http://thestrawberryfarm.co.za/The Strawberry FarmVivitiCMS2019-12-01T08:06:00+02:00The Strawberry Farmtag:thestrawberryfarm.co.za,2019-12-01:/entries/1111821 December 20192019-12-01T08:06:00+02:002019-12-01T08:15:50+02:00<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">We have a beautiful day today in the mountains near Hartbeespoort Dam.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Come along for a fun experience of picking and eating your own strawberries straight from the plant in the fields and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air.</span></p>
<p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">As it is nearing the end of our season, you can pick and eat in the fields but there are no strawberries to take home </font></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Stop at our restaurant for a delicious breakfast, lunch or one of our decadent strawberry confections. Our strawberry waffles and yummy milkshakes are </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">a MUST HAVE!</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">DID YOU KNOW?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside !</span></p>
tag:thestrawberryfarm.co.za,2019-11-26:/entries/11117326 November 20192019-11-26T12:33:00+02:002019-12-01T08:17:15+02:00<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">We have had some really much needed rains in the past 2 weeks which have made everything (including the weeds) come alive at an alarming rate.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">As our fields are organic, we do not use any poisons and the weeds have to be removed by hand which is slow going and a very costly exercise.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Our diligent field staff are trying their best to pull out the weeds and expose the strawberries but patience is still required to find them as they are hiding away under the leaves and in some cases (where most of the big and lovely ones are to be found because nobody else thinks to look there) amongst the weeds.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">It is nearing the end of our season and because of this the number of strawberries available are diminishing. There are strawberries to pick and eat in the fields for the experience but none to pick to take home</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Come along early in the day. Stop in for Breakfast at our Restaurant, put on your hats, lather on the sun screen and head out into the fields for some good, wholesome fun and some lovely, healthy strawberries. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">DID YOU KNOW?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Strawberries are very rich in folic acid and are a must for pregnant moms !!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"> </span></p>
tag:thestrawberryfarm.co.za,2019-10-13:/entries/11104513 October 20192019-10-13T08:31:00+02:002019-10-13T08:44:05+02:00<p>What a fabulous day of strawberry picking yesterday. We had some BIG beauts come out of the fields early in the morning. However, it does not matter what the size is, our strawberries always taste delicious.... the little ones sometimes are even sweeter. So look for those. Bigger is not always better!</p>
tag:thestrawberryfarm.co.za,2019-09-05:/entries/1109445 September 20192019-09-05T13:39:00+02:002019-10-02T13:28:32+02:00<p>What a fabulous time of the year !</p>
<p>We are having beautiful Spring weather with all the leaves starting to appear on the trees. The grass is turning green and the world is coming alive again after a long, cold sleep. We have lots of birds singing in our trees, the ducks and geese are laying their eggs. </p>
<p>The strawberry fields are looking good!</p>
<p> </p>
tag:thestrawberryfarm.co.za,2018-11-04:/entries/1096714 November 20182018-11-04T09:23:00+02:002018-11-04T09:26:22+02:00<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Nature is treating us gently. We are having beautiful weather for strawberry picking.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">A great time to relax and unwind.</span></p>
<p> </p>
tag:thestrawberryfarm.co.za,2018-09-11:/entries/109499blog post2018-09-11T14:30:00+02:002018-09-11T15:27:03+02:00<p><u><strong><span style="font-size:16px">Gearing up for Strawberry Picking Season 2018</span></strong></u></p>
<p>Preparations are in full swing for our 2018 Strawberry Picking season.</p>
<p>Lots of activity and excitement is in the air!</p>
<p><strong>See you all soon !!!</strong></p>
tag:thestrawberryfarm.co.za,2017-12-15:/entries/107636The 2017 strawberry picking season is over.2017-12-15T12:01:00+02:002017-12-15T12:14:35+02:00<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">If you have missed it, our 2017 strawberry picking season has ended. We will be open for picking again near the end of September 2018.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">It's been a pretty good strawberry season this year, with record amounts of strawberries being produced by our plants this year.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Now the hard work and preparation for next year kicks into high gear. As you may have read, we have started with preparations for our 2018 season already. Bags have been placed under the new runners, and a lot have rooted really well. From now until the end of next week we will be working flat out to ensure as many plants are rooted in these bags as possible. While the majority of the field staff are seeing to that, others will be ploughing and planting a huge variety of beans. These beans will give nitrogen back into the soil whilst they grow, and then they will be ploughed in, along with a good amount of Epsom Salts, egg shells and banana peels. All of these add natural goodness to the soil, all to help stimulate the strawberry plants, and assist with production of fruit next year. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">This year we will be planting in beans amongst the strawberry plants, along with herbs such as basil, borage, and coriander - not forgetting that we will also include marigolds to the mix too, as they work wonders with a lot of the bugs out there.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">So, enough chit-chat, there is a lot of work to be done.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Thank you to everyone who has joined us this season, to pick and eat our sumptuous strawberries, we hope to #seeyouinthefields next year for an even better picking experience. </span></p>
tag:thestrawberryfarm.co.za,2017-12-10:/entries/107601The last day of strawberry season 2017...2017-12-10T07:24:00+02:002017-12-10T07:32:58+02:00<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">It's another fantastic morning on The Strawberry Farm. It's perfect for picking our delicious sweet, red, organic strawberries.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Today is our last day of picking for the 2017 season, so, if you have missed out this year, today is your last opportunity to pick. The fields have enjoyed the rain over the last couple of weeks - the grass and weeds are testament to this, with their growth being incredible. This also goes to show that we are organic, as if we had been using poisons, there would be little to no growth of these plants amongst the strawberries.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">With this being said, there are still a lot of strawberries in the fields first thing this morning, but it will be a hunt between the grasses and weeds. The fields are fairly muddy still too, making for a good day out in the country - most definitely not a city type experience.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Come out, bring the family, have a great day - don't forget the sunscreen and hats.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">#seeyouinthefields</span></p>
tag:thestrawberryfarm.co.za,2017-12-09:/entries/107597Mud,grass and weeds...2017-12-09T06:59:00+02:002017-12-09T07:06:00+02:00<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">We had even more rain last night meaning that the fields are very wet this morning. The rain over the last week or 2 has slowed the removal of grasses and weeds from the fields, so they are rather overgrown at the moment.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Yes, we will be open for picking today, with a good possibility of picking tomorrow - we will have to play it by ear, depending on how much in the way of strawberries will be left at the end of today.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Beautiful blue skies, chirpy birds and a warm humid day await us. So, get here early to enjoy the pick of the picking.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Don't forget the sunscreen, hats and old shoes or "Wellies"</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">#seeyouinthefields </span></p>
tag:thestrawberryfarm.co.za,2017-12-07:/entries/107590We have one weekend of picking left...2017-12-07T12:14:00+02:002017-12-07T12:14:46+02:00<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Yes, you read right!!! The season will finish this coming weekend. We expected last weekend to be the end of it, but the weather has brought its' side by giving us wet, cool weather. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">All of the plants have been lapping up the rain and flourishing in the cooler weather this week - that includes the grass and weeds. Our field staff haven't been able to get into the fields much at all, due to the weather conditions of the last few days, and some of last week. This has lead to a huge spike in the grass and weed growth. The fields look nothing like they did a few weeks ago, between the extreme growth of "other" plants in the fields, the strawberry plants have been sending out runners like crazy. This makes finding the strawberries more of a "hide-and-seek" adventure, as opposed the relative ease with which they were being found a couple of weekends ago.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">So, if you're into some serious nature adventure this weekend, come out to The Strawberry Farm to get your fill. From a really muddy experience - take off your shoes and walk through the fields barefoot, or don a pair of "Wellies" 'cause the mud sticks like mad, and it's much easier to clean feet or "Wellies" than it is to clean regular shoes, to hunting down elusive strawberries in amongst the undergrowth - they are there, the farmer has been checking on them.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">We will be adding some pictures to our Instagram account during today, to show you guys what the situation is like in the fields. If you're on Instagram, follow us <a class="navigation_external_link" href="http://www.instagram.com/the_strawberry_farm/" target="_blank">@the_strawberry_farm</a>. We will be posting more about what we do and how things are coming along on the farm - from our organic veggies, to preparing the fields for next season, all the way through to spa specials and upcoming events. Yes, it's taking us some time to get to all of these wonderful social media things, we live on the farm, out here technology takes some time to catch up and then still be explored.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Saturday will see the kitchen closing about half an hour earlier than usual, but milkshakes and deserts will still be available until 4 pm.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">We have just checked the weather, for the umpteenth time in the last few days, and it looks like we may be in for a partly cloudy weekend, or the sun might be out in all its' glory, we still aren't 100% sure yet.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">So, bring the kids out to the farm on the weekend (we are still not open during the week, yes, we know it's school holidays officially from tomorrow - last day of school today) for a different experience.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">#seeyouinthefields </span></p>
<p> </p>
tag:thestrawberryfarm.co.za,2017-12-03:/entries/107545Gorgeous weather, get out of the city...2017-12-03T06:53:00+02:002017-12-03T07:14:35+02:00<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and it's a gorgeous morning on The Strawberry Farm. Finished your month end shopping? Enjoyed the Sevens Rugby? It's a perfect day to head out of the city, to get some fresh air and sunshine, along with a healthy dose of our delicious, sweet, organic strawberries.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">We will even throw in a bit of a muddy barefoot experience this morning as we had some fantastic rain last night and the early hours of the morning. </span></p>
<p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">We expect this to be our last day of picking for this season, and there are still plenty strawberries to pick today as the majority of people stayed away to do their month end shopping, along with watching the rugby and any other sports that were on the go.</font></p>
<p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Bring the family for a great day out, or just to experience our amazing organic strawberries. Pack in the sunscreen and hats, as the sun is in full force already. Bring along a picnic, or order something from our restaurant - it's up to you.</font></p>
<p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">The fields open at 7:30 am and we should be open until 4 this afternoon.</font></p>
<p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">We will post here what is happening in the fields this coming week...</font></p>
<p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">#seeyouinthefields</font></p>
tag:thestrawberryfarm.co.za,2017-12-02:/entries/107542This should be it...2017-12-02T06:43:00+02:002017-12-02T07:37:42+02:00<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">It's another beautiful morning on The Strawberry Farm, nice and overcast.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">We have a 60% chance of rain for this morning up to 12 o'clock, after that there doesn't seem to be any chance of rain according to the weatherman, but we all know that he can get it very wrong at times.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">This should be our last weekend of picking for the 2017 season. We have experienced more and more runners on the strawberry plants over the last few weeks, and with the increase of the runners, the production of strawberries drops, until eventually we have no fruit forming. By this point, we have also reduced the amount of field staff required for clearing the fields of weeds and grass, and, with the rain we have experienced this week - around 45 mm in total - the grass and weeds have grown rampantly. The ladies have taken some strain attempting to keep the fields and walkways clear.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">On this note</span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">the fields have a lot of growth in them, and are not clear like previous weekends. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">there are little bags in between strawberry plants to help us propagate the new strawberry plants without disturbing their roots (I'll go into that in more detail in another post) - please do not stand on these bags, and these plants are not for sale (yet).</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">it's going to be a little more difficult to find the strawberries - yes, there is still plenty fruit this morning, just seeing them through the undergrowth is a little more difficult.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">If you haven't managed to visit us this season yet, make sure it is this weekend that you make it out here to us. If you don't make it out to us, you'll more than likely have to wait until late September/ early October 2018 to pick our amazing strawberries.</font></p>
<p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Our irrigation dam is low again, even though we managed to fill it quite well last week. This should be remedied on Wednesday or Thursday this coming week as it will be our water turn again. If your wishing to picnic, rather enjoy our picnic dam or the shade with plenty grass. </font></p>
<p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">There are still mulberries to be had and the blackberries are starting to ripen. The blackberries look just like raspberries, but bigger, before they are ripe. With a little searching through the plants, you may find the odd ripe one - these are a dark purple that looks rather black when ripe. Please only pick these once ripe, otherwise they are not enjoyable.</font></p>
<p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">As far as veggies go, we have the following available for picking:-</font></p>
<ul>
<li><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Carrots- a good variety of heirloom carrots, from white ones to purple ones, with the majority of them being varieties of orange carrots.</font></li>
<li><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Radishes - not just red ones.</font></li>
<li><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Beetroot - Striped beetroot, (Chioggia) albino white beetroot, regular red beetroot, and cylindra- a cylindrical beetroot.</font></li>
<li><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Swiss Chard - similar to spinach, but nicer</font></li>
<li><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Cos lettuce - plenty of it</font></li>
<li><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Cinnamon Basil, and a bunch of other herbs</font></li>
<li><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Beans - Green beans and Purple beans</font></li>
<li><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Baby Marrows - both Green and Yellow Baby Marrows</font></li>
</ul>
<p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">So, with that all being said, get down to The Strawberry Farm to pick a good variety of organic produce this weekend.</font></p>
<p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">#seeyouinthefields</font></p>
tag:thestrawberryfarm.co.za,2017-11-26:/entries/107465The sun is shining...2017-11-26T06:51:00+02:002017-11-26T07:07:56+02:00<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Yup, that's correct - the sun is shining this morning, and there is an odd coolness in the air for this time of year. It's odd for us to experience a temperature of 10°C in November, which is was when we came in to work this morning. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">As you know, it bucketed down yesterday out here on the farm, and this has left the fields a really muddy adventure this morning, perfect for the kids to enjoy what being out in the country is really about - fresh air, sunshine, mud between the toes, and gorging yourself on organic produce.</span></p>
<p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">"Wellies" or gum boots are the order of the day, or feel free to rather bring old shoes or just head into the fields barefoot for the organic experience...</font></p>
<p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Yes, there are plenty strawberries in the fields this morning for picking, but still, get here early 'cause we think it's going to be a crazy busy one.</font></p>
<p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">#seeyouinthefields </font></p>
tag:thestrawberryfarm.co.za,2017-11-25:/entries/107452Safe to come out yet?2017-11-25T08:01:00+02:002017-11-25T08:10:08+02:00<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">This mornings' dash of thunder and lightning has passed, the sun has even made a brief appearance. </span></p>
<p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">We all know Mother Nature is not predictable, and we have more dark clouds on the way - anything can happen.</font></p>
<p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">So, if there is any thunder and lightning, we will close the fields, if it is merely rain, the fields will be open for an awesome, muddy experience. The restaurant will be open, but please note, we have a few larger groups booked around lunchtime today, so seating at that point will be limited- especially if it is raining. The Day Spa, and the rest of the farm, are not affected by the thunder and lightning, only the picking (the Spa is by prior booking only).</font></p>
<p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">That being said... if we don't #seeyouinthefields, we will #seeyouinthefarm</font></p>
tag:thestrawberryfarm.co.za,2017-11-25:/entries/107451Rain???2017-11-25T06:33:00+02:002017-11-25T06:43:59+02:00<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Good morning from a very overcast Strawberry Farm.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Last night we experienced some fantastic, well needed rain, and it looks like it may very well continue this morning. There are rumblings from upstairs, indicating this may be more than just rain, but a full blown thunderstorm. As you may know, if there is lightning, we will close the fields for your safety. We will be keeping a watchful eye out this morning due to the rumblings, and will play it by ear as to whether we will be opening at our regular time, or playing it safe and opening later.</span></p>
<p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">As I type this, the rain has started to fall and there is lightning. We will keep you posted as to when we feel it will be safe to come out and pick.</font></p>
<p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">#seeyouinthefields</font></p>
tag:thestrawberryfarm.co.za,2017-11-18:/entries/107358It's a dash cooler this morning...2017-11-18T06:14:00+02:002017-11-18T07:12:09+02:00<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">If you hadn't noticed, there is a cold front that has rolled through the country. Who would have thought that this close to Christmas South Africa would get to experience snow - is a white Christmas maybe on the cards? The changes in the global climate have become a lot more noticeable. A few seasons ago, we experienced a lot of weekends that were rained out, yet, the last three or four seasons have seen less and less rain- especially over weekends.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">This has lead to us irrigating more - our usually relatively full dam is looking rather sad and almost empty as we speak. Monday and Tuesday see us getting our dam filled again, as it is our water turn in the area. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">As you know, we run an organic farm. We are continually looking at new ways of cutting down on our waste and reducing our carbon footprint. Always looking at how to recycle in a different way, in a way that is more positive for our fields and the rest of the environment. If you head into our fields this morning, you will find a few of the walkways look rather different, don't be alarmed, it is not a rubbish dump, we are looking at reusing our cardboard boxes by chopping them up, and putting them down in the walk ways for few reasons - firstly it's recycling, secondly it's to help keep the ground less muddy underfoot, thirdly we would like to keep as much of the moisture trapped in the soil, to reduce the evaporation that we experience, fourthly at the end of the season, the cardboard breaks down and will be ploughed into the ground, helping us to break up the clay soil a little. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Our farming is evolving slowly as we learn new things and experiment a lot, yes, with us there is a lot of trial and error. Over the last few years the face of our farm has changed, we have implemented a different watering system, expanded our fields, made use of different farming practices and as always, kept it organic. The kitchen uses a lot of eggs, bananas and citrus fruit. We wash the eggshells and soak them overnight, remove the shells from the water and dry them. The shells themselves get crushed by hand (rather chunky) and these get added to the fields, to help deter pests, break up the soil slightly, and add their nutrient content to the ground. The water that the shells soaked in gets filtered and has some Epsom Salts added, then sprayed into the fields, adding a good dose of nutrients for the plants. We go through the same process with the banana peels, except that the peels themselves are added to our compost heap, and we don't add the Epsom Salts to that water. As for the citrus, we boil up the peels and off cuts with water, allow it to steep for a couple of weeks. This has a good nutrient content and the oils keep a bunch of pests at bay.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">If you like what we do, and feel that this may just be the kind of life you would like, talk to us. Everyone has their price.. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Yes, we will be open for picking today, from 7:30 a.m.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Embrace the cooler weather, come out this morning and eat your fill of our delicious strawberries in the fields.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Don't forget the sunscreen!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">#seeyouinthefields #Berrylekker</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"> </span></p>
tag:thestrawberryfarm.co.za,2017-11-11:/entries/107242Been busy...2017-11-11T06:36:00+02:002017-11-11T07:33:39+02:00<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Well hello Saturday!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">What a busy time we have had over the last couple of weeks. It's been so busy that we haven't had an opportunity to post here, apologies for that. Time has just seemed to slip away from us.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">O.K. so, we have passed the halfway mark for our season this year, and from here on out it will be downhill to the end of picking. I'm not saying that there are less strawberries, but slowly there will be less available for picking as we head towards fully fledged summer.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">At this point we start to slow the weeding program that we have in place. You will find a bit more grass in the fields, a bit more weeds too. The farmer starts to focus on propagation of strawberry plants - as this is when our strawberry plants are starting to make runners (baby plants), some have been doing this for a couple of weeks or so, others are just starting. This usually spells the slow decline of strawberry production, hence our picking shouldn't be lasting later than the weekend of 2 & 3 December. Please note that this is not a date set in stone for the final weekend of picking for the year, it may very well end later, but we doubt that it will end sooner- it's all up to Mother Nature.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">We would like to welcome Dennis to our team here at The Strawberry Farm. He is joining us to learn the farming aspect of things, and will be working closely with the farmer for the rest of the season. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Still on the topic of farming, the farm is starting to produce some really good produce. The baby marrows are flowering beautifully, with a few small courgettes on the go, our beans are producing wonderfully - a good batch of green beans as well as purple beans can be picked. We have rainbow Swiss chard, Parris Island Lettuce, Green Salad Bowl Lettuce and a dash of Iceberg (not formed a ball, but hey). The cucumbers are coming along pretty well too, with a couple of them on the vines. The beetroot and carrots are slow to grow at this stage, but we have some great radishes for picking too. As we go along, we will have more and more variety for picking. Oh, and we have the first of our blackberries starting to turn red (the step before going dark purple (black)). So, yes, the veggies are coming through slowly. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Many of you would have met Wendy, the lady that has issued you with wrist bands for entrance this season, she joined us about two months ago. We are teaching her the ins and outs of our reception and of the spa. If you give us a call most week days, Wendy is the lady that you'll get to speak to. Please be a little patient with her, she is new to the area, and she comes from a rather different industry to ours. All good things take time, and we are working on it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">So, off to the fields we go...</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">As always, load the kids in the car, pack in grandma and grampa, bring along some sunscreen and hats, 'cause it gets hot in the fields. Enjoy the fresh country air, and eating your fill of strawberries in the fields ('cause that is what we are about).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">#Seeyouinthefields #organic #slowfood #familydayout #funinthesun #TIA </span></p>
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tag:thestrawberryfarm.co.za,2017-11-02:/entries/107101Time in the fields...2017-11-02T11:09:00+02:002017-11-02T11:09:41+02:00<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Having spent a lot of time in the fields this week, we are happy to let you know that the strawberry fields have an awesome abundance of insanely sweet, organic strawberries. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">After last weeks' water fiasco (which left the fields in a state that "Muddy Princess" could have taken place here), the tractor almost getting stuck, and huge volumes of water flowing through the whole farm, we are happy to let you know that the situation and fields have dried out considerably, making picking much more convenient for this weekend.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The plants are looking fantastic this morning, perked up a lot and are just looking kind of majestic in their own right. Fruit production is incredible, everywhere that you look, our gorgeous red berries are to be seen.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Some of our plants have already started sending out runners. This marks the start of the slowing of production, but don't worry, we will still have picking every weekend for this month. After the end of November, we will have to play it by ear and will keep you guys posted as we go.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">We would suggest that yo get here early on Saturday, to either beat the rush, or the heat, but either way you'd get the pick of the fruit that is available.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">If the weather man is to be trusted (we all know he gets it really wrong, extremely often), we are in for a weekend of good weather, with a little cloud expected on Saturday and a really sunny Sunday. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">On that note - Get here early on Saturday (we open at 7:30 am), pack in the family, bring the grandparents too - we have fresh baked scones - Please leave your pets at home, we have our own... Kids, drag your folks out for a really good day out in the country, awesome fresh air and sunshine, bring along hats, slap on the sunscreen (if you forget it at home, don't stress, we have some in our little shop) and come hungry.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">#seeyouinthefields #berrylekker </span></p>
tag:thestrawberryfarm.co.za,2017-10-29:/entries/107022It's going to be busy...2017-10-29T06:30:00+02:002017-10-29T07:40:00+02:00<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Arriving at work this morning, we are greeted by fine cool weather, the sky was dotted with light clouds (which has now clouded over completely) and the promise of a great day of picking. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Yesterday was a cloudy, drizzly day, which was fantastic for picking as well as month end shopping. The Curry Cup is over for the year, with Western Province beating Natal in the final. All three of these - the weather, payday weekend shopping as well as the rugby - all influenced our picking yesterday. It was a busy morning, which died out as lunch-time loomed. We aren't saying it's a bad thing, we now have loads of strawberries for picking today, a lot more than expected.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">We figure, with the rugby over - some guys will be nursing hangovers, be it from celebrating or drowning their sorrows- and shopping done, we will have quite a lot of pickers and it's going to be busy today. So, get here early!!!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">We open at 7:30 a.m. for picking and breakfast. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">#seeyouinthefields #berrylekker</span></p>
tag:thestrawberryfarm.co.za,2017-10-28:/entries/107010It's wet in the fields...2017-10-28T08:14:00+02:002017-10-28T08:31:08+02:00<p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Yes, we are open for picking... Yes, it's drizzling and wet underfoot... Perfect weather for gorging yourself on our delicious strawberries.</font></p>
<p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">This week saw a wet, muddy beginning. Our farm gets its' irrigation water via a furrow and sluice system that comes from the Skeerpoort river. We share this system with all of the farmers in the area. On Sunday evening last weekend, someone opened a bunch of the sluice gates along the system, which sent all of the water down our furrow, overflowing it into the neighbouring farms' lands, over filling our dam, and flooding some of our fields as well as the path down to the fields. </font></p>
<p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">School groups came through this week and some of the kids freaked out 'cause of the mud, others reveled in it. It's still quite a soggy mess down there, even with us covering a lot of it with grass cuttings and other materials that would go on our compost heap. So, if you're coming through, expect mud - slushy, sticky, hold-onto-your-shoes kinda mud.</font></p>
<p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">This all adds to the fun of farm life. So, come out to the farm today for an undeniably farm (not city) experience. Eat your fill of strawberries - of which there are loads down in the fields. Bring with you old shoes or "wellies" or even head into the fields barefoot. You may even want to bring an old towel, to dry off your feet after you've washed them, once you're done picking.</font></p>
<p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">#seeyouinthefields #ibroughtwellies #funinthemud #dayoutinthecountry </font></p>