Ahhh... the weather.  I used to think it was weird how farmers talked about the weather all the time. I mean, really, have you nothing better to talk of? And simply put... now that I am a farmer too... no! Really, life out here is all about the weather-- trying to figure out when it is going to rain so that we can plan weeding and other field work. And when it doesn't rain, what we could possibly do to help the crops along.

Speaking of weather... finally we've received some much needed moisture and the strawberries are ready!  Yes, that's right we are opening for strawberries!  Monday, May 28 will be our first day open. We will be picking Annapolis (our early variety) to start with and then after a week to a week and a half we will have the Jewel variety available as well. Hours will be Monday thru Saturday 8 am - 7 pm.  Cost for pick your own berries is $1.75 per pound. Buy in bulk --pick more than 75 lbs and buy them for just $1.50 per pound. Bring your own containers this year and receive a 5 cent per pound container discount.  Sorry, no container discounts on bulk orders.

If you have questions about picking conditions or anything else, feel free to give us a call at 507-252-1309.

It has been some time now since I last posted an update here... and no, it is not for lack of adventures and activity going on out here at the farm, but rather for lack of time to write about that activity.  The field work has been non stop since finishing the grape pruning... with pick up of all the grapevines, planting of the almost 5700 new strawberry plants, weeding, weeding and more weeding everywhere and even a bit more pruning in the raspberry fields. We are finally starting to see a bit of the "fruits of our labors" as the strawberry plants are full of white berries just waiting to ripen.  Even after the week (almost 2 weeks ago now) of 3 or so inches of rain, we are again in need of some moisture. Strawberries love to have that rain when they are putting on their fruit and ripening -- makes for extra juicy berries. 

Two of our little helpers sitting atop the strawberry planter!

Thanks to our hard working 7 and 9 year old sons and lots of hours in the fields ourselves, we are finally starting to put a dent in the weeds in the strawberry fields... but they will never be weed free... it's just the nature of the beast.

Even with a few weeds here and there, the strawberries should be superb this year. We are anticipating 10-14 more days before opening with strawberry season and will update our website, blog and phone message with an exact opening date once we have one. Until then, if you need me, I'll be the one out in the fields bent over pulling weeds while talking to the baby in the carrier sitting next to me!