After all this time it feels surreal to me that my soft opening is one week away! It was touch and go whether the berries would be ripe or not on account of the cold, wet spring (which delayed everything) but when summer finally landed, it landed hard. Now my beautiful bluebabies are ripening nicely…
Author: arlenekeith
It’s happening! And you’re invited.
You are warmly invited to the soft opening of Balderson Blueberries u- pick. August 3 – 4, 9am-7pm. Drop in and pick up some field fresh blueberries, check out my little Merry Blueberry store and dessert cafe, and the small cut-your-own flower garden. My season this year is only for family, friends, neighbours, and faithful blog…
300 more plants in the ground
Five times! Five times it rained over my house this season. On a few occasions I literally watched it rain all around me like I was trapped in some bizarre weather vortex, the glorious liquid sunshine just beyond the reach of my thirsty plants. My trusty well held steady (sometimes at the expense of personal…
Setback from last year’s sudden winter
Agriculture is a fierce master. Whether you are rich or poor, meek or strong, an experienced farmer or a novice, the weather rules with impartial disregard. I would dance naked in the field under a full moon if I thought it would help. Hell, I’d dance naked in downtown Perth at midday on a holiday…
Overhead netting to protect from birds
I built it and they came – the birds I mean. For the past two years I have been wrestling with what to do about avian protection in my blueberry field. Last year, after one beautiful weekend of picking, the little airborne buggers decimated every berry left on the bushes. My original plan was to…
Review of the 2017 blueberry harvest
My 2017 blueberry harvest was a success. My goal to have enough blueberries to thank the people who helped me plant, make all the pies and wine for Sabrina’s wedding, and eat blueberries to my hearts content, was accomplished! The plan to stagger the ripening season didn’t happen this year, don’t ask me why. All…
Saying goodbye to summer
It was a good summer – dry, but good. My blueberries survived the drought but it took its toll on the trees, flowers, and vegetables, along with my personal hygiene. Water became rationed with stingy prudence when, during a shower, it seemed my well threatened to run dry as the pressure dropped from its usual…
Enjoying the first batch of our beautiful blue fruit
I look at my field and can’t believe I have plants that are, if not laden with blueberries, certainly sprinkled with them. Last April when my brother Greg and I were crawling his truck 16 hours back home from the plant nursery in Michigan, the trailer tires bulging under 6000 pounds of young plant stock,…
Returning to the farm from travelling
I arrived home from travelling for multiple months in Israel and spent the next two weeks in culture shock. Driving on roads felt restrictive, walls hemmed me in, even the regime of regular showering seemed wasteful and redundant. It was wonderful and exciting to see family and friends but I also missed writing blogs and…
Many hands make light work (especially when a rib is broken)
I thought I would be done for the season by now, either due to weather or injury. But the water is still running, the ground not yet frozen, and with care I can use my arm again. A few weeks ago, my rib blew. It was caused by too much exertion and it was my own fault.…
Balderson Blueberries 