Market Farming

["Margaret L Wilson" <booldawgs AT cavenet.com>]

Blackberry bushes are so rampant all up and down the West Coast I doubt that 
you could sell them.  Lots of kids (and adults) pick and sell them.  I see 
them picking all along the roadsides in season.  We usually pick a lot for 
pies, cobblers Yum!! and jam.  I still have a couple bags in the freezer.  
They are so heavy and thick along the fence lines that the weight of the snow 
on top of them has taken out almost all of my perimeter fences.  I understand 
now why they are so hated and people spray and burn them out.

I grew up in Colorado.  We picked Sarvis berries and choke cherries every 
year.  Aren't Sarvis, Servis, Saskatoon berries all the same thing?  We also 
gathered morels in the aspen tree groves in spring as the snow melted back.  
Gooseberries and thimble berries  were a real treat.  

I am pleasantly surprised to find them growing here in SW Oregon.  We are 
trying to restore parts of the farm to it's original forest.  We serpentined 
most of the drainage ditches so the water doesn't just run straight through 
and off into the roadside ditches.  I planted mulberry trees and transplanted 
sarvis berries, choke cherries and gooseberry plants from along the fence 
lines to the ditch banks.  I understand that we have lots of wild 
huckleberries in the area.  I have never seen them so I don't know what to 
look for.  As soon as the fall rains begin mushroom buyers sprout up all over 
town.  I want to take a mushroom class so I know what is safe and what is 
not.  Lots of Mahonia (Oregon grape) is starting in the trees and under 
brush.  It appears to be a paradise for herbalists.

I love the wild fruits but I am also hoping that they will keep the birds out 
of my cherries, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries as they grow and 
ripen.  I am looking forward to teaching my grandchildren about picking wild 
berries too

Margaret

> Margaret,
> 
> If you have good farm insurance, you may want to contact a local 4H or
> horticultural club.  They may want enough to make those paths for you in
> exchange for the plants they dig!  Kids are always looking to make a few
> dollars.  Why not a berry patch in their yard?
> 
> I certainly miss the patches I grew up around.  I am glad you are finding
> ways to care for them and not just eradicate them or allow them to die of
> disease.
> 
> I have heard the patches that supported our large family all winter are now
> mowed or died from disease/misuse.  A definite loss IMHO for future
> generations.  It was one of the few FUN things we did in those days as a
> family.  Sorry to see other families not enjoying those old patches.
> 
> Christina