 |
|---|
| FARM NEWS |
|---|
2010 Season a Success
| 2010 has been a year of good crops and many improvements on the farm. We had a slightly above average yield in our blueberry fields, with excellent berry quality. We have increased our trimming efforts in the last several years, and it has resulted in a larger berry size. This summer’s weather with consistently warm days, cool nights, and seasonal temperatures contributed to extremely sweet berries. |
 Our multipurpose building in summer-a gathering place |
|---|---|
 Our multipurpose building closed for winter storage |
A number of long term projects were completed, including our new multipurpose building. Begun a few seasons ago, this latest addition to our infrastructure began as a simple design to store our bulky bird exclusion netting in the off season. As the project progressed, however, we imagined a wider range of usage, and modified the original design in order to receive a maximum return from our investment in time and materials. In concert with our sustainable philosophy, the entire building, with the exception of the treated posts in the post and beam design, was constructed of recycled and/or recyclable materials. Besides off season storage for the nets, farm equipment, and supplies, the building has served as an excellent breakroom for the farm staff. In addition we use it as a meeting facility for local farmers and members of the sustainable agriculture community. It also serves as a gathering place for family and friends for informal meals and planning sessions relating to the farm. |
| Other projects that we take great pride in include several wildlife habitat initiatives. In partnership with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), we established a six acre native warm season grass meadow to benefit ground nesting birds, an eight acre block of successional habitat for Woodcock, and a half acre plot of pollinator specific flowering plants. In addition to these habitat initiatives, we have placed our forested acreage under a professionally managed long-term sustainable plan. This multipurpose plan includes management for Pennsylvania hardwood production, wildlife habitat improvements, and biodiversity. Next season will see an improvement in understory vegetation, with plantings of ginseng and goldenseal , as well as management of our riparian borders along Elk Creek. |  A Woodcock nesting on the farm |
|
|
As the winter weather broke in spring 2011 we began digging plants to sell at the farm. Our 2011 plant sales were a great success. If you missed out on the limited quantity of plants, please be sure to check back again next spring. We begin our sales in mid-March, and the plants always sell out in a hurry. |
CONTACT BY EMAIL:
HunterFarms@yahoo.com