Fruits
Bashaw Valley Farm & Greenhouse
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| W7402 Fox Trail Rd. Shell Lake, WI 54871 715-468-2591 |
Blueberries
It all began back in 1990 when we were looking for a product that would
compliment our retail garden center business. Already operating a farm
we decided to try our luck at fruit production. We were looking for a fruit
in which we could grow organically or in an earth friendly way. After a lot
of research and experimenting with different varieties we decided to try
our hand at growing blueberries. In the summer of 1990 we planted one
acre of Nothblue half-high blueberry bushes, little did we know what we
were getting into. A couple years after planting the patch we were hit
with a freak hail storm with golf ball sized hail, this storm stripped all the
leaves from the trees and took the young plants right back to the ground.
After threatening to plow the patch under several times, and a lot of back
breaking work the plants finally started to make some head way. Finally in
1995 we began our first year of U-pick and retail sales. We have been
picking every year since with the exception of one year. In 2003 we were
blessed with a brutally cold winter along with very little snow cover,
followed by an ice storm which coated the bushes for a couple of weeks.
As a result nearly all the buds, which are set the previous fall, were
destroyed along with most of the plant. This led to no fruit production that
year along with a major plant pruning project which took the entire
summer. This setback affected fruit production for several years to come.
The last three years have also been very challenging after a prolonged
drought. Thanks to a good well and our drip irrigation system we were
able to sustain a fair amount of production. It just goes to show you that
Mother Nature is still in control and that blueberries are no easy row to
hoe.
The History of Blueberries
Blueberries are one of the few fruits which are native to North America.
Vacinnium is the family of all blueberries and includes more than 450 plant
varieties. Efforts in the early 1900's by Elizabeth White and Dr. Frederick
Coville to domesticate the wild Highbush Blueberry has resulted in todays
cultivated Highbush Blueberry industry. North America is the worlds
leading producer of blueberries, accounting for nearly 90% of the worlds
production.
Health Benefits of Blueberries
Blueberries also referred to as "Brain Berrries" are listed as one of the
world's healthiest foods. Blueberries are bursting with nutrients and
flavor, yet are low in calories. Blueberries are packed with antioxidants
and ellagic acid. Research has shown that blueberries have the potential
to improve motor skills and reverse short term memory loss that comes
from aging. Studies also show blueberries help maintain urinary tract
health along with blocking metabolic pathways that can promote cancer.
Various studies have demonstrated that people who consume fruits
which are high in ellagic acid are three times more less likely to develop
cancer than those who consume little or no dietary ellagic acid.
Blueberries, as well as raspberries, blackberries and boysenberries, are
higher in ellagic acid than other fruits. To add to the health benefits of
blueberries at Bashaw Valley we grow all our fruit organically. This
accomplished by the use of organic fertilizers, sawdust as mulch and a lot
of hard work, weeding the entire acre by hand each year. We are deeply
concerned about our environment and have personally chosen this
production system to benefit you the customer as well as the
generations to come.
Raspberries
Again trying to diversify our business further and to add to our organic
fruit production in 2006 we planted a quarter acre followed by another 1/2
acre in 2008 of summer bearing raspberries. In 2009 we plan on having
both picked and u-pick raspberries. In 2008 we also planted some cherry
and pear trees. It will be several years before we see the results of the
cherry and pear production and have fruit to sell if this is a successful
venture. We will keep you posted on the progress of the pears and
cherries. In 2009 we are adding more cherry trees and trying a new
variety of peaches along with trying our luck at some organic strawberry
and asparagus production, heaven help us what will be next.
Picking
So you want to try your hand at picking some of our mouth watering
berries?
Both the Blueberries and Raspberries start to ripen about mid July
depending on the weather. We offer both picked and U-pick blueberries
and raspberries. Some picked strawberries may also be available in 2009.
We encourage you to bring your own containers for blueberry picking,ice
cream buckets work great with the aid of a belt. We can also provide you
with buckets and harnesses if you don't have one, then transfer it to a
box free of charge for the ride home. Blueberry & raspberry plants range
2'-5' tall and have mowed grass strips in between for your picking
comfort. We will provide you with pint containers for picking raspberries
which are sold by the pint. It is a good practice to wear a wide brim
hat,sunscreen and drink plenty of fluids during hot weather. We can't
control mother nature and ripening varies, it is a must to call ahead for
picking conditions daily! Pre-picked berries are in high demand and
available on a first come first serve basis. We encourage you to call
ahead to order your pre-picked berries and we'll be glad to fill your order.
If you would like to sign up for our E-letter we will be E-mailing a notice of
when berry picking begins. Just enter your E-mail address in the
subscribe link below.
More Information
If you would like recipes or more information on growing and health
benefits of blueberries & raspberries please check out some of these
web sites.
compliment our retail garden center business. Already operating a farm
we decided to try our luck at fruit production. We were looking for a fruit
in which we could grow organically or in an earth friendly way. After a lot
of research and experimenting with different varieties we decided to try
our hand at growing blueberries. In the summer of 1990 we planted one
acre of Nothblue half-high blueberry bushes, little did we know what we
were getting into. A couple years after planting the patch we were hit
with a freak hail storm with golf ball sized hail, this storm stripped all the
leaves from the trees and took the young plants right back to the ground.
After threatening to plow the patch under several times, and a lot of back
breaking work the plants finally started to make some head way. Finally in
1995 we began our first year of U-pick and retail sales. We have been
picking every year since with the exception of one year. In 2003 we were
blessed with a brutally cold winter along with very little snow cover,
followed by an ice storm which coated the bushes for a couple of weeks.
As a result nearly all the buds, which are set the previous fall, were
destroyed along with most of the plant. This led to no fruit production that
year along with a major plant pruning project which took the entire
summer. This setback affected fruit production for several years to come.
The last three years have also been very challenging after a prolonged
drought. Thanks to a good well and our drip irrigation system we were
able to sustain a fair amount of production. It just goes to show you that
Mother Nature is still in control and that blueberries are no easy row to
hoe.
The History of Blueberries
Blueberries are one of the few fruits which are native to North America.
Vacinnium is the family of all blueberries and includes more than 450 plant
varieties. Efforts in the early 1900's by Elizabeth White and Dr. Frederick
Coville to domesticate the wild Highbush Blueberry has resulted in todays
cultivated Highbush Blueberry industry. North America is the worlds
leading producer of blueberries, accounting for nearly 90% of the worlds
production.
Health Benefits of Blueberries
Blueberries also referred to as "Brain Berrries" are listed as one of the
world's healthiest foods. Blueberries are bursting with nutrients and
flavor, yet are low in calories. Blueberries are packed with antioxidants
and ellagic acid. Research has shown that blueberries have the potential
to improve motor skills and reverse short term memory loss that comes
from aging. Studies also show blueberries help maintain urinary tract
health along with blocking metabolic pathways that can promote cancer.
Various studies have demonstrated that people who consume fruits
which are high in ellagic acid are three times more less likely to develop
cancer than those who consume little or no dietary ellagic acid.
Blueberries, as well as raspberries, blackberries and boysenberries, are
higher in ellagic acid than other fruits. To add to the health benefits of
blueberries at Bashaw Valley we grow all our fruit organically. This
accomplished by the use of organic fertilizers, sawdust as mulch and a lot
of hard work, weeding the entire acre by hand each year. We are deeply
concerned about our environment and have personally chosen this
production system to benefit you the customer as well as the
generations to come.
Raspberries
Again trying to diversify our business further and to add to our organic
fruit production in 2006 we planted a quarter acre followed by another 1/2
acre in 2008 of summer bearing raspberries. In 2009 we plan on having
both picked and u-pick raspberries. In 2008 we also planted some cherry
and pear trees. It will be several years before we see the results of the
cherry and pear production and have fruit to sell if this is a successful
venture. We will keep you posted on the progress of the pears and
cherries. In 2009 we are adding more cherry trees and trying a new
variety of peaches along with trying our luck at some organic strawberry
and asparagus production, heaven help us what will be next.
Picking
So you want to try your hand at picking some of our mouth watering
berries?
Both the Blueberries and Raspberries start to ripen about mid July
depending on the weather. We offer both picked and U-pick blueberries
and raspberries. Some picked strawberries may also be available in 2009.
We encourage you to bring your own containers for blueberry picking,ice
cream buckets work great with the aid of a belt. We can also provide you
with buckets and harnesses if you don't have one, then transfer it to a
box free of charge for the ride home. Blueberry & raspberry plants range
2'-5' tall and have mowed grass strips in between for your picking
comfort. We will provide you with pint containers for picking raspberries
which are sold by the pint. It is a good practice to wear a wide brim
hat,sunscreen and drink plenty of fluids during hot weather. We can't
control mother nature and ripening varies, it is a must to call ahead for
picking conditions daily! Pre-picked berries are in high demand and
available on a first come first serve basis. We encourage you to call
ahead to order your pre-picked berries and we'll be glad to fill your order.
If you would like to sign up for our E-letter we will be E-mailing a notice of
when berry picking begins. Just enter your E-mail address in the
subscribe link below.
More Information
If you would like recipes or more information on growing and health
benefits of blueberries & raspberries please check out some of these
web sites.
Please call ahead for picking conditions or more info.(715)468-2591
North American Blueberry Council
The Worlds Healthiest Foods
US Highbush Blueberry Council
All Recipies
UW Minnesota Blueberry Growing Information
UW Wisonsin Raspberry Growing Information
Raspberry Health Benifits
The Worlds Healthiest Foods
US Highbush Blueberry Council
All Recipies
UW Minnesota Blueberry Growing Information
UW Wisonsin Raspberry Growing Information
Raspberry Health Benifits
Bumblebees a welcome friend
Blueberries Natures perfect fruit
Plump berries waiting to be picked
| And the rush is on! |
Pruning and burning of old wood
Snow is
natures
perfect
insulator
natures
perfect
insulator
| New for 2009 we are now USDA Certified Organic on all of our blueberries and most of our raspberries. In 2010 we will be USDA certified organic on all of our fruit production including strawberries and asparagus. |
New planting raspberries 2008
Mouthwatering raspberries
New cherry/pear orchard 2008
Pickers come in all sizes
Older raspberry patch loaded with berries
| T-Tape drip irrigation has been a life saver the last 4 or 5 extremely dry years. |
| Pickers enjoying the harvest and socializing with friends and family! |
| Mother Nature at work and she still holds the upper hand in fruit production. |
| Beautiful fall blueberry colors with seagulls in the background! |
A cold May morning with overhead irrigation
at work which saved the 2008 blueberry crop!
at work which saved the 2008 blueberry crop!
| Pickers enjoying the weather and the beautiful view. |
| Deer damage led to the construction of this 7'high 9 strand high tensile wire fence in2008 |
| Old Jack Frost at work. |
2009 picking season for Blueberries and Raspberries is almost over.
It was an average year for the blueberries, after last years bumper
crop, but the demand out did our supply. The raspberries were
exceptional and we will have frozen raspberries for sale this year.
Mother Nature still has the upper hand when it comes to our
production, after all it is still farming.
It was an average year for the blueberries, after last years bumper
crop, but the demand out did our supply. The raspberries were
exceptional and we will have frozen raspberries for sale this year.
Mother Nature still has the upper hand when it comes to our
production, after all it is still farming.