I always feel somewhat vindicated when the paper's tell us what we already knew too well. Today the Plain Dealer reported that the National Weather Service has declared our area "abnormally dry" for August. (http://drought.unl.edu/dm/DM_state.htm?OH,MW) It's not drought conditions, but it's the first step towards that. Ouch! It's kind of depressing to walk through the fields and see what would have been a great August crop fizzling into nothing.
What unpredictable weather! June and July were soaking - way above normal. We had great picking in late June and through July, but by late July we hadn't seen rain for a few weeks, then we only got one rainfall in August.
I read a few years ago that one of the effects of global climate change was "episodic" precipitation events. In other words, we'll see more and more of these 3-foot snowstorms, 5-inch rainstorms, followed by periods without precipitation. Last summer's total rainfall was appeared to be near normal because 9 inches of rain fell in a two-week period in August. But it was also the dryest May-June-July on record, as is this August, one of the 10 dryest on record.
I hear the remnants of a hurricane are headed this way - too late, but still needed for the health of the blueberry bushes.
We'll try a little irrigating next summer - it'll take us a few years to get a real irrigation system in place, and without a pond on the property, we don't have much water to go around.
At any rate - thanks to our loyal picking fans! It wasn't a terrible year all told. Certainly better than last year anyway. Coulda been better, but as they say, there's always next year!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Friday, August 8, 2008
Season winding down - still berries out there!
We're now approaching a solid month without a drop of rain! What a twist of fate. We had more than we needed in June and early July, now we watch the clouds pass over us. Yesterday there was a downpour east and west of us, but somehow we keep missing it.
This has meant a very sweet late-crop of berries, and a much lower yield than we have had in past years. Overall the crop has been much better than last year, where we had low amounts of rain all summer. There are still a good number of berries in the patch at this point. We'll have enough to be open for another week or two. Call ahead to see what it looks like: 440-965-5591.
Visit the website for directions and more details:
http://home.centurytel.net/chancecreekblues/
This has meant a very sweet late-crop of berries, and a much lower yield than we have had in past years. Overall the crop has been much better than last year, where we had low amounts of rain all summer. There are still a good number of berries in the patch at this point. We'll have enough to be open for another week or two. Call ahead to see what it looks like: 440-965-5591.
Visit the website for directions and more details:
http://home.centurytel.net/chancecreekblues/
Monday, July 28, 2008
Next wave of berries looks great!
Hi Blueberry Fans:
We're at a temporary lull in the picking right now. We have 6-7 different kinds of berries which ripen at different times of year. They seem to come in three phrases. The first phase comes around the end of June, beginning of July. Then we get another phase around mid-July. Finally the last phase comes around the beginning of August. Each of the past 5 years has been slightly different, based on temperature and rainfall. In the past few years (discounting last year's mini-drought) our heaviest picking was actually in the last phase.
We're also experiencing a boom in # of people picking. This is good and bad news. We're happy to have so many people interested, but it's frustrating for some people who come at 11AM and find that we're already mostly picked out. And, we've not been able to be open many days this summer because the crowds have been so big (because we have to close for 3-4 days to ripen). I learned recently that Black River Organics has opened in Wellington, OH. This is good news! They've converted a traditional soy/corn production into organic fruit. We're hopeful some of you south of here will be able to enjoy that location (or visit us both!) .
We're at a temporary lull in the picking right now. We have 6-7 different kinds of berries which ripen at different times of year. They seem to come in three phrases. The first phase comes around the end of June, beginning of July. Then we get another phase around mid-July. Finally the last phase comes around the beginning of August. Each of the past 5 years has been slightly different, based on temperature and rainfall. In the past few years (discounting last year's mini-drought) our heaviest picking was actually in the last phase.
We're also experiencing a boom in # of people picking. This is good and bad news. We're happy to have so many people interested, but it's frustrating for some people who come at 11AM and find that we're already mostly picked out. And, we've not been able to be open many days this summer because the crowds have been so big (because we have to close for 3-4 days to ripen). I learned recently that Black River Organics has opened in Wellington, OH. This is good news! They've converted a traditional soy/corn production into organic fruit. We're hopeful some of you south of here will be able to enjoy that location (or visit us both!) .
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
2008 Season in progress
Things are shaping up nicely for this picking season. A lot of rain so far has meant larger berries that are not quite as sweet as in previous years. Still, they are tasty, organic and plentiful.
Our new web presence and e-mail update list are changing the way picking happens, however. There are now over 350 names on the e-mail list. The Plain Dealer is running a story on local U-pick farms and we show up on pickyourown.org. Where we used to be open 5-6 days a week, we only have enough supply now to be open for 2-3 days a week at most.
Many people think that blueberries are a July 4th event, but our season is only just starting then. This year we're even a week or so behind the previous few years. We probably won't hit our pick picking time until the first week of August (the time when there are fewer berries coming than there are ripe). Go to our website http://home.centurytel.net/chancecreekblues/ if you need more info. Come on out when you can - call first, though! 440-965-5591
Our new web presence and e-mail update list are changing the way picking happens, however. There are now over 350 names on the e-mail list. The Plain Dealer is running a story on local U-pick farms and we show up on pickyourown.org. Where we used to be open 5-6 days a week, we only have enough supply now to be open for 2-3 days a week at most.
Many people think that blueberries are a July 4th event, but our season is only just starting then. This year we're even a week or so behind the previous few years. We probably won't hit our pick picking time until the first week of August (the time when there are fewer berries coming than there are ripe). Go to our website http://home.centurytel.net/chancecreekblues/ if you need more info. Come on out when you can - call first, though! 440-965-5591
Thursday, June 26, 2008
2008 We're Open!
Hi Blueberry fans. There's nothing a farmer likes more than rain (well, in moderation anyway). After the driest summer in 50 years we're happy to see so much rain. The berries are ripening about a 7-10 days later than the last few years. We'll be open this Saturday June 28 from 8:30AM until the berries run out. The row along our driveway comes in first. When those run out there's usually a week or so until other varieties come in. Call 440-965-5591 for picking report.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Blueberries are Back
Our Website: http://home.centurytel.net/chancecreekblues/
Hi Blueberry Fans: If you're here it may be because you heard of Chance Creek Blues, or already know about us. We're looking forward to an outstanding season in 2008. The berries look thicker than we've ever seen. Of course, we await the LFC for the year, or the "latest farm crisis." One year it was the blueberry fly, for two years it was a dearth of rain, Japanese Beetles another. The current year was almost the year of the insurance crisis. Apparently after the big hurricanes down south a few years back, insurance companies were asked to eliminate "unecessary risks" . A pick-your-own farm is inherently risky in this day and age. So our carrier dropped us! I suspect this is what did in the organic you-pick strawberry farm south of Oberlin. Anyway, after talking to many agents and getting ready to give up the ghost, we finally got coverage. Pity the small farmer and pay extra when you can! Farming is nearly impossible these days. What will it be like when all the small farms are gone?
If you're still with me, I'm going to offer a couple different e-mail plans this summer. One list will be for the regular crowd - people who come 3-4 or more times per year. I'll send a weekly update on how the picking looks. Then there'll be a "basic" list. I'll send the opening date, then the real peak picking times, and finally the end of season time/dates. I get the feeling that the 250 people on my list don't all necessarily need to be informed of every week's condition. Just a thought - weigh in if you care to!
Hi Blueberry Fans: If you're here it may be because you heard of Chance Creek Blues, or already know about us. We're looking forward to an outstanding season in 2008. The berries look thicker than we've ever seen. Of course, we await the LFC for the year, or the "latest farm crisis." One year it was the blueberry fly, for two years it was a dearth of rain, Japanese Beetles another. The current year was almost the year of the insurance crisis. Apparently after the big hurricanes down south a few years back, insurance companies were asked to eliminate "unecessary risks" . A pick-your-own farm is inherently risky in this day and age. So our carrier dropped us! I suspect this is what did in the organic you-pick strawberry farm south of Oberlin. Anyway, after talking to many agents and getting ready to give up the ghost, we finally got coverage. Pity the small farmer and pay extra when you can! Farming is nearly impossible these days. What will it be like when all the small farms are gone?
If you're still with me, I'm going to offer a couple different e-mail plans this summer. One list will be for the regular crowd - people who come 3-4 or more times per year. I'll send a weekly update on how the picking looks. Then there'll be a "basic" list. I'll send the opening date, then the real peak picking times, and finally the end of season time/dates. I get the feeling that the 250 people on my list don't all necessarily need to be informed of every week's condition. Just a thought - weigh in if you care to!
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