It’s been 14 years of TLC,
of pruning them when there is still
snow on the ground,
of protecting them from greedy birds,
of going to tremendous lengths to find
pickers at the season’s peak
– all to ensure enough of a harvest to share some blueberries with our CSA members and our market customers. But enough is enough, the writing is on the wall : nearly half my blueberry plants – ie all my early- and late-season varietals – will either be axed or given away to someone wanting to offer them a new home.
It has not been an easy decision, but it does bring salutary mental and economic benefits.
Whether attributable to inexperience, idealism or a bit of both – it was undeniably a logistical challenge early on to plant 1000 plants (in 8 distinct varieties), a challenge renewed over the years as we faced the vagaries of our schizophrenic summers, total losses due to hard frosts, and partial losses due to fruit flies and/or animals…
In sum, you have to know when to cut your losses
before they weigh you down
– and the agrological moral of the story after all these years is that market vegetable production and small berry production are two very distinct, and often incompatible, trades – with their respective constraints, conditions and pre-requisites. The good news is that a Good Samaritan who had offered to help free up space in the blueberry patch now seems ready to offer the bushes a new home…
Meanwhile, in this week’s basket :
spaghetti and butternut squash, daikon radishes, turnips or rutabagas, carrots, our last peppers, a fine herb and more.
We look forward to seeing you all again.