Updates FAQ History Of Special Thanks to...
We have excellent "pick-your-own" Blueberries and Apples. With many varieties of blueberries, our picking season overlaps apple picking season. Blueberry picking here starts in July, not August like popular believe. In September you are able to pick both apples and blueberries. Also enjoy our own freshly pressed Old-Fashioned apple cider, pressed on our farm. We also grow many different varieties of pumpkins, for decorations and eating. The middle of October will bring the end of blueberry picking. Apple picking and pumpkins are over on Halloween.
Plans are in the making right now to expand our existing products as well as offering new and exciting products for you to enjoy. Our plans for expanding will take more than one season to finish. For that reason we are uncertain what will or will not be available for the 07' Harvest. However services such as Shipping, Online Purchasing along with products like, Jams + Jelly's, Maple Syrup, Baked Goods and continuing to expand our varieties in both Blueberries and Apples are all in the foreseeable future. We are also working on expanded our stores season thru the holidays.
For those of you whom Love the Pick-Your-Own experience and are in fear of Libby & Son U-Picks becoming too "commercialized", you have nothing to worry about. Our goal will always stay the same: "To offer you the best possible product we can provide while still allowing you to enjoy our peaceful country setting." Our goal is not to change. We wish to expand with the products we are able to offer you; the customer.
December 2007
Our family would like to wish you and your family a Very Merry Christmas, a Joyous and Happy Holiday Season and an absolutely great 2008!!
With heavy equipment we have started leveling and
preparing the land cleared in 2006. This new section most likely will not be
ready for planting in spring '08.
Snow fall has stopped excavating and will resume in the spring. Snow has not stopped the rest of the work to be done of course. Below we are removing Gall Wasp's from the Jersey plants. Gall Wasp are insect that uses the plant has a host for the their cocoon shaped eggs. Apple pruning will start in January or as soon as they enter dormant stage. We may do some fence repair in between that time.
October 2007
October 28 - Will be the last day for Apple Picking. Closing for the season on 10/28 @5pm!
October 6 - Come visit us this Columbus Day weekend. We have excellent Apple Picking and still some Blueberry Picking. There will also be food available Saturday, Sunday and Monday provided by "Mike's To Go".
September 2007
September 18 - Sirius Satellite Radio users: there will be a Live interview of us on the "Martha Stewart Living Radio" channel 112 on Thursday September 20 between 9:30am - 10:00am!!!
September 9 - Maine Apple Sunday!!! Excellent Apple picking! Still picking Blueberries! Our "Own Freshly Pressed Old-Fashioned Apple Cider" available and Free Jam samples!
July 2007
July 2 - The Boston Globe published "Ten things not to miss in July" in Mondays paper. Listed at #5 on the list was "Blueberry Picking". In the article three blueberry farms were mentioned. One farm is located in Vermont another in New Hampshire and the other was Maine's own Libby & Son U-Picks! You can still read the full list by visiting www.explorenewengland.com or (by clicking here)
JUNE 2007
June 22 - "There's No Food Like Home Food: 7 reasons to eat local food" a msn.com article (click here) sharing some positives on locally grown food.
June 15 - All indications show a huge crop for the season. The '07 harvest may come early, possible as early as July 12. More information will be available in the upcoming weeks. Check back or call anytime 793-4749.
May 2007
May 13 - Bloom has arrived earlier then usual (picture taken 5/13) due to warm temps over the past few days. The positive of an early Bloom means all stages start early. Resulting in an earlier harvest, giving us a better chance of selling the apples. However when in bloom the flower buds are very susceptible to cold temps. Any frost will result in a considerable amount of damage. If the temperature were to drop to 26 degrees or colder, 90% of the apple crop would be destroyed.
May 8 - Blueberry pruning is 3/4 complete. We are in the process of planting 1,000 new apple trees and blueberry plants. For apples we expanded our Macoun and Honey Crisp varieties. More Blue Crop and Duke blueberry plants were added. We also added an eighth variety, 500 Patriots were planted.
April 2007: We have finished pruning of the apple trees and begun blueberry pruning. With over a foot of snow received on April 4 (picture on right taken April 6), pruning has been stopped until snow melts. Still snow on ground (with more in the forecast) but as of April 9 enough snow has melted to resume pruning. It has been slow going, some plants need to be "dug out" in order to be pruned.
March 2007:
Still pruning apple trees. March has brought longer warmer days
which is a nice change from the cold of January and February. With spring coming
we need
to finish apple pruning in order to start pruning blueberry plants.
January 2007: We have just finished clearing another 10+ acres of land in anticipation of expanding our Blueberry fields. The land will take a few years before it will be ready for planting. A large amount of excavating will be needed before we are able to plant. The picture on the right shows the cleared land (on the right side of the picture above). The building/Store is on the right past the blueberry fields. Also a new picture was added on the pictures page (link on the left).
We have begun pruning the apple trees. Working conditions have been great due to the mild temps and no snow to slow the process.
Q. Do you use Pesticides?
A. Yes, for the consistent quality of the fruit we follow a strict Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. With our IPM agent we plan a program that uses the least amount of material. Some of the materials we use are certified organic but not all. All material we use is biodegradable, which breaks down from sun light, rain and time. All applications are done before picking and are completely safe to consume.
Q. What are your Hours of Operation?
A. We are open 8am-5pm Daily (in season) expect for days we are closed for ripening or inclement weather. Please check this site or call to make sure.
Q. What forms of Payment do you take?
A. Cash or Check. However new for the '07 Season we now have an ATM for your convenience.
Q. Do you allow Pets?
A. We are sorry to say we can not allow pets in the fields due to safety and insurance reasons. This does not apply to assistance dogs.
Q. Do I need to bring my own Container?
A. No, you do not have to. You are welcome to bring your own container which we will mark for the weight (that way you will not be charged the weight of the container). We have an excellent container for the purchase of a $1.00 that will hold any amount to 12lbs.
Q. Are the berries measured by the Quart or by the Pound?
A. All our fruit is sold by the pound.
Q. What should I bring with me?
A. Maine weather can change quickly and is unpredictable. It is good to come prepared i.e.. jacket, sweatshirt, hat, shorts, raingear sunscreen, bug spray etc. Cold beverages are available for purchase. Don't forget to pack a lunch, we have picnic tables for to enjoy your lunch.
Q. What Amenities do you have?
A. We have a Full handicap accessible Restroom with hot and cold running water (not an out house!). Our check in/out building is also heated for those cold fall apple picking days.
Q. How many Plants do you have?
A. We currently have 8 varieties/8,000 Blueberry plants and are planting more each year. We also have 7 varieties/1,200 Apple Trees and 1-3 acres of pumpkins depending on the year. In total we have about 30 acres in production each year.
Q. Can we find a Hiking Trail close by?
A. YES, within 1/2 mile of our farm on Sawyer Mt Rd. there is a new parking lot and trail to the summit. This new trail connects to the exciting trail and parking lot located on RT. 117 Maps will be available at our farm. For more information on Sawyer Mt. visit Francis Small Heritage Trust, Inc.(click here)
Q. Do you have Strawberries or Raspberries to pick?
A. No, I am sorry we do not grow neither strawberries or raspberries. However we recommend visiting Doles Orchard, they have pick your own strawberries and raspberries in season. Doles is located in Limington, only 6 miles away from us.
Under Construction
Thanks to Sawyer's Carpentry for the excellent work. Call Perry for all your carpentry needs @ 793-8483.
And to..
Garden Fresh Salad Co.
Higgins Beach Market
Wally's Farm Stand
Uncle's Farm Stand
Martel's Ice Cream
Frugal Farmers
Morin's Maple Syrup
Stone Hill Creation
Mike Herrick's Wielding Shop
Dan Dunnells tree service
Francis Small Heritage Trust, Inc.