What we inherited
When we arrived, the blackberry rows—about 1,000 plants—were a jungle. With help from our pastor, Stan, and our friend Carl, we reclaimed the rows and mulched with cow manure. YouTube became my night school; two resources that helped were GIY Guy and this quick primer on Kiowa blackberries.
My biggest mistake? I cut back too much new growth. That cost us roughly half a crop. “In orchards and in life, cutting the wrong thing at the wrong time reduces tomorrow’s fruit.” (See John 15:1–2: the Father prunes for more fruit, not less.)
What We Changed
- Committed to gentler summer tipping and saving primocanes that will bear next year.
- Shifted weeding strategy: regular hand-weeding early, then carefully applied weed/grass killer labeled safe for berries (procured via our local Farmers Co-op and MFA).
- Kept a spray bottle handy during harvest to knock back Japanese beetles while picking.
“Right pruning, right season, right motive.”
Spraying Strategy: Early, Often, and On-Label
One of my first gear purchases was a tow-behind sprayer for the zero-turn. I sprayed as blossoms appeared and again before harvest. Only later did I learn I should have followed with a mid-season spray (4–6 weeks later) and another two weeks pre-harvest for peaches. We also needed a tighter cadence for blackberries (about every two weeks up to harvest). Good gear helps—Tractor Supply has solid sprayer options.
“Diligence is doing the next right thing on time.” (See Proverbs 27:23.)
Harvesting Blackberries: Patience Pays
We learned to pick only fully black, soft-ripe fruit. Then came washing, sorting, and bagging—market work we hadn’t fully planned for. June into July became a joyful grind. “Harvest reveals whether our calendar served the plants—or the other way around.”
Saturn (Donut) Peaches: Birds, Worms, and Timing
The peaches were delicious—when we could beat the birds. Early on, I relied on the “gentle press” test (slight give at the top). But the moment a bird broke skin, worms followed. We salvaged what we could by picking earlier than ideal. For refreshers, I liked this guide: How to Grow Donut Peaches.
Next year: tighten late-season sprays (2–3 weeks pre-harvest) and look at low-stress deterrents (netting, reflective tape, scare lines). “Guard what’s ripening; the enemy arrives when fruit is sweetest.” (Compare Nehemiah 4—build with one hand, guard with the other.)
We have a small grove. Determining ripeness took a village—pastor, neighbors, and online searches. Birds again taught us urgency; we lost roughly half. “Creation won’t wait for our convenience.” (See Genesis 8:22—seedtime and harvest, God’s steady rhythms.)
Asian Pears: Frost, Thin Yields, True Friends
A hard frost hit full bloom, so the crop was light—especially painful since Asian pears are our best seller. A few early pears ripened small; birds pushed us to pick earlier than we wanted. Later, a knowledgeable customer confirmed by photo that the large pears were ready. He even came and helped harvest—turning a light yield into a master class. For basics, this resource helped: How to Grow Asian Pears.
“When in doubt, invite someone who’s already walked the rows.” (See Proverbs 15:22—plans succeed with many counselors.)
The Garden: Rocks, Late Starts, and Small Wins
We got our garden in by early May—barely. The soil in that spot was rocky, but we still brought in tomatoes, beans, peppers, a few cucumbers, cantaloupe, zucchini, and four excellent watermelons. Potatoes underperformed; cauliflower and sweet potatoes are still on deck. “Small wins are still wins.” (See Zechariah 4:10—do not despise small beginnings.)
Tools, Inputs, and the Budget Reality
To steward the land, I picked up:
- Tow-behind spray trailer, pull behind spreader, and a small utility trailer
- Grub control (nearly $1,000 this year)
- Pitchforks, wheelbarrow, fertilizers, plant pots, potting soil
- 1,000 step posts and 20,000 feet of bailing twine
I’ll tally the full spend at year’s end, but here’s the testimony already forming: “Provision often arrives just in time, exactly measured for obedience.” (See Philippians 4:19.)
Lessons We Learned (So You Don’t Have To)
- Research first; buy second.
“Count the cost before you build.” — Luke 14:28
Study your crops, pruning calendar, local pests, frost dates, and spray windows. Interview a nearby grower. - Protect next year’s fruit.
Don’t remove the canes that will bear. Learn the difference between primocanes and floricanes for blackberries. - Set a spray cadence and track it.
Use a simple log: date, target (blossom, fruit set, pre-harvest), product, rate, weather. - Plan for wildlife pressure.
Birds and beetles don’t take days off. Budget for netting/deterrents and expect to hand-pick pests during harvest. - Design the labor flow.
Harvest is only half the job; washing, sorting, and packaging take real time. Enlist help early. - Buy the few tools that save your back.
A reliable sprayer and utility trailer pay for themselves in sanity. - Gather mentors.
What a neighbor says in five minutes can save you five weeks. “Wisdom is quicker than trial-and-error.” - Honor the seasons.
There’s a time to prune, to spray, to wait, to pick. (See Ecclesiastes 3:1–2.) “Hurry is not a fruit of the Spirit.”
Recommendations for New Growers
- Start with one or two crops the first year. Expand later.
- Build a calendar (blossom → spray → weed → harvest → post-harvest care).
- Budget for deterrents (bird netting/visual scares) and pest control.
- Keep records—they’ll be gold next year.
- Use trusted sources: Tractor Supply (equipment), MFA (inputs), crop-specific guides like GIY Guy, Weekand – Kiowa, Donut Peaches, Asian Pears.
“The field teaches the farmer who is willing to be a student.”
Spirit & Soil: Parallels That Kept Us Steady
- Pruning – God removes to increase fruit (John 15).
- Sowing & Reaping – Get the seeds in, and trust God for the rain (Galatians 6:7–9).
- Counting the Cost – Stewardship is worship in work clothes (Luke 14:28; Colossians 3:23).
- Steadfastness – “In due season” is God’s calendar, not mine (Psalm 126:5–6).
“Farming turned our devotions into daily chores—and our chores back into devotions.”
Quick Takeaways
- Do less, better.
- Protect next year’s fruit today.
- Write everything down.
- Fight pests early; deter birds before blush.
- Budget for gear that saves time and tendons.
- Invite mentors; thank them often.
- Trust God with the weather and the yield.
Gratitude & A Prayer
We couldn’t have done this without Pastor Stan and Carl. And we couldn’t have afforded it without God’s steady, sometimes surprising provision. We love this farm and, Lord willing, we’re praying for a decade more of strength to tend it.
“Establish the work of our hands.” — Psalm 90:17
Epilogue: Help Us Plan the Next Series
I’m returning to “Dramatic Family Issues” soon. I’d love your topic ideas—estrangement, reconciliation, boundaries with adult kids, conflict repair, forgiveness, financial friction, blended families, you name it.
Email me your ideas and questions—what would help your family most right now?
PS: Handy Links from this Update
- Sprayers & Implements: Tractor Supply
- Local Inputs & Advice: MFA
- Blackberries: GIY Guy – pruning/trellising, Kiowa basics
- Peaches: Donut/Saturn Peach guide
- Asian Pears: How-to overview
“If you’re thinking about starting your own small orchard or garden, we’re cheering for you. Start small, start soon, and let the land—and the Lord—teach you.”
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Grace and peace to you in 2025.
In His Service,
Ron