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Closed for the Season!

By Steep Hill Farm | August 25, 2009

Well, it’s time.  We had thought we’d have one last picking of blueberries, but, upon looking at the field, we decided there are not enough berries to do this.  Maybe the birds had a dessert!

You know, blueberry season is like many other events in life (sorry, I’m going to be philosophical for a moment).  First you have to get ready for the big event:  you put a lot of effort into preparing the field and crop and hope and pray for the things you can’t control to be right (such as rain and sunshine amounts). Actually, this is about nine months (go figure)!   Finally, it’s time to start the harvest.  Advertising the crop availability and getting ready for sales is done.  The farm is quiet as you wait to see if people are willing to take the time and effort to come to pick the blueberries.

The cars start coming up the Steep Hill bringing pickers excited to get those juicy blue berries. There are babies and children; teenagers and young adults; middle-aged people and ninety-year-old people going into the field with empty containers and coming out with full ones.    But your work is just starting-for now you have to guide the pickers and tend the field at the same time.  You chase the birds out and do what you can to protect the crop from insects and animals.  You balance your own needs of sleep and relaxation with the need to be open for picking at the convenience of pickers.  You open for picking when the berries are ripe and close down to allow the field to rejuvenate when you’re picked out.  You do your best to create the right balance.

And then, all of a sudden, the farm is quiet again.  The crop is harvested.  Some pickers are sated and, unfortunately, some are disappointed because they didn’t get enough berries.  You take stock of the season and think about the ups and downs.  You laugh about the funny events and feel sad about the things you wished had gone better.  You miss the friends that came to pick but relish your privacy once again.  Life goes on.

We thank you for being part of Steep Hill Farm life this season.  We’ll look forward to another event next year.

George and Brenda

Topics: News, Updates & Daily Picking Conditions | No Comments »

Closed

By Steep Hill Farm | August 22, 2009

I am sorry to  report that we were  picked out of  berries once again. We  may reopen for one  more  picking later this  coming week.  Please check our our blog this coming  Wednesday  or Thursday.

George

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Picking Information

By Steep Hill Farm | August 21, 2009

  We will  open today Friday at  8 am. and be open to 7 pm.   Because of family commitments,  we will  be open  only a half  day on Saturday from  8 -12  and we will be closed on Sunday.  We may reopen  Monday depending on the berries remaining after the  weekend  picking . There  is still some good  picking .

George and Brenda

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Next Picking

By Steep Hill Farm | August 19, 2009

Okay-so here’s the update on picking hours!  We will  reopen Friday at  8 am. and be open to 7 pm.   Because of family commitments,  we will  be open  only a half  day on Saturday from  8 -12  and we will be closed on Sunday.  We may reopen  Monday depending on the berries remaining after the  weekend  picking . There  is still some good  picking .

George

Topics: News, Updates & Daily Picking Conditions | No Comments »

Closed for Ripening

By Steep Hill Farm | August 17, 2009

We will be closed until the next set of berries ripen. We anticipate opening later in the week, possibly on Friday. Please  check  back Thursday for  more definite information. With  the  wettest summer that anyone can remember in  recent  history,  it has been a difficult  year to predict the  supply of  berries.  We try to make the   picking as  pleasant as  possible and only open when there are a good supply of  ripe berries.    We hope to see you later in the week.

George  and Brenda

Topics: News, Updates & Daily Picking Conditions | No Comments »

Sundays Picking

By Steep Hill Farm | August 16, 2009

Well,  summer has finally arrived in earnest.  I always have mixed  feelings about all this intense heat because  it’s really great for  ripening of the berries, but it also  makes for a hot day in the field.  Most Saturday pickers came early and avoided the  afternoon heat but surprisingly  the heat  didn’t keep away the  heartiest of pickers.

Sunday appears that it will be equally as warm  and sunny. So  you  should wear your hat and lather  yourself  up with  sunscreen and  come out  early to beat the  heat and enjoy the  picking.

George and Brenda

Topics: News, Updates & Daily Picking Conditions | No Comments »

Open for picking

By Steep Hill Farm | August 15, 2009

Yes , we will be open for  picking. The sun has been  kind this week and the berries are finally beginning to  ripen more consistently. We  will open at  8 am. tomrrow and stay open to  7:00 pm.

Hope to see you in the patch.

George

Topics: News, Updates & Daily Picking Conditions | No Comments »

Closed For Ripening

By Steep Hill Farm | August 10, 2009

Because of the unusual summer  and the effect  it has had on the berries’  ripening,  we will  need to close  until Saturday. There is a  large  supply of unripened berries that are  just waiting for some more of that nice  summer weather we’ve seen  this  past week.  So please do not worry if you haven’t  gotten your supply of fresh berries, they will be ready for you  this  coming weekend.

Hope to  see you  in the  patch.

George and Brenda

Topics: News, Updates & Daily Picking Conditions | No Comments »

Light Sunday

By Steep Hill Farm | August 9, 2009

After being closed for several days we had a big  crowd on Saturday and all pickers left the  field with their baskets  full. Because of the unusual summer weather and the large crowd  picking on  Saturday, Sunday’s picking will be on the  light side.

There are  plenty  of  berries still to  ripen in the  coming week.  We will open for  picking Sunday  for people who want a few quarts.  People who want larger quantities might want to wait for the next set of berries to ripen, which will be toward the end of  the week (depending upon the weather).

George figures he walked at least 10-15 miles today showing people where to pick.  It was definitely a “blueberry day”.

See you in the patch.

George and Brenda

Topics: News, Updates & Daily Picking Conditions | No Comments »

Open For Picking

By Steep Hill Farm | August 8, 2009

We will be re-open for picking today  Saturday, August 8 from 8 am to  7 pm.  The picking is very good. The sun these past  few days  has helped ripen the  berries  and the second picking  should be plentiful.

We look froward to seeing you in the patch. Come on out and enjoy  some great  picking.

George

Topics: News, Updates & Daily Picking Conditions | No Comments »


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