I have an off-grid farm that I started building in 2005, in rural Maine. We raise pigs, chickens, and bees. We grow mostly perennial crops. We sell farm produce in a couple nearby markets. I retired from the US Navy. I am glad to be here on your forum
Welcome from BC Canada and digital Kekistan. Always good to have more gardening folks in the Green Thumb section.
Hello @Out in the woods, welcome to the monkey. Do you sell bee pollen? I bought some at the farmers market and it was pricey. When you say perennial crops are you referring to apples, blueberries etc?
Some customers want additional pollen in their honey. Most beekeepers try to filter it all out. I do no sell pollen separately, as it requires additional stuff to collect it. I have an apple orchard, plums, high bush blueberries, elderberries, grapes, ... We have about 10 acres that produce fiddleheads, and mature maples enough for about 200 taps. I am trying to establish a hedge of lovage. I have a wide assortment of nut and herb trees/shrubs, but few of them have thrived. I do not like prepping soil and replanting over and over every year. With perennial crops you only plant once. The problem of course then becomes dealing with the much larger harvests.
I had never heard of that. I looked it up and will have to research some more. My Mom is back East and she has six blueberries that every year are loaded with fruit. She gets what she needs the calls the neighbors and family to come pick what they want. She also does the same with her quince that seem to grow wonderfully.
I planted 90 blueberries [30 each of 3 varieties]. I am probably about 5 years into it with them, maybe 2/3 of the plants are producing. We fill 6 [5-gallon] buckets for ourselves and invite friends to come pick for themselves. I have never pruned them. I need to start pruning this spring, once the ground thaws and the snow leaves.
Welcome From Colorado! I cannot get apples and pears to grow up here, but Berries thrive very well. Marion Berries, Goose berries, and Elderberries are my specialty crops, but we also have massive black berries, and raspberries as well, and we also have been cultivating our wild Strawberries which are doing very well now that they are all Proof against the wildlife up here, Including our resident berry thief Bear! We are going to try nuts this year, Filberts and Pistachios and maybe some almonds if I can get starts from my Dad.
Welcome to the site! I hope you enjoy it! Sounds like you will be a great source of info, and thanks for serving!