2021 Summer Updates

So if you are up to date with the results of spring planting you know we've been quite busy this year. We have faced many challenges and learned a lot of lessons in the meantime. I would not count this year in the win column but I do feel like I got about ten years of elderberry growing education crammed all in to one year.

We started off with the planting and weather challenges from spring and then we were so lucky to move right into a drought witch lasted the whole summer. Technically we are still in a drought but the ground is cooling and wet now so things are at least stable.

I was able to get drip irrigation in which helped with the water a lot, but for a good portion of the cuttings it was too late. A lot of the old-timer elderberry people tell me that some of them may regrow in the spring, and I did see some regrowth after the drip irrigation was able to deliver consistent water to the cuttings but we'll see in the spring. I plan to replant the failed cutting next spring and have also started planning next years rows.

We started marking and mowing new rows this fall for next springs expansion...one bad year wont stop us we have immune systems to boost with these berries! We started some rows on contour to help out with elevation drops on this side of the property. This should help to deliver consistent pressure and volume to the entire rows.

We started mulching rows to combat weeds. We learned some valuable lessons with weeds....stop them before they start because once they take off they want to take over...This was my secondary challenge to the drought, excessive weed growth. Next years plants will be planted as rooted cuttings in to weed barrier mulch so they do not have to compete.

All in all we enjoyed the challenges and the lessons...well some of them anyway, that came our way. Hopefully we will get rain and we will be able to really grow some good elderberries next year. If all goes well we'll be able to stop purchasing berries and use our own on farm sustainably raised American Black Elderberries for our totally awesome Popple Tree Creek Farms Elderberry Syrup.

Next year will bring an approximate expansion of 1/2 acre of plantings of five more varieties of elderberry. A tractor is definitely going to show up as well as a few other pieces of equipment. From there we will see which varieties are most successful and use them to expand further.

If you are here for the syrup please visit the shop, if you are here for the farm please subscribe to the newsletter to stay up to date with what's happening...I have a feeling next year will be exciting!

Dont forget to Follow on Facebook and look for benmac02gt on TikTok for Dad Jokes, Elderberry Info, Recipes and other Northwoods fun...My TikTok is safe for everyone.

Click on Pictures to enlarge and read the story!

Mowing the Rows

This is the only way the drought helped us out, we did not have to mow the rows all that much. I sure do like the look of a nice tidy row.

Baby Elders

It was very depressing as the drought progressed, intensified and just kept going all summer. Little signs of encouragement like this did a lot to help us keep spirits up.

Drip Irrigation

On a normal year we would get plenty of rain to support new elderberry plantings unfortunately this was not a normal year. I always had a plan to install drip but didn't think Id need it right away. All future plantings will be accompanied by drip irrigations, that's for sure.

Elderberry in Bloom

This one is actually planted in front of my house on second year plants. Oh they smell so good.

'Adams' Elderberry

This is one of my 'Adams' cultivars. The Adams seems to succeed a bit better in these conditions than the other variety I planted. I cant wait to see what next year brings. I will be replanting replacements for all the cutting that failed...this time they will receive much more water and nutrient delivered via drip irrigation.

'Adams' Elderberry. .

Another adams picture this one shows another one of my challenges...grass and weeds. Big Lesson plant new cutting into weed barrier mulch.

Visitors to the Farm

We get many visitors to the farm, just starting out the wildlife is very curious about everything we're doing. This is a ruffed Grouse.

Haying

We didn't get much hay this year, but what we did get the organic dairy farmer was very happy to purchase. I don't need it but I'm glad to see it going to a good cause.

We have berries

This is from one of the wild cultivar plants I have growing at my house. What is remarkable about this is that this plant fruited on a first year cane and the fruit ripened evenly under drought conditions. I will be keeping an eye on this to see how it does next year. It may become part of the farm if it is consistent.

Decumbent Cyme!

This is another of my wild cultivars planted at my house that fruited on first year canes. What is exciting about this one is that the cyme in decumbent which will make it harder for the birds to steal all my berries.

Wild Elderberry Cuttings

I found a wild elderberry on the side of the road that looked promising while I was on a busines trip this past summer. I took some cutting to see if they will amount to something good. We'll see next year!

Mulching Helpers!

We got a load of shredded mulch from a local sawmill for mulching rows. Lessons learned here too. I should have waiting to put the much on until the weeds and grass were all dead or dormant in the fall. A lot regrew through the mulch before it had a chance to mat down. Oh well we'll try to burn the weeds and grass down every couple weeks until they submit to the much in the spring.

Gobble gobble gobble

More of our forrest friends coming out of the woods to wish us well on the farm! Wild Turkeys this time.

Mulched Row

Nothing nicer than the look of a nice tidy freshly mulched row!

Family Farm Time

Everybody helps out. This is my daughter and my nephew loading much to spread on the rows.

Second Year Plants

This is the row of Elders I planted last year at my house.

Wild Mustard

One of the many challenges of sustainable farming. Doesn't even taste like mustard...welp its got to go.

Planning for Next Year

Wait that row is not straight...I'm going to plant the side of this little hill on contour to help with water pressure and delivery issues. I have about a 11-12 ft drop in elevation from top to bottom so this should help the whole row get the same water...and it look pretty neat.

Water Source

I purchased a used anhydrous ammonia tank to pull water from a nearby creek to water the elderberries once I was finally able to get drip irrigation in. Next will most definitely bring a well to the farm, I'm so done with hauling water.

Chickens

Upgrade to the chicken coop, it gets dark early up here in the North Land, now the ladies have a light. Maybe they will stop roosting in trees now.

2021 Summer Updates

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