Wow - what a whirlwind harvest!  We had expected the season to last at least another week but the rabbiteye bushes did not produce much this year due to heavy pruning, a late freeze and then heavy rain in May.  Even the northern highbush types did not produce as much as the previous two years.  However, we had tremendous turnouts this year.    Every day was better than our best day last year. Actually, we exceeded our expectations for this year even though we had hoped for more.  We sold about 5000 pounds of berries this year, maybe more.  In stark contrast, many parts of the country had no blueberry crop at all.  Missouri, Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama and Oklahoma lost all or some of their crops.  Even other parts of Texas lost crops.

There were days when we all of the picking buckets were in use (note to self:  get more picking buckets for next year!)…  The port-a-let was a big hit…  Some of our berries ended up at Paris Bakery where they used them in pies and such.  They put our business card on the products they bake with our berries. We continue to grow and next year could be extreme!

Another thing we need to do is plant bushes where we have lost some over the years, probably about 250.  We like the “bluecrop” and “blueray” varieties of the northern highbush.  There is another variety which sounds very promising - “Draper”.  Would like to see if I could get a few bushes for experimentation and if it works out, I would like to plant several hundred of them.  The reports I have read about Draper say the bush is compact and upright, with concurrent and consistent ripening, and ease of hand picking.  Also, the berry is large, firm, very tasty, and has a good shelf life.  We’ll be planning a research excursion to Eugene, Oregon later in the year to take a closer look at this as well as some other varieties.

We’re sharing the disappointment some of you are communicating regarding the non-arrival of the rabbiteye crop this year.  Those are the breaks, but that’s also part of the adventure and drama of the season and harvest - we’re already looking toward next year however, informed with the successes and disappointments that light the way along the great arc we’re all carving through the silent expanse of endless wonder near the outer edge of our own spiralling galaxy.

Be sure and stay connected here by using the RSS feature available to automatically get updates throughout the year, if you’re that way inclined.  We’ll keep posting updates, articles and, as always, we encourage you all to join in the discussion.  Planning to add twitter and facebook to the blog functions, too, when time permits.  We’ll be sure to let you know when those go live.

From all of us at Kiomatia Blueberry Farm, have a happy and safe summer!

for this year’s blueberry season.  We had an excellent day.  The weather was nice, cool, sunshine, and a nice breeze.  The berries are good and still a large amount to ripen yet.  We have managed to pick about 10 gallons for our own use so far.  Last year we hardly got any picked for ourselves because of various reasons.   A number of people have called to say they will be here one day this week and many of those that were here Saturday said they would be back for more.We are beginning to get caught up on some of the other work around here but it doesn’t stay caught up for long!

We have been pretty busy getting ready for the eminent picking season.  Some of the berries are just now starting to make that turn towards getting ripe.   Most of the berries are still green, but with some warmer weather they would probably turn pretty fast.  The rain and the cooler weather that we have had lately has slowed the ripening process somewhat, so we don’t expect to open till next Friday (June 5th) .  We are thinking that the 5th might be a good guess - it’s really hard to tell this year.  Today was really cool, it felt more like an early spring day than the end of May.

We just missed some bad weather last night - they had a really bad storm out toward Decatur with golf ball size hail and high wind.  It was headed our way, but it split when it got here and half followed the river and the other half went east of us.  The spring storms, because of their sometimes surprising capacity for destruction, also bring a great deal of anxiety  - especially now when we are always worried about hail and winds damaging the berries and the bushes.

When the first berries start to ripen it is sporadic at first, then suddenly as if over night, there is an explosion of ripe berries on all the bushes. If all goes well, our blueberries should be ready for harvest around the first week in June and continue through the month of June.  The berries are at their best during the first three weeks of picking. The weather also has a great deal to do with the quality of the fruit.  Too much rain lessens the sweetness and too much hot sun causes rapid deterioration of the ripe berries.

Please review the Special Notes or Considerations that follow:  (Continued)

While I’m thinking about typing up this week’s update, I’m also thinking about other small American farms and how they are evolving and surviving and thriving.  The Salatin family’s Shenandoah Valley Polyface Farms has an ambitious, inspiring model for future production of meat, eggs and trees.

IN 1961, William and Lucille Salatin moved their young family to Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, purchasing the most worn-out, eroded, abused farm in the area near Staunton.  Using nature as a pattern, they and their children began the healing and innovation that now supports three generations.

 The northern highbushes have really burst into bloom. Every year, it seems, we wonder if there will be any production on the northern highbush plants after heavy pruning from the previous season. Then, all of a sudden, buds form and a few days later they are full of blooms! The honey bees are doing their part now. We are still pruning on the rabbiteye bushes. Such a time consuming job!

It’s late February of 2009 and we hope everyone is looking forward to another good year of blueberry picking. Last year was a great year and we hope to be as fortunate this year. Soon winter will be over and another spring will be upon us, with everything in full bloom and bees buzzing from one blueberry bush to another doing their endless job of pollination.
Blueberry bushes usually begin blooming early to mid April in this part of the country. When the first berries start to ripen it is sporadic at first, then suddenly as if over night, there is an explosion of ripe berries on all the bushes. If all goes well, our blueberries should be ready for harvest around the first week in June and continue through the month of June. The berries are at their best during the first three weeks of picking.