in the field or stand areas.
Pricing (u-pick) $3.50 per Quart; $24 for 8 quart tray and $10 for 4 liquid quart buckets, water pitchers, bowls and other similar sized containers. All containers are expected to well filled but not heaped. We will adjust prices up or down as needed for over or under-filled containers. By the pound price is $2/# (limited to bigger containers or larger amounts); By using volume rather than weight when it makes sense we can bypass the stand for most of the berries and reduce congestion. Daniel

Info for 2020 u-pick strawberry season

The strawberries are growing nicely. This cooler weather is really good for them as it slows ripening and allows time for sizing and for the plants to make sugars in the leaves which then move to the berries as they ripen. We are faithfully watering them as there has been way to little rain to please strawberries. At the moment I am seeing a bit of color on a few berries. I judge that we should be ready for the first u-pick day on Monday June 22. There is a slight chance that I can open a few limited spots in the patch on Saturday for a moment.
There are some changes to allow for better social distancing- read this information all the way through. During busy times there will be an outside express checkout option for berries that are being bought by volume.
Hours for u-pick are Monday starting at 7 AM; Wednesday, start 2 PM (no morning picking on Wednesdays); Saturday, start 7 AM. This repeats through out the whole season. The patch closes when the berries are all picked or at 6 PM.
When you arrive you do not need to stop at the stand to weigh your containers if you know the empty weight already. Also you do not need to stop if you are picking into standard Quart or gallon containers.
You have the option of bringing your own containers or buying empties from us.(Quart boxes 25 cents each or $20 per hundred. Gallon buckets$2.50 each.)
As you walk out to the patch you will be expected to walk on the right side of the field roads. Same when you are returning. We will do our best to spread groups apart in the field. I expect family/friend groups to stay together as much as is reasonable to allow for social distancing where it matters. NO DOGS in the field or stand areas.
Pricing (u-pick) $3.50 per Quart; $24 for 8 quart tray and $10 for 4 liquid quart buckets, water pitchers, bowls and other similar sized containers. All containers are expected to well filled but not heaped. We will adjust prices up or down as needed for over or under-filled containers. By the pound price is $2/# (limited to bigger containers or larger amounts); By using volume rather than weight when it makes sense we can bypass the stand for most of the berries and reduce congestion.

U-pick Strawberries starting in about 10 days

The strawberry plants have lots of green berries on them and are sizing now. I expect harvest to start in about 10 days give or take a bit. We will be open for u-pick when that time comes. I will write again in a few days with more strawberry u-pick details.
The asparagus is abundant at the moment. Now is the time to get your fill as asparagus season will be ending early next week.Lettuce and scallions are also plenty.
It does not look like we will have beef beyond a tiny bit of stock that was left from last fall at the stand at least during the early part of the summer because it appears that the few USDA plants are doing processing for small farms are booked full into next year. (another example of regulations helping to crush small farms).
We butchered several beefs early this spring and we have several hundred lbs of hamburger beyond what we need for our own table. This is available from us privately (not at the stand) It is not approved for human consumption by the government but would be good for pet food etc. I would like a $4 per lb donation to help cover the costs of growing these animals.

The fields are very dry here. The rain in the past weeks has been very hit or miss in the area and for us it has been miss. From March 1st till now we have had a total of 3.1 inches of rain. (25% of average) Irrigation is the difference between crop failure and not with these local semi arid conditions. Just a few miles away toward Parishville it has given near 4 inches just in May alone. Our irrigation ponds are alarmingly low and this is still June. Pray for rain for those of us that need it.. Daniel

Bulk asparagus

It was cold and then it got hot. After a record late start the asparagus is growing quickly . In the past week we cut 52 tubs of asparagus with about 40 lbs in each one.
Now is the time to put asparagus by for the future by freezing pickling etc.if you are going to do it this year. It looks to me like the season will be shorter than normal with the ending time the 2nd or 3rd week of June just like is normal. We usually end asparagus just about the time strawberries start. The strawberries are in early bloom now. Judging by this the timing on the strawberry season is likely to be somewhere near the normal time. The plants are nice and healthy and in general all looks normal in the strawberry patch. We need rain though. We irrigate them as needed. Daniel

Asparagus is ready!

Asparagus season is finally here! I am enjoying not having cold wind blowing all the time! Yesterday we cut the first 100 lbs of asparagus and this morning we cut 400 lbs. To put into perspective how late this is for asparagus- 18 out of the last 20 years that we have been doing asparagus we cut the first week of May. Last year started around Mothers day. This year it is almost Memorial day. Last week we were worrying about if the plants would freeze in the high tunnels and had days of snow. Now the weather forecast looks like it just might be safe to put tomatoes, cucumbers basil and everything else out. A farmers life is not dull! Enjoy the summer weather. Daniel