Heritage Family Farms

Closing for the Season

2011-07-11T12:40:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend the birds and beetles really went to work in the field and ate or damaged what was left of the crop. There aren't enough berries left to justify opening Tuesday evening as we had planned. We are sorry for the inconvenience if you were planning a trip out to the farm. In addition, with the intense heat we are having it probably isn't wise to be out picking.

We want to thank everyone for another great year and say we look forward to the 2012 season.

Next picking time..........

2011-07-09T10:31:00.000-07:00

The next opportunity for picking will be Tuesday evening July 12 from 5-8pm.
The Late Blue berries are ready for picking so be sure to come out and get a bucket!

Saturday picking

2011-07-08T10:31:00.000-07:00

Start your weekend off right by coming out to pick some fresh berries. The farm will be open from 7:30 until 12 noon. It's the end of the season so don't put it off any longer!

We are not taking orders.......

The Late Blue berries are ready for picking............

We have honey in stock but it won't last long....................

Friday July 8th

2011-07-07T19:40:00.000-07:00

There is yet another opportunity for you to get blueberries in 2011. The farm will be open tomorrow from 7:30 until 12 noon. Won't blueberries be wonderful on your cereal in the dead of winter when temps in the mid 90's are a faint memory? Come out and pick a bucket full. Time is running out!

Thursday evening

2011-07-06T10:40:00.000-07:00

The farm will be open Thursday July 7 from 5-8pm. Get berries while you can because the season is coming to a close.
We are not taking pre-picked orders any longer.

Lost and found: we have 3 pair of sunglasses, 1 water bottle, 1 pink bucket, and 1 pink cloth sun hat. Come by or call the farm to arrange to pick them up if they are yours.

Wednesday picking..........

2011-07-05T18:58:00.001-07:00

There are still berries but it takes longer to fill a bucket. The end of the season is coming fast so if you need berries be sure and get out to the farm soon!
We'll be open tomorrow morning from 7:30 until 12.

We are filling orders as best we can but we are no longer taking new orders.

The Late Blue berries are ready............

Late Blue's

2011-07-05T08:07:00.000-07:00

The Late Blue berries are ready for picking. The birds and the bugs have figured that out so if you favor these berries then you need to get to the farm ASAP to get some!
We are open tonight from 5-8pm.

Happy Fourth of July!

2011-07-02T11:28:00.005-07:00

The farm will be closed Monday July 4th. Have a safe and happy holiday.

We will be open Tuesday evening July 5 from 5-8pm.

Saturday picking

2011-07-01T10:52:00.001-07:00

Come early and beat the heat. We'll be open Saturday July 2 from 7:30 until 12 noon.

Friday picking

2011-06-30T18:58:00.000-07:00

If you get out early, before the heat sets in for the day, you can get some really nice berries. We'll be open Friday, July 1 from 7:30 until 12 noon!

July is National Blueberry month! Celebrate by getting a bucket of fresh picked berries that you can freeze and enjoy all winter long when the hot days of July are long gone!

Thursday Picking

2011-06-29T11:18:00.000-07:00

The farm will be open for picking Thursday evening from 5-8pm. It's going to be hot so please
come prepared with water, hats, etc.

We still have plenty of berries so there's no reason not get your supply....especially before the Fourth of July!

Wednesday picking

2011-06-28T19:44:00.000-07:00

There are still some good berries but you'll have to look a little harder for them than at the beginning
of the season. Don't let that stop you though because you can still get a great bucket of berries. There
are many more that are ripening so the supply will last a couple more weeks.
The Late Blue's are ripening and should be ready in a week or so. We'll let you know.

Wednesday, June 29th we'll be picking from 7:30 until 12.

It's going to be hot so be sure to bring water and a hat!

Evening Picking

2011-06-27T17:19:00.001-07:00

It's supposed to be cooler Tuesday so come out and get some berries.
The farm will be open Tuesday evening June 28 from 5-8pm.

Monday

2011-06-25T13:11:00.000-07:00

All this sun and heat is good for something..........it ripens berries!
Monday June 27 we will be picking from 7:30 until 12 noon.

The Fourth of July is right around the corner. Don't forget to get some
fresh blueberries for the occasion.

Saturday picking and more!

2011-06-24T11:19:00.000-07:00

Yes, you can still get fresh picked blueberries. No, you haven't missed the 2011 season.
Yes, the farm will be open for picking Saturday June 25 from 7:30 until 12.

Okay, we need to discuss number 27 on the "List of things you can do with blueberries". I'm in the mood to discuss this one because it's easy and today is Friday and all things on Friday's need to be easy. Easy sets you up for a great weekend so here we go.
This is cheesecake with blueberry sauce. As anyone knows blueberry cheesecake will be a hit no matter who you serve it to so this is a no brainer when faced with "What will I serve for dessert?"

If you want Easy Peezy Lemon Squeezy then purchase a frozen cheesecake and take it from there.
Top your purchased, or homemade, cheese cake with the following sauce:

BLUEBERRY SAUCE

1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbs. cornstarch
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup blueberries--fresh or frozen
1/2 tsp. lemon juice

In medium saucepan combine sugar and cornstarch.
Add water and blueberries. Cook and stir over medium heat until thick and bubbly.
Cook and stir 2 minutes more. Stir in lemon juice.
You can mash the berries for a little thicker sauce but leave some whole.
Allow sauce to cool before spooning over cheesecake slices.

Sit back and enjoy the raves! But, don't tell anyone how simple it was!

Enjoy the weekend...........

Friday Picking

2011-06-23T18:50:00.000-07:00

We'll be open for picking Friday June 24 from 7:30 until 12. The weekend's coming.............got berries?

Lost and Found: We have 3 pair sunglasses, 1 water bottle, 1 Off bug clip-on.
If you've lost any of these items we have them waiting for you in the office.

Thursday picking

2011-06-22T11:02:00.000-07:00

The farm will be open Thursday June 23 from 5-8pm.
There are still a lot of great berries left to pick so be sure you don't miss out.

Most frequently asked question: "How long does the blueberry season last?"

We usually have berries until mid-July and often to the end of July. Of course that depends on
how many berries are picked and how many berry loving critters show up. Last year we had
a large population of bugs (June beetles, Japanese beetles, wasps) move in at the end of July and
we had to close.

Open Wednesday

2011-06-21T19:10:00.000-07:00

What does low humidity and temps in the 80's mean??? It'll be a good hair day!
Really.
But, it also means conditions are good for picking berries. None of that sweating going on.

Tomorrow looks like another great day to pick. Before the humidity climbs back up and your
hair goes to frizz.
Come out tomorrow morning. We'll be open from 7:30 until 12 noon.

Tuesday picking

2011-06-20T10:51:00.000-07:00

The farm will be open Tuesday June 21 from 5-8pm. There are still a lot of berries to be picked so don't miss out!

This picture has nothing to do with berry picking. I just think she's cute.

Monday Picking

2011-06-18T11:20:00.000-07:00

Monday, June 20 will be another opportunity for you to come out and pick some fresh blueberries. We'll be open from 7:30 until 12 noon.
This is a good time to get stocked up for Fourth of July picnics! Blueberries, strawberries and whipped cream.....easy red, white and blue dessert!
See you soon...............

Saturday picking!

2011-06-17T10:27:00.000-07:00

The farm will be open Saturday, June 18 from 7:30 until 12. There are lots of great berries just waiting for a new home!

If you'd like to adopt some you can choose your own or will chose some for you! Either way you win!
Hope to see you soon.

Open Friday

2011-06-16T19:17:00.000-07:00

Little people, little hands, little buckets..............BIG cuteness!
Bring your little people out to the farm for some fun picking blueberries!
The farm will be open Friday morning from 7:30 until 12 noon.

Day 3 Picking Report

2011-06-15T11:43:00.000-07:00

This has been the picking report for day 3 of the 2011 season.
The end.

The farm will be open for day 4 picking: Thursday evening from 5-8pm.
Hurry on out.

Open Wednesday

2011-06-14T18:58:00.000-07:00

It was a great evening for picking berries. A storm moved through and we had to call people out of the field but it soon passed and picking resumed. Our policy is "better safe than sorry" when it comes to lightening. But, temps were cooler than they have been so that made for some nice berry picking.

The farm will be open for picking Wednesday morning from 7:30 until 12 noon.

We have lots of frozen berries that were picked fresh this season and have been sorted for stems, leaves, bugs etc.

Can't wait to see you at the farm!

Open Tuesday evening

2011-06-13T14:48:00.000-07:00

The berries are big and juicy and plentiful so be sure to get your supply soon!

The farm will be open Tuesday evening June 14 from 5-8pm.

Opening Day!

2011-06-11T17:54:00.000-07:00

The time has finally come, the berries are ready for picking!! The farm will be open Monday, June 13 from 7:30 until 12:00 noon.

There are lots of sweet, juicy berries so be sure to come out and get your supply!

Some thing new this year.......the farm now has almost 400 new blueberry plants. It will be a few years before they are producing enough for customer picking but we're excited that we'll have more berries for everyone.

Hope to see you soon!

Opening Soon

2011-05-26T06:30:00.000-07:00

Things are looking good at the farm for another good year of berry picking. We're not sure when opening day will be......sometime mid June. We'll post here, and on Facebook, when opening day will be.

We are saddened by the effects of the recent tornado in Joplin. Our sympathy and prayers go out to all who were impacted by it. I've seen the overwhelming numbers of volunteers and pray that those needing help are getting it. We live in a great community. I was among volunteers on Monday and Tuesday and can say that I was so encouraged by the cooperative, amiable attitudes I saw in everyone. In the midst of such chaos the organizers have done a great job getting so many people where they need to be. I love Missouri and I'm so proud to be part of a great community like Joplin!

Blueberry Cinnamon Rolls

2010-10-12T18:18:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd start off our recipe blogging with a recipe everyone will love!
It's fall and that's a perfect time for baking something that will fill your house with delicious smells.

We are going to be posting two or three recipes each month as we cook our way through the Heritage Family Farms Simply Delicious Blueberry Recipes book.
Hope you enjoy making at least a few of these delicious dishes.

BLUEBERRY CINNAMON ROLLS
Southern Living

1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons butter or margarine
1/4 ounce dry yeast (I used 2 tsp.)
1/4 cup warm water (105-115 degrees)
2 1/4 cups flour, divided
1 egg
2 Tablespoons butter or margarine (softened)
`/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
1 Tablespoon butter or margarine, melted
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
2 Tablespoons milk

Directions:
Combine 1/4 cup milk, sugar, salt, and 3 T. butter in a saucepan: heat until butter melts.
Cool to 105 degrees or so. See note below:

Let me interject something here about baking with yeast. You can use a thermometer and make sure the temperature is right but that's too much trouble for me so I have always followed the advice I got from a veteran bread maker some 20 years ago. "The liquid for yeast should be the same temperature you would bathe an infant in. If it's too hot or cold for a baby then it's too hot or cold for yeast". I've been baking homemade bread every week for almost 20 years so trust me on this, it works.

Dissolve yeast in warm water in a large mixing bowl; let stand 5 minutes until foamy.
Stir in milk mixture, 1 1/2 cups flour, and the egg; beat on medium speed.
Stir in remaining 3/4 cup flour.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic ( about 8
minutes.) Or you can use your Bosh type mixer and save your arms! (I don't usually flour the counter as I don't want to add more flour to my dough. I butter the counter and knead the dough that way)

Place in a well greased bowl, turn dough over so the top is greased.
Cover and let rise in a warm place (85 degrees or so) You can warm up your oven for a few minutes and put the bowl in if the room is too cold. Just don't leave the oven on very long.
Let rise until almost double in bulk...about 1 hour.

Punch dough down; turn out onto lightly floured surface.

Roll dough into 12x8 inch rectangle; spread with 2 T. butter. (You can use more if, like me, you believe that butter makes the world a better place to live in! I used more!)
Combine brown sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle mixture over dough.
Sprinkle with blueberries. (If you use frozen blueberries you need to run them under warm water to thaw them out. Then you need to drain them on a paper towel so most of the moisture is removed. This way there won't be excess moisture to cause soggy spots in your rolls.)
Roll dough beginning at the long edge.
Cut into 1 inch slices; place slices cut side down in 8x8 pan.
Brush tops with 1 T. melted butter (or a little more)
Cover and let rise in a warm place. About 40 minutes.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes.

Combine powdered sugar and milk and stir well.
Drizzle over warm rolls.

Now, remove a roll from the pan and put a slather of butter on top (you know why!), get a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy! These really were very nice cinnamon rolls and the addition of blueberries makes them extra special.

Let me know how you like them.

CLOSED for the season......

2010-07-20T09:26:00.000-07:00

We are sorry to disappoint those of you who were planning to come out later this week and pick but your picking experience would be highly unpleasant.

Right now there are an abundance of critters flocking to get the remaining berries.

This is a Green June Beetle and NO that is not my hand holding it. On my "100 Creatures that I Adore" list these rank at number 879. I understand that they have their place in the food chain but it bothers me that when it comes to blueberries I have to compete with them. But apparently blueberries are one of their favorite foods because they are all over the bushes. I hold the belief that sucking blueberry juice intoxicates these beetles because when they try to fly away, which they do as soon as you disturb the branches, they fly like Otis Campbell is at the controls. This means that they will usually hit you in the face, head, legs or feet. They may end up in your hair or worse yet, your shirt! All of these factors make picking less than fun. They have relatives that have joined them.

The Japanese beetles have landed as well.

Did you know that in your home garden you can hand pick these beetles (wear gloves because they feel creepy when you touch them) into a bucket of water. If you check your plants early in the morning or late in the evening you'll find them lounging on the edges of the leaves. They are lazy at these times of day and won't fly away when you reach for them. After you get them in the water you can feed them to your chickens, if you have any, and they'll thank you profusely! If not, just dump them out and squish them!

We want to thank each of you who came out to the farm this year. It's always fun getting to know our customers. We appreciate each of you and look forward to seeing you next year.

We do have a limited number of frozen berries that we'll sell on a first come basis. Call 540-0866 to reserve some and get an appointment for pick up.

In the meantime we are going to be making some blueberry recipes and blogging about it here so check in when you can and see what's cookin'. We'll keep you up-to-date on what's happening at the farm as well.

Have a great summer!

CLOSED Monday through..........

2010-07-17T16:56:00.000-07:00

The farm will be closed until later next week. We are thinking of opening Thursday evening or Friday morning or both or.......

We'll let you know so check back.

Thanks for your patience..........

OPEN Saturday

2010-07-16T14:43:00.000-07:00

The farm will be open Saturday, July 17 from 7:30 until 12 noon.

There are still a lot of nice berries on the field that need to find a good home! It will take you longer to fill a bucket but you'll be rewarded with nice, sweet blueberries. Today, six of us picked over 50 pounds in a little less than 2 hours!

For those of you who might not have noticed..........it's HOT outside! So, bring plenty of water to stay hydrated.

We will be open later in the week next week so you still have time to get more berries. Stay tuned and we'll let you know when we'll be open after tomorrow.

OPEN Friday

2010-07-15T19:15:00.000-07:00

The farm will be open Friday, July 16 from 7:30 until 12 noon.

The berries are ripening well in this heat so brave the temps and come out and get the last of the season's berries.

OPEN Thursday

2010-07-14T10:03:00.000-07:00

The farm will be open Thursday July 15 from 5-8pm.

This will be the last week for blueberries so if you have been putting off coming out to the farm now is the time!
The Lateblue's have plenty to pick.

Hope to see you there.

OPEN Wednesday

2010-07-13T18:40:00.000-07:00

The farm will be open Wednesday, July 14 from 7:30 until 12 noon.

The two rows of Lateblues have lots of berries and there are still a good number of berries on the 8 rows of Bluecrop as well.

The season is winding down so don't dely in getting out to the farm to get your berries!

OPEN Tuesday

2010-07-12T11:12:00.001-07:00

The farm will be OPEN Tuesday, July 13 from 5-8pm.

The season is coming to a close so be sure to get your yearly supply of berries before it's all over!

OPEN Monday

2010-07-11T15:38:00.000-07:00

The farm will be open Monday, July 12 from 7:30 until 12 noon so if you need more berries come out and get a supply! The berries are smaller now and not as plentiful but you can still fill your bucket with some nice berries.

Open Saturday

2010-07-09T16:30:00.000-07:00

There are still berries so if you haven't gotten all you need yet come out Saturday, July 10 and get your supply! The farm will be open from 7:30 until 12 noon.

OPEN Friday

2010-07-09T04:28:00.000-07:00

The rain has moved out so the farm will be open today from 7:30 until 12 noon.

The cooler temps and cloud cover will make picking very pleasant so come out and enjoy a morning of picking blueberries!

Closed

2010-07-08T12:52:00.000-07:00

Looks like rain again for this evening so the farm won't be open.

We'll try again tomorrow morning.

Picking Thursday evening

2010-07-07T11:30:00.000-07:00

The farm will be open Thursday, July 8 from 5-8pm...... if it's not raining.

NOTE: The LateBlue variety is ready for picking so if you like those now is the time to come out and get your supply.

Raining on our parade!

2010-07-06T13:20:00.000-07:00

It looks like the stormy weather is going to stick around so the farm will be CLOSED this evening.

If the weather is good tomorrow morning we will open at 7:30.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

DID YOU KNOW......

2010-07-05T19:09:00.000-07:00

That July is National Blueberry Month?

It's true. For the entire month of July blueberries are the celebrated fruit in the U.S.A.

It just so happens that the farm still has a good supply of blueberries to help you enjoy this unique event .

Come out Tuesday evening July 6 from 5-8pm and enjoy National Blueberry Month by picking your own blueberries.

Then you can take them home and turn them into something like this.....

Blueberry cheesecake! Could there be a better way to celebrate National Blueberry Month?

Tuesday Evening picking

2010-07-05T11:33:00.001-07:00

There are still berries to be picked so plan to come out Tuesday, July 6 from 5-8pm and get some while supplies last!

Happy 4th of July!!

2010-07-03T11:06:00.000-07:00

We hope you all have a safe, fun 4th of July.

The farm will be open Monday, July 5 from 7:30 until 12 noon. Unless it rains.

Hope to see you there.

LOST AND FOUND: Two customers left containers at the farm today. We'll hold them for you if you want to come back for them.

CLOSED Friday

2010-07-01T19:21:00.000-07:00

The farm will be closed Friday, July 2 to give the field time to ripen berries for Saturday picking! Plan to come out Saturday and get some fresh blueberries for your Fourth of July celebration!
We'll be open Saturday from 7:30 until 12 noon.

OPEN Thursday

2010-07-01T08:23:00.000-07:00

The farm will be open Thursday from 5-8pm.

Please wear appropriate shoes as it is very wet out in the patch today.

Closed Wednesday

2010-06-29T18:50:00.000-07:00

The farm will be closed Wednesday, June 30.

Not sure when we'll open again but there are still a lot of berries to ripen so don't worry if you haven't
been able to get out and get some.

We'll let you know when they are ready!

Open Tuesday

2010-06-28T11:40:00.000-07:00

The farm will be open Tuesday, June 29 from 5-8pm. There are a lot of nice berries out there so come and get enough to last through the winter!

There are some wet spots because we have the drip lines on.
There are tall weeds because we don't use herbicides.
There are juicy, sweet berries in spite of the weeds and puddles.

We also have cookbooks for sale!

Picking is going to be nice because the humidity and temps are both down.

Open Monday

2010-06-27T15:09:00.000-07:00

Yipeee! The berries are ripe for picking so we'll be open Monday, June 28 from 7:30 until 12 noon.

Hope to see you there!

Closed Saturday

2010-06-25T10:59:00.000-07:00

Lots of berries still need more time to ripen so the farm will be closed Saturday, June 26. We're hoping to be able to open Monday so stay tuned!

Enjoy your weekend. Stay cool. Check in Sunday night............

Closed Friday

2010-06-24T19:18:00.000-07:00

So sorry for the inconvenience but we will be closed Friday, June 25 to give the field time to ripen more berries. This is in hopes of having plenty of berries for picking Saturday.

There's still quite a lot of berries to ripen so there's still time to get your supply before they are gone!

Thursday Picking

2010-06-23T12:05:00.000-07:00

The farm will be open Thursday evening from 5-8pm.

I keep hoping to look at the forecast and see that temps will be in the 80's with a cool breeze of 5-7 mph. Today I finally found it! Tomorrow it will be 81 degrees with a 5-6mph breeze...........in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Sometimes you just have to think outside of the box!

So, tomorrow evening think Minnesota and it might not feel so hot. Maybe. Probably not.

Well, come prepared like these kiddos did, with some fluids. They came in hot and sweaty from picking this afternoon but they still looked so cute! Cuteness and sweat do not go together in the same sentence after a certain age but this group hasn't gotten there yet!

See you at the farm!

NOTE: Our apologies to the boys and girls we got photos of last Tuesday evening. The camera card decided to malfunction that night and all those pictures were lost. We sure wish we could have gotten the pictures posted.

Open Wednesday!

2010-06-22T19:11:00.000-07:00

The farm will be open from 7:30 until noon Wednesday, June 23.

Same weather as today........HOT. Bring plenty of water!

Lots of berries

2010-06-21T11:28:00.000-07:00

We've got lots of nice ripe berries so plan to come tomorrow evening, June 22 to pick betweem 5 and 8pm.

It's really hot so bring some water to help stay hydrated.

PICKING NOTE: Lots of people begin picking on the bushes they come to first so the front (east) side of the field is usually more picked than the middle or back of the field. You might find more berries toward the back of the rows.

Open Monday!

2010-06-19T14:46:00.000-07:00

Even little people can become experienced berry pickers! She's got some nice berries in her bucket.

We have lots of berries so plan to come out and pick a bucket or two.

We'll be open Monday from 7:30 until 12 noon.

Open Saturday

2010-06-18T11:38:00.000-07:00

We are opening the farm tomorrow but will only have 1/2 the field open. The other 1/2 still has some ripening to do.

The berries won't be as plentiful as the first few days so plan on it taking longer to fill a bucket. That's the nature of .............nature. You have to take it as it comes. All the blueberries on a bush don't ripen at the same time and there are only so many berries produced. Once those are gone there are no more for the year. So, as the season goes on there are fewer and fewer berries.

We've got lots of berries ripening so the season isn't coming to an end. Plan to come and get some yummy berries.

PICKING NOTE: We have two rows that are very ripe and very sweet but the berries are really small. Yes, it will take a lot longer to fill a bucket but these berries are perfect for muffins, pancakes, rolls and cookies! They are my favorite berries at this time of year because they are so sweet. I think they are worth the effort it takes to get a bucket full so if you like baking with blueberries you might consider picking on the two rows marked "Bluetta".

Picked out!

2010-06-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

Lots and lots of berries left the farm yesterday and today and what remains needs time to ripen so we won't be open tomorrow or Friday. We'll evaluate the field Friday to determine if we can open Saturday.

We apologize for any inconvenience. Also, our apologies to anyone who called the farm and was told that we would be open tomorrow. We had more berries harvested than what we'd anticipated.
Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Picture the FUN!

2010-06-16T11:00:00.000-07:00

Lots of berries

2010-06-15T19:23:00.000-07:00

We will be open tomorrow from 7:30 until 12 noon. Come out and get a few buckets of sweet, juicy berries.

It will be wet in the rows so come prepared for that.

Reminder: we don't spray our berries with pesticides so they are great eating right out of the bag!

See you there!

Ready, Set, Go........again!

2010-06-15T10:19:00.000-07:00

Looks like the rain has cleared out so we will open the farm from 5-8pm tonight.

Be prepared for wet conditions at the farm.....water in some of the rows, wet bushes, etc.

Hope to see you there!

Rained Out!

2010-06-14T03:56:00.000-07:00

The rain doesn't look as if it's going to stop any time soon so we'll be postponing our opening until tomorrow evening at 5pm, provided the rain has moved out and conditions are good for picking.

Hope to see you then!

Ready, Set, Go!

2010-06-13T10:19:00.000-07:00

The berries are ready so we will open the farm for the season Monday, June 14 from 7:30 until 12 noon!
Farm hours are the same as last year: M, W, F, Saturday from 7:30 until noon. Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5 until 8pm.

Prices are the same: $2.25/pound if you pick them. $3.95/pound if we pick them.

It looks like a good chance of rain Monday so please check the phone message, blog, or Facebook to make sure we are open. We don't allow pickers in the field during rain storms. Hopefully, the rain will hold off until after noon.

Reminder: Always call or check the blog or Facebook to make sure the farm is open the day you want to come out. We close the farm if the field gets picked heavily to allow remaining berries to ripen.

We're looking forward to a great year of berry picking!

At last!

2010-06-01T19:42:00.000-07:00

The seasons have at last brought us back around to berry time! It's such a joy to see the plump, juicy berries ripening on the bushes. The crop looks good but we have to wait a little while for more berries to ripen.

Not long. Maybe two more weeks.

We'll be announcing the opening of the 2010 Blueberry Season soon so stay tuned.

As always, be sure to check the blog or call the farm before you come out.

This year you can follow us on Facebook, too!

The workhorses of the blueberry farm

2010-04-19T17:49:00.001-07:00

Our farm employs thousands of these little guys. THEY are the reason there will be berries to pick in the summer. Pruning is important but pollinating is essential. Without honeybees pollinating the bushes there wouldn't be luscious berries to enjoy. In fact, one third of our diet comes from insect pollinated plants and honeybees are responsible for 80% of that pollination according to the USDA.

Today I spent some time in the field watching the bees at work. Not only do they pollinate the flowers that will give us blueberries, they also gather nectar from the flowers and make honey!

A walk down the rows at this time of year is a very sensory-filled experience. You can hear the buzzing all around you, watch the bees, and smell the fragrance of the flowers. All the bees buzzing and flying around you would be a little unsettling if you didn't know that the bees were in a friendly mood. Working from flower to flower in the warm sunshine puts the them in a good mood. Combine flowers, sun, and warmth and you have all the ingredients to make happy bees. On cloudy, cold days with no flowers they are usually grumpy and unfriendly.

Bumble bees like the blueberry flowers too!

So, when you are picking all those plump, juicy berries this summer remember who did the work to help make them.

The humble honey bee!

April Flowers

2010-04-17T17:14:00.000-07:00

My favorite time of year is spring. Everything is fresh and new. Greens are the most vibrant at this time of year. And the outburst of flowers sends intoxicating waves of fragrance through the air. April is flowering time for blueberry plants. A freeze at this time of year will put an end to the blueberry crop as we all found out a few years ago!

But things are looking pretty good this year!

Just think......every flower represents one blueberry! I wonder if that's where the term "Flower Power" came from? Remember that from the '60's?? Anyone?

Wait Five Minutes

2010-03-24T14:23:00.000-07:00

Friday, March 19 was the last day of Winter.
The temperature was in the upper 60's that day!
A wonderful day for pruning. We've had a number of mild days this month so we were able to get out in the field. Finally.
In fact, Friday, March 19, the last day of Winter, was our last day of pruning.

The weather was gorgeous so we got a lot done.

We cut and hauled loads of canes to the burn pile.

I took a quick look around the farm and saw evidence of Spring, which would officially be here the next day.

The bees were out enjoying the warm sun foraging for I'm not sure what but whatever it was it had them in a good mood. Not good enough, however, for me to move in close for a close-up.

Flowers were blooming.......

Ahhhhh, Spring!

Well, enough of this joy riding around the farm. I knew I needed to get back to work. I was, after all, here to prune. The team needed me and I didn't want to let them down so I high-tailed it back to the bushes to get the job done.

I got there just in time, too. Just in time to snap some shots of the last bush being pruned. Man, it's a good thing I had my camera and could document the moment. A fact none of the others seemed impressed by. I think they thought I was using my photography as a way to get out of pruning. Not me. I accomplished two jobs that day....pruning and photography. I was willing to put in the extra effort. It's just the kind of person I am. Sacrificial. But, I don't think they get it.

Anyway, here's the picture I snapped of the last branch being pruned off the last bush. They all look pretty happy to be finished. And it wasn't just a put-on. We were happy. So happy in fact that we decided to celebrate the close of another year of pruning by going to Sonic for some treats. We also celebrated the first day of pruning with a trip to Sonic. We've done it every year so we felt we needed to keep the tradition going.

The weather was so nice we were able to sit outside at Sonic! I didn't get a picture of that but I had my camera with me intending to. I was just more occupied with munching my treats so the photo opportunity came and went and I didn't discover my oversight until we were on the way home.

In our family we like to celebrate things and we had decided that Spring was worthy of celebrating. So we had grilled pizza that evening. One of the girls made a cake decorated with spring colors that we enjoyed after dinner. There were even some spring decorations hanging from the ceiling. Tomorrow was the official start of Spring and we were not going to miss the opportunity to celebrate.

There is a saying in Missouri: "If you don't like the weather just wait five minutes. It will change."

That saying has never been more true than it was the next day, March 20th....the first day of Spring.

We woke up to temperatures some 30 degrees lower than when we went to bed!

This is what the first day of Spring looked like outside the window after a snow storm that lasted all day.

This is our back yard on March 20th, otherwise known as the First Day of Spring!

The sunny yellow flowers of yesterday were buried under 7 inches of snow. The warm balmy breezes were gone and in their place was cold harsh wind mixed with snow and freezing rain.

It was quite a slap in the face for those of us who had been reveling in the springtime conditions of yesterday.

But, that is Missouri. It's a state where you can enjoy a good taste of all four seasons. Sometimes from one day to the next. Really.........if you don't like the snow just wait five minutes, spring will be here in no time!

You'll be glad to know that the berries are fine. The buds are forming but not open enough to be harmed by the cold.

March 19, 2010

March 20, 2010

February Pruning Report

2010-02-23T19:30:00.000-08:00

No pruning.
The end.

I suppose you deserve more explanation than that. But, there isn't too much to say. Either the weather didn't cooperate or our schedules didn't mesh with any nice weather we had in February. So, no pruning.

It was a busy month in other ways.
We attended the annual Small Fruit and Vegetable Growers conference and enjoyed learning some new things and talking with fellow growers.

Well, March better prove more productive!

Waiting

2010-01-31T14:41:00.000-08:00

In January we usually start watching for days that are mild enough to get out in the field and prune the bushes. Pruning almost 1,000 bushes takes many days and many hours so we really like to get started as early as possible.

The following is a pruning/weather report for January 2010.

January 1-10: Temps well below 30 degrees most days. We had a really nice 6 inch snowfall in late December and it's still on the ground. No pruning.

January 11-24: There was a warming spell with some days seeing temps as high as 63! The snow melted but left behind some very sloshy ground. Getting down on your hands and knees or sitting on wet, muddy ground while you prune is no one's idea of fun. So while the weather was picture perfect for pruning the ground conditions weren't. No pruning.

January 25-31: Temps went back down into the 20's and we had another 5-6 inch snowfall. No pruning.

The month of January was pretty quiet at the farm. There's a peacefulness that blankets the bushes waiting to bud, the bee hives waiting to bustle with activity, and the pond waiting for life to take on it's spring and summer energy.

And yet with all the stillness there is a lot going on that can't be seen. New buds are forming and waiting to flower and become the new crop of blueberries we'll all enjoy this summer. We'll wait for the berries and we'll leave the pruning to another day while we wait for mild weather and dry ground in February.

The Golf Course Connection

2009-11-29T16:59:00.000-08:00

Q: What do golf courses and this blueberry farm have in common?

Is it:

1. They both have sand pits. No, the berry farm doesn't have any sand pits.

2. They both have a swanky club house where you can enjoy a nice luncheon. No. No swank of any kind at the berry farm. It's a "bring your own lunch" kind of place.

3. They both have an abundance of bermuda grass. Correct! Bermuda grass is the common thread that connects our berry farm with every golf course in the country.

Bermuda grass does wonderful things to golf courses. It grows thick and fast. It's very hardy. It's very green and can tolerate abuse and still look great. It's the bermuda grass that makes those putting greens and fairways so beautiful.

Bermuda grass at the farm doesn't achieve the same affect. All the qualities that make it the grass of choice for golf courses: hardy, durable, thick, fast growing, and tolerant, make it a real pain in the neck at the farm!

Bermuda grass is what we do when there are no berries to be picked. It has to be pulled, raked, hauled, piled and burned. It grows into the blueberry bushes and if left unchecked grows quickly into a thick tangled mass that's difficult to pull out.

This young man LOVES golf. He plays golf, watches golf, dreams about golf in his sleep. We told him that golf courses and the blueberry farm have a lot in common. Right now he's not seeing it. He doesn't get the connection. But he keeps on working in hopes that somewhere a lush fairway will emerge. We told him that he would see it better this summer when things green up. He'll get to mow the "fairways".

This is the bermuda grass at the farm. After the close of the berry season we spend days and days in the fall pulling, piling and burning.

Yes, there is a connection to golf courses here at the farm. In chilly November, down on your knees it's a little hard to grasp but it's there. You just have to imagine really hard.

CLOSED for the season

2009-07-22T14:11:00.000-07:00

This comes as a disappointment to us and I'm sure to you as well. The berries that we anticipated getting ripe have not ripened or have been eaten by birds. I know some of you were counting on getting out to the farm one more time but there just aren't enough berries left to open for public picking.

We thank all of you for coming out this season. We look forward to seeing you all next year.

We'll continue to post updates to the blog; recipes, farm work notes, etc. so check in every once in a while to keep up with what's going on. Most importantly we'll let you know when the berries are ripe next season.

If you aren't on our email list and would like to be notified by email about the first day of picking next year you can sign up at info@heritagefamilyfarms.net .

Thanks again. See you next year!

Celebrate the 4th with this great pie!

2009-07-03T13:17:00.000-07:00

This pie is really impressive and a great dessert for the 4th of July with it's red, white, and blue colors! We won 2nd place in a pie contest with this recipe. Tastes as good as it looks!

Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake Pie

1 pie crust recipe-single crust
**Prepare pie crust. Roll out and line a 9-inch pie pan. With extra crust cut out stars with 2-3 inch star cookie cutter. Bake crust in a 450 degree oven until lightly browned.
Stars: 2 tablespoons melted butter
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel.
Brush over stars. Bake at 450 for 6-8 minutes.
Allow crust and stars to cool.

Filling
8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 to 2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1/2 cup whipping cream, whipped
In small bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and lemon peel until light and fluffy. Fold in whipped cream. Spoon into cooled pie crust, spread evenly. Spoon cooled blueberry filling over lemon filling.

Topping
You can use a 21 oz can of blueberry pie filling but if you have your own blueberries here's how to make fruit filling for the top. (**Note added later: This will make more topping than you need for one pie, about 6 cups. Cut it in half or make 2 pies. Sorry for any confusion.)

6 cups fresh or frozen blueberries (thaw frozen berries completely and reserve juices)

3/4 cups sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Combine the above dry ingredients in a saucepan.
Add:
1/2 cup water/ blueberry juice
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 Tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
Whisk into dry ingredients until smooth. Cook over medium heat until bubbly.
Decrease heat and cook and stir for 2 minutes.
Add fruit and stir until evenly coated. Remove from heat. Allow to cool before topping cheesecake.

Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving. Garnish with star cut-out strawberry fans and whipped cream.

Strawberry fans: use firm berries with stems. Starting at tip, cut into thin slices almost to stem. Spread slices to form open fans.

Rain.......

2009-07-03T04:28:00.000-07:00

We do not allow pickers to pick in the rain. Looks like there is a good storm system coming this way this morning. We will call people out of the field if it begins to rain and not allow any picking until the storm passes.
Thanks for your cooperation.

Friday picking...........

2009-07-02T19:11:00.000-07:00

The farm will be open Friday morning from 7:30-12 but you need to know that the picking will be more difficult. We had a huge turn out tonight (over 800 pounds picked in 3 1/2 hours!) and the bushes were picked heavily.

We will not be open Saturday, July4.

We'll evaluate the field Sunday to determine if we'll be open Monday.

Happy 4th of July!

OPEN Thursday evening

2009-07-01T10:09:00.000-07:00

The farm will be open for picking Thursday evening from 5-8pm. There are a lot of
ripe berries now so come out and get a bucket or two!

Friday: We'll evaluate the field Thursday evening to determine if we'll open Friday morning.

We will not be open Saturday, July 4. Enjoy the holiday!

Hope to see you at the farm.

Closed Wednesday

2009-06-30T20:11:00.000-07:00

Still need some ripening time. We'll evaluate the field tomorrow and let you know if
we will be open Thursday evening or not. Lots of berries are ripening.........
Thanks for your patience!

Closed Monday and Tuesday

2009-06-29T04:55:00.000-07:00

The farm is closed today and Tuesday evening. We probably won't open until later in the week. Stay tuned for updates.
There are a lot of berries that still need to ripen so the season isn't over yet...........

Blueberry Cobbler

2009-06-27T17:22:00.000-07:00

This is really good with homemade ice-cream or fresh cream!

6 cups frozen blueberries
1/3 cup plus 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks cold butter, cut into small pieces
2/3 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 375°. Butter an 8-by-8-by-2-inch baking dish.
Mix the blueberries with 1/3 cup of the sugar and 2 tablespoons of the flour. Spoon into the baking dish.
In a large bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 1/2 cups of flour and 3 tablespoons of sugar with the baking powder and salt. Cut the butter into the flour mixture with a pastry blender.
Add the milk and vanilla and stir with a fork to form a wet, sticky dough. Drop rounded teaspoons of the dough over the top of the blueberries to cover them.
Sprinkle the remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar on top of the cobbler.

Bake for 45 minutes, or until the top is golden-brown and bubbling.
Let the cobbler cool for at least 20 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Closed Saturday

2009-06-27T03:28:00.000-07:00

The berries need time to ripen so the farm will be closed not only today but for the next few days.
We'll let you know as soon as we open again.

Thanks for your patience.

Chocolate Covered Blueberries

2009-06-26T17:11:00.000-07:00

This recipe is a snap to make yet it has a bit of gourmet flair. Serve them for a party or a quick dessert. They store well in the refrigerator for a few days. We passed these out at the farm last Saturday and they were a big hit. Even the kids can help make these!

Chocolate Covered Blueberries
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 tablespoon vegetable shortening

2 cups fresh blueberries, washed and thoroughly dried. (Dry is very important or the chocolate won't stick)

In a double boiler or medium bowl over simmering water, melt chocolate chips. Stir in shortening. Add blueberries and gently stir until well coated.
Drop by teaspoonfuls to form small clusters onto a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Chill until firm. Once the clusters are firm transfer to a container. Serve on a plate or in paper candy cups. Keeps for 2 to 3 days in covered container in the refrigerator.

Here's a thought....If you use dark chocolate you get a treat loaded with health benefits and very little guilt. It's a well known fact that blueberries are loaded with good things like antioxidants and vitamins so a dessert with blueberries just has to be good for you. If you use dark chocolate then you get even more health benefits. Dark chocolate may lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and contains antioxidants. Seems like a win, win dessert to me. I'm all for healthy but yummy!

Enjoy!

Closed Saturday

2009-06-26T12:44:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the inconvenience but the farm will be closed Saturday. In fact, we are closing for a few days so stay tuned and we'll let you know when we'll be open again.

We've had a lot of people picking in the past week and the ripe berries are picked out. The berries that remain need time to ripen. Not sure how long that will take so the best we can do is let you know on the blog or on the phone message. Keep checking back for updates....

In the meantime I'm going to post some of our favorite recipes. All of them include blueberries of course! I'll get started on that later today.

Have a great weekend. Stay cool...........

Open Friday

2009-06-25T19:22:00.000-07:00

The farm will be open Friday from 7:30-12:00pm.

There are ripe berries but you will need to look for them a little harder than you did at the start of the season. Look for berries in places most people don't pick---up high, down low, and in the middle of the bush.

See you there!

Questions and Answers about orders

2009-06-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

Just in case you were wondering what happens when you order pre-picked berries....

Q- Where do the pre-picked berries come from
A- We fill orders with berries harvested from our farm.

Q-When are the berries picked?
A- The berries are harvested on the day you are scheduled to pick them up. To give our pickers time to harvest the berries we ask you to pick up your order at the end of our business day, 11:30am or 7:30pm.

Q-What happens to the berries after you pick them?
A- Berries are sorted by hand to remove stems, leaves, bugs, damaged and under-ripe berries. They are then weighed, bagged, labeled, and stored in our walk-in cooler until you pick them up.

Q-Do you wash the berries in my order?
A-No. We do not spay our berries with anything so there are no chemical residues to remove. Dry berries store longer than berries that are wet. Rinse your berries just before use.

Q-How do you fill an order for frozen berries?
A-The same way we fill orders for fresh berries. Orders for frozen berries are filled with berries from the current season. They are sorted,weighed, bagged, labeled, and then quick frozen immediately. This ensures you are getting the freshest berries possible.

Q-Why don't you hold fresh berries for pick up on another day?
A-We want your berries to be as fresh as possible when you pick them up so you get the benefit of high quality berries. Also, we do not operate the walk-in cooler when the farm is closed so there is no way to keep fresh berries cool. Orders for fresh berries that aren't picked up the day they are harvested are put into the freezer. We can sell them to you frozen or re-pick your order at a later time. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Q-Why do you stop taking orders?
A-Orders come in quickly once the season begins. Because we fill orders the day they are picked up we are limited in how many orders we can fill each day. As the season goes on the amount of berries in the field decreases and it becomes more difficult to fill orders. We don't want to promise berries to you and then not be able to fill the order. After we have caught up we sometimes begin taking orders again.

Open Thursday

2009-06-24T11:48:00.000-07:00

We will be open for picking Thursday evening from 5-8pm.

We won't be taking any more pre-pick orders. We are backlogged
through July 7th and can't be sure that the field will supply enough
berries after that. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Open Wednesday

2009-06-24T03:39:00.000-07:00

We will be open today from 7:30am until 12 noon.

The farm will be open Tuesday Evening

2009-06-22T15:48:00.000-07:00

Hours are 5-8pm. After 3 days of ripening it looks good for picking.

Closed Monday, June 22

2009-06-21T20:47:00.001-07:00

After reviewing the field this evening we've decided that it would be best to let the berries ripen another day.

We plan to open again Tuesday evening, June 23, from 5-8pm.

Busy, busy Saturday

2009-06-20T13:07:00.000-07:00

What a great day at the farm. We had a record number of people picking today. A record number since we have owned it, I should say. Over 1,000 pounds of berries were picked!
It looked like rain when we opened this morning but all we got were a few sprinkles. The cloud cover and steady breeze was a welcome relief from the hot, humid conditions. By late morning the clouds were gone, the sun was out and temperatures started to climb. That didn't seem to deter too many people as we still had cars pulling in steadily most of the morning. People were very patient standing in a long line to check out.

Because of the large number of berries picked we will evaluate the field Sunday to determine if we will open Monday or not. Sometimes the berries that are left on the bushes are not quite ripe and need a day or two to ripen. For this reason it's always wise to call the farm or check the blog before you come out to pick. We always feel bad when people show up to pick and find the farm closed. This happened Friday and we again apologize to those who came to pick but were faced with a CLOSED sign instead. Thanks for your understanding.

Open Saturday, June 20

2009-06-19T16:45:00.000-07:00

The farm will be open Saturday from 7:30 until 12 noon.

Hope to see you there!

Closed Friday, June 19

2009-06-18T19:29:00.001-07:00

We had a very busy and productive evening at the farm today. The Globe article really got people's attention. Because there were so many people picking tonight the bushes are pretty picked over. We've decided to let the field rest until Saturday. We won't be open
tomorrow for U-pick. We're sorry for any inconvenience. We want customers to have nice ripe berries when they come to pick and closing the field is a way to allow more berries to ripen.

If you placed an order to be picked up on Friday, you can come at 11:30 to pick it up.

We will be open for U-pick on Saturday, June 20th, from 7:30-12 noon.

It's always a good idea to call the farm, or check the blog, before you come to pick. We always update the phone message so you will know before you come whether the farm is open or not.

Newspaper article and family ties.

2009-06-18T09:54:00.000-07:00

We were featured in the Joplin Globe today! If you didn't get a chance to read the article you should get a copy of the Globe and read it. Anne Hershewe did a great job of spotlighting the blueberry farms around the Joplin area. Our thanks to her for including our farm in the article. It's always fun reading about local farms that sell fresh produce. Each farm is unique and offer a variety of experiences for their customers.

The article mentioned that we are a family-owned and run business. We are certainly all about family here at HFF. It's great to see families and friends come together in groups for a fun outing to the farm! It's a great summertime tradition and we know that many of you are regulars and have come to the farm for many seasons to get your fresh-picked blueberries and enjoy the experience of the farm first hand! No pun intended.

I am the granddaughter of the owners Ted and Donna, and I truly love being a part of their business. I enjoy working along side my family members including siblings, cousins, an aunt and my parents.

Each person works to keep the farm running smoothly in their own way. Let me introduce you to my family and give you an idea of the work that goes into the farm.

Farm owners: Ted and Donna - known to me as Granddad and Nana. Besides managing and overseeing farm business, Grandad keeps the property mowed, the irrigation system running, and weeds, prunes and fertilizes the bushes. He is also caretaker of the bees and honey production. My cousin is working with him this year as his assistant. Nana does anything that needs to be done around the farm. You'll see her in the office or out in the field. She loves to visit with customers and gets to know a lot of them.

Office: Laura, my Mom, runs the office, keeps the orders running smoothly, and makes sure everyone is doing what they need to be doing! My aunt is also working this year helping in the office and picking berries.

Field Workers: Three of my sisters are regular pickers and work hard to keep orders filled! They also help in the office from time to time during the season.

Field Service: My youngest sister, who is 9, sometimes helps customers out in the field by bringing their full bags of berries back to the office to be stored in the cooler, allowing them to continue picking. She really loves her job and I love to see her with her red wagon walking through the field, chatting with customers and collecting their bags.

I (Hannah) help out with managing the email accounts, the blog, sorting berry orders, and general office work.

In the winter months many of us work together to prune the bushes. It takes about 3 months to get it all done before spring!

Last year, our first year in business, was a big learning curve for us. We made some mistakes but we've learned a lot along the way. We really appreciate the patience of our loyal customers, many of whom have been coming to the farm since the Chism's owned it. They've been patient with our blunders and given us encouragement when they saw positive changes.

I'm so grateful to be working for my grandparents, helping them sell healthy blueberries to the community.

Wednesday's picking report

2009-06-17T11:35:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful day for picking berries. It's definitely a family friendly activity. The sun is drying up the field so picking is not quite as messy but there are a few puddles left. A few customers commented that they found the best picking where no one else wanted to go.......where the deepest puddles are! So, puddles do have an up side.

There are lots of ripe berries that need picked so make plans to visit the farm soon.

We are taking orders for fresh and frozen berries.

Open Wednesday 7:30am-12:00

2009-06-16T19:55:00.000-07:00

The farm will be open tomorrow for picking. Hopefully, with another day or two of sunshine the water puddles will dry up. Lots of folks braved the wet rows this evening for an hour or two of berry picking.

Tomorrow's forecast is 92 and sunny. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Watery conditions

2009-06-16T09:25:00.000-07:00

This is what the berry patch looked like this morning right after the storm passed through. Most of the rows had standing water of a couple inches or more. Water levels will be down this evening but you will need to wear appropriate shoes. We haven't been able to get down the rows with the mower so the grass is getting a little tall.

A word of caution....please don't cross between bushes to get to another row. We have drip irrigation lines laying on top of the mulch and we don't want anyone to trip over them. Please go

around to the ends of the rows.

We're looking forward to seeing you at the farm this evening! The farm will be open from 5-8pm.

We'll be open Tuesday Evening

2009-06-15T18:40:00.000-07:00

Hot and humid...........those two words often go along with my memories of berry picking.
Today was one of those days and it looks like the rest of the week will bring more of the same.
In spite of that there were a lot of people who came out to pick today.

Berries love rain and sun and we've had plenty of both lately. There just hasn't been enough sun
to dry up the puddles in the rows. We appreciate your patience with the water.

The farm will be open tomorrow from 5pm-8pm. Evening picking is pleasant because the field is shaded. Picking blueberries is a good way to spend an evening after a long day at work.

Hopefully, I can get some pictures uploaded soon. I've been out of town and haven't been
able to work on this like I want.

I apologize to anyone who has tried to leave a comment on the blog since I didn't realize I hadn't enabled it. We've resolved that issue so if anyone wants to comment we'd be glad to hear
from you.

We are open Monday...

2009-06-14T18:30:00.000-07:00

Saturday was a great day for berry picking! Over 700 pounds of sweet, juicy blueberries left the farm to make their way into pies, pancakes, muffins, smoothies or bread. Many were eaten on the spot.
"The berries are a lot bigger than last year."
"There are so many berries it was easy to fill my bucket!"
Those were some of the comments we got from customers who enjoyed the morning of picking.

We will be open Monday, June 15, from 7:30 - 12:00 noon.

The forecast is calling for 50 percent chance of rain on Monday. Be aware that if it rains during picking hours we will call people in from the field. Your safety is our main concern. Thanks for your cooperation.

We are now taking orders for fresh or frozen berries. The price for We-pick is $3.95/ pound.

Also, with all the rain we've had in the last week there are areas of standing water in some of the rows. It might be a little soggy so plan footwear accordingly. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Looking forward to seeing you at the farm.

Blueberry Bread Recipes

2009-06-13T18:12:00.000-07:00

Here's a couple of delicious ways to use up some of those delightful blueberries! We thought both of these recipes were very good and we wanted to share them with you.

Blueberry Sunshine Loaf

1-1/4 cup oil

5 eggs

2 Cups sugar

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

3 cups flour, divided

2 pkgs. instant lemon pudding mix

2 Cups blueberries, fresh or frozen

In small bowl, toss blueberries with 2 Tbsp flour to coat. In large bowl, beat eggs with oil, sugar, salt, baking powder and soda. Stir in remaining flour and dry pudding mixes until well-blended (batter is very thick). Stir in flour-coated blueberries. Bake at 350 deg. in greased pans.

Three 8"x4" loaf pans: 50-60 min. Two 9"x5" loaf pans: 60-75 min. Seven 5"x3" mini-loaves: 35-45 min.

Turn out of pans, cool on wire racks

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Blueberry Bread

3 Cups flour

3 eggs

1-1/2 Cups milk

1- 1/2 Cups oil

1 -1/2 tsp vanilla

1-1/2 tsp almond flavoring

1-1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

2-1/4 Cup sugar

1-1/2 tsp butter flavoring

2-1/2 Cups blueberries

Frosting:

1/8 Cup orange juice

1/3 Cup sugar

3/4 tsp vanilla

3/4 tsp butter flavoring

3/4 tsp almond flavoring

In a small bowl toss blueberries with a little flour to coat. Mix all wet (bread) ingredients and beat. Mix all dry ingredients. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mix very well, and fold in blueberries. Put into 2 well-greased bread pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 75-85 minutes. Cool 10 minutes in pan, the remove from pan.

Heat frosting ingredients. When bread is completely cool, drizzle frosting on.

Time to pick

2009-06-10T13:16:00.000-07:00

We are going to open the farm for U-Pick on Saturday, June 13 from 7:30 - 12 noon. The berries are looking really good.
We've been asked about picking conditions. Be aware that we do not spray for bugs so there
may be the occasional mosquito but we've not had complaints about chiggers. We worked hard this year trying to get rid of weeds so the rows are much neater.

Please note: we will not be taking We-pick orders for fresh berries at this time. We do have frozen berries available for purchase.

Looking forward to a great day of picking. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Frozen berries for sale.....

2009-06-08T12:01:00.000-07:00

We've been picking the first of the ripe berries and have the freezer full so to make more room we will open the farm tomorrow evening (Tuesday) from 5-8pm to sell frozen berries on a first-come-first-served basis. We have 200 pounds of berries available. We are not taking orders at this time and we will not have fresh berries tomorrow evening.

We're getting closer to opening but there is still more ripening to be done so tomorrow evening we will NOT be open for picking. We'll post to the blog, update the phone message, and put notices in the Joplin, Carthage, and Webb City newspapers when we open.

Opening mid June

2009-05-30T14:09:00.000-07:00

Things are on track for opening some time in mid June. We'll update the blog, the phone message, and send out an email when it's time to open. Stay tuned............

Getting closer!!

2009-05-27T11:55:00.000-07:00

Today's field check revealed a lot more berries that are blue! They are still a little tart but in a few days they'll be sweet and juicy.

Soon we'll be picking and freezing these early berries. We freeze them for customers who want pre-picked berries but the supply won't last long once the farm opens for the season.