In 2014, we decided to expand our Blueberry farm business with the addition of Agritourism.
Our incentive is to develop a Western Town style, family-oriented farm experience.
We will provide:
1. Families and community groups a place to visit and purchase healthy fruits in a fun, family and educational
atmosphere.
2. Maintain a Blueberry Museum, offering information on Blueberries.
3. Pedagogical (educational) issues, such as:
a. How to properly handle Blueberries.
b. How to properly store Blueberries.
c. How to properly process Blueberries and fresh fruit.
d. Demonstrate how to prepare:
1. Fruit pancakes and waffles.
2. Fruit Cakes.
3. Fruit Deserts.
4. The proper method to preserve fruits.
4. A family picnic area.
5. Hay rides for families to enjoy the outside and tour an active, functioning Blueberry Orchard.
We are currently in the first stage of this project.
Stage one:
a. Complete and submit Grant....................................Completed 12/11/2014
b. Design Western Town............................................Completed 12/11/2014
c. Fence in U-Pick Orchard........................................Completed April 8, 2015.
d. Repair/replace security fence Wright Rd...............Completed 12/14/2014
e. Plant 200 Blueberry plants in U-Pick.....................Completed April 8, 2015
f. Prepare for 400 additional strawberry plants.........Completed 11/1/2014
g. Plant additional 1.5 rows Blackberries...................by March 1, 2015 Postponed
h. Prepare vegetable garden......................................by February 15, 2015
i. Order 18'x20' metal building...................................completed December 4, 2014
j. Install U-Pick building.............................................approx. 6 weeks from order date
k. Plant vegetable garden...........................................April 2015, after frost conditions.
l. Purchase 4x4x6’ fence posts for Orchard…………..by December 31, 2014
j. Build frame for Museum/classroom foundation…….Completed Jan. 30, 2015
k. Build frame for Store foundation…………………….. Completed Feb. 7, 2015
l. Build frame for Porta-Jon ADA slab………………….. Jan. 30, 2015
Stage two:
a. Order building materials for facades.........................After February 28, 2015 upon Grant approval
b. Build Western Town.................................................April 1,2015, upon Grant approval
c. Order 30'x26 Country Store building.........................upon Grant approval
d. install Country Store.................................................6 weeks from order date, upon Grant approval
e. Complete inside of Country Store.............................June 1, 2015, upon Grant approval
f. Open Orchards for U-Pick:
1. Blueberries May 2015
2. Strawberries June 2015
3. Peaches June-July 2015
4. Blackberries June 1, 2015
Note: Picking will depend on weather conditions and available fruit.
g. Picnic area:
1. Purchase 4 picnic tables..............................by June 1, 2015
2. Purchase platform lumber, …………………..as fund become available.
3. Build platform…………………………………..as funds become available
h. Parking gravel..........................................................by June 1, 2015, as funds become available
i. Move existing greenhouse..........................................April 15, 2015, when cuttings are ready for potting
j. Move/setup roadside stand in front orchard…………..by February 1, 2015.
k. Setup blue picnic tent……………………………………after last frost in 2015
“Project Progress is listed below”
Progress Up-Date
December 18, 2014.
Attended a meeting with the Halifax County Zoning Department this morning.
I feel the meeting was positive.
We discussed toilet facilities, electrical permit and overall layout of project.
Hope to have final approval shortly.
January 8, 2015
We have installed all metal fence posts for the U-Pick Orchard.
We have installed the customer entrance gate on the East side of the Orchards.
We have installed both maintenance gates on the North side of the Orchard.
January 28, 2015
Due to bad weather, we have had to adjust completion dates on several items. As of today, we
have installed the cement forming frame for the museum/classroom building and the Porta-Jon
cement slab.
All pine logs for our fort are cut and we are waiting for clear weather to start building.
On January 22, 2015 I met with Halifax County building inspector and environmental health
personnel. They are requiring a building permit to install the car ports. We are waiting for the
permit.
All greenhouse vegetables have been planted in 6 pack trays.
I have met with the Halifax County Tourism and Halifax Chamber of Commerce.
I attended the North Carolina Blueberry Council Convention in Fayetteville on January 13, 2015.
I attended the NCANA convention in Hickory on Jan. 16, 2015
January 31, 2015
Completed installing/cementing all wooden fence posts for front orchards.
Installed service gate to South side of Orchard.
February 4, 2015 Finished with Museum foundation box. Started building Country Store foundation box.
February 7, 2015 Started building support braces for Western Fort.
Installed Security fence on East side of Orchard
Completed Frame box for Store, Classroom/Museum foundation.
NOTE: unable to pour cement until we have three days of temp. above 40 degree’s.
March 2, 2015
NOTICE
Due to the bad weather for the last four weeks, we are behind our schedule for completion. We hope to get back on schedule as soon
as the weather allows.
March 13, 2015
The weather has finally allowed us to pour the cement foundations and 10x10 slab for ADA toilet and sink.
The building Manufacturer has been contacted for delivery.
Electrical PVC has been installed.
April 2, 2015
I have been working all week with fence, poles, cutting grass, tilling and rowing garden. We have finally started planting additional
blueberry plants and vegetables.
Vegetable Garden
Blueberry Fence
Peach Orchard Fence
Peach Orchard Fence
Peach Orchard
U-Pick-Produce Trailer
U-Pick Strawberries Blooming
U-Pick Blueberry Orchard
Western Fort going up
We are still waiting for our 18’x20’ Classroom/Museum building.
April 8, 2015 we installed the new Greenhouse, previous greenhouse was destroyed by high winds
On April 12, 2015 we worked on the Western Fort Façade.