Purple Ridge Farm

Happy Thursday! What a beautiful sunny, summer day. Saskatoons are finished for the season. Summer raspberries are almost done and we are waiting for the fall raspberries to ripen. Fall raspberries should be ready around the first of September. Beets, potatoes, beans, dill are all plentiful. A few peas are available.

Good morning. Yesterday I was happy and loving all the flowers, the berries, the vegetables. At 3pm my attitude took a turn for the worse. What a storm! Hail torrential rain. Over 28mm of rain in 30 minutes. It looked like we should be renting paddle boards and kayaks. This morning the sun is once again shining and although I haven’t yet donned my rubber boots and braved the mud, I think that the raspberries, saskatoons and vegetables have survived the storm. I am not certain how long it will take to dry up a bit. Tomorrow? Thursday? Are there more thunderstorms in the forecast? I will post again tomorrow morning. In the meantime here are some before the storm and after the storm pictures. To all of those whose yards were decimated I am so sorry and feel your pain!

Happy soggy Sunday! When we needed rain there was not a drop to be had. Now we need raspberries and saskatoons to be picked and it won’t stop raining. It will take a day or two for the field to dry up enough for picking to begin again. Rubber boots may be the footwear of choice. Remember that if you are coming to pick raspberries that long sleeves, pants and closed toe shoes are the best. Raspberry thorns are not fun. Really for all picking that is the best. Our crops are grown in the field. Gopher holes, rocks are going to be encountered. We do not spray for weeds or bugs so those are also abundant. Weeds were under control until the rain two weeks ago. Keep in mind that as a small family farm we do have to limit the number of people coming at any one time. Be prepared to slow down. You may have to wait a few minutes for someone to guide you to your picking spot. You may have to wait a few minutes to check out. There are only 3 of us. 2 of us aren’t quite as fast as we used to be. Cash only and appointment only. Enjoy the rain. The moisture is needed.