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'The Berry Patch' Grew from Adversity |
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2005-08- by Susan McIver -
Keith and Barb Olson, owners of The Berry Patch at 9932-340th Avenue in Oliver, turned adversity into opportunity. The couple had operated a general contracting business, K & J Contracting, for 25 years when Keith suffered a stroke in 1996. During the following year he overcame most of the effects of the stroke, and wanted to get back to some type of work.
The type was the problem. Construction was out of the question as was continuing to operate the five-acre orchard on the home property. "I couldn't reach up over my head," Keith said.
The couple realized that expanding their small strawberry patch might be the solution. Soon Keith was tearing out the orchard and planting strawberry plants. Today, the Olsons have 35,000 strawberry plants on one and one-half acres, raspberries on another plot of similar size and a few blueberries plus three quarters of an acre in corn, "This kind of work is good therapy for me," Keith said.
Everything the Olsons grow is sold on-farm. The strawberries and raspberries are u-pick, the blueberries are picked by the Olsons to order and the corn is sold by the dozen.
"We've never had any problem with u-pickers. People are respectful of the plants and our property. We ask that dogs stay in the car," Barb said. Most customers are local people, but some come from as far north as Winfield to as far south as Tonasket, Washington. Tourists also love the berries and those who return to the area come back to The Berry Patch.
"Barb is in charge of customer relations and does the books. I do the growing," Keith said. The Olson's daughter, Melanie, runs the field when berries are being picked and helps her father. The Honeyoye variety of strawberry the Olsons grow begins to ripen in late May and runs through June, depending on the weather.
The strawberries are planted through black plastic that controls weeds and raises the soil temperature, resulting in an earlier crop. It also makes picking easier. Good news for raspberry u-pickers - the Tulameen variety at The Berry Patch is thorn less. Raspberries ripen through July. "They're much easier to grow than strawberries - no diseases and they grow upright on wires, which makes them easier to pick," Keith said.
Ripe blueberries are available for a week or two starting in mid-July. The Olsons grow the Patriot variety that grows as high bushes on wires. The bushes are slow to grow, but once mature they can live for 30 to 40 years according to Keith. "Blueberries aren't really recommended for this area, but we had to try anyway," he said.
The corn is Peaches and Cream and is available from early August through Labour Day.
The Olsons do extensive composting using lawn cuttings from the town's landscaping and vegetable debris from the installation and maintenance of power lines. As well, The Berry Patch has given Keith an opportunity to use his mechanical skills. "Equipment such as the sprayer must be adapted for use in small areas," he said.
It's not all work, though. Each year Barb and Keith spend a few months in Arizona. "The nice thing about berries is they don't need care in the winter," Barb said.
Eventually the couple wants to consolidate their operation to the point where Melanie can handle it by herself. They also have two sons and three grandchildren. Call 498-2297 for information. |
