Berry Farm in Progress
Starting a Berry Farm
In 2011 we bought the farm, literally that is, with fields full of soybean. Following the fall harvest we began work on the berry rows. With the initial soil test from K-State extension service, it appeared we had great dirt but needed to increase the organic matter and lower the pH. A bit of a crazy reversal for the soil as the previous owners had added lime to increase the pH so we were simply helping to restore the natural order.
We incorporated horse manure, over 10,000 pounds of coffee grounds, coffee chaff, Canadian peat moss and pelletized sulfur into the soil.
 Horse poo, smells like moneyMucking in the sun |  Deere power and plowUsing one row plow to turn manure and coffee grounds deep into the soil |
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 Keeping warmMucking even in the cold but you do work up a sweat |  Flyer for coffee shopsGround to Ground, coffee grounds to our berry ground. |
 Don't dump recycle!We saved over 10,000 pounds of coffee grounds that would have gone to the landfill! |  Spreading groundsBerries love caffeine! |
 Coffee chaffIts almost like bean bags, light and smells great |
 DitchwitcherFilling the dirt back into the ditch |  Preparing the pipeThis was the easy part |
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 Pipe along the upper half200 yards plus of pvc |  Connecting the pipesMy fingers were purple for a few days |
 Drip pipe along rowsWe put buckets over the new plants and then mulched |  Drilling holes for the up tubes |
 Lots more planting to doPrepared beds 18" deep |  MulchingWhile better than mucking off the trailer too long a drive to big mulch pile |
 Looking goodNot trying to impress, just never ending mulching. |
Installing the drip system
In 2012 our initial test rows of blueberries, raspberries and blackberries seemed to be doing well. Unfortunately, that was a dry year and we spent a lot of time watering with long lengths of garden hose to keep them moist. So in 2013 we planned for installing a irrigation system. We had prepared 27 rows for planting with over 1000 plants, garden hose watering just wasn't in the future!
Using 1.5 inch pvc pipe, John Deere pressure regulated drip pipe and what was the most confounding connectors (until I read the instructions), we had a drip system ready.
Planting
When planting we mix up "Brownie Batter" for each plant. Takes time rehydrating peat moss, mixing in sulfur and small amount of fertilizer but gets the berries off to a good start.
Weeding is also one of those evils that consumes time. We don't use any herbicides, just weed pulling and torching them.
Mulching is also key to thwarting weeds and keep roots moist. The first year we mulched by hand but we now have graduated to a Mill Creek mulcher. Best money spent!!
 Torching weedsand enjoying a cigar |  Making Brownie BatterPeat moss, sulfur and fertilizer |
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 Shoveling out batter into each hole |  Not the batter you want to lick off |
 Two Year old bare root plants |  Planted rowsWe spaced the planting over 6 weekends |
 Putting up end posts for blackberrie |  Huck and the new row mulcher |