WHO WE ARE

Brandywine Farms was established in May of 1982 on a patch of land six miles south of Rolla, Missouri. Our idea was to establish one of the best pick-your-own blueberry patches in the state. The land was overgrown and we started by removing the larger trees and preparing the soil for our first berries. Neither of us had seen a blueberry plant before we ordered one, and the day finally came to drive to Arkansas and pick up our plants at a local nursery. Our first plantings were small in number so our mistakes would be made on a small scale as well. We faced a steep learning curve trying to glean as much knowledge as possible about planting and tending the young plants.

The plants were hauled back to Missouri in our old Ford pick-up truck that was so heavily loaded the rear bumper nearly bounced along the highway. Reduced to minimal speeds, we began the long trek back to our farm. We purchased potted plants the first year and we spent almost every spare moment laying out the new patch for the plants. We carefully measured to the exact inch in order to keep the plants exactly four feet apart. Little did we realize that Mother Nature was not concerned about being a few inches out of whack. We covered the new plants with a blanket of rotted sawdust for moisture retention and to aid in keeping the shallow roots cool in our burning summers.




After the mulch, came the establishment of an irrigation system. We had chosen drip irrigation to minimize the fungus on the plants. We set the main pipes in place and began to uncoil the flexible tubing and rolled it into place. The emitters each dripped enough water to give the plant one gallon of well water per hour. We hooked the entire system up and were surprised the new contraption worked, albeit with a few leaks the novice plumbers had missed. Although the system was expensive, it has proved to be a lifesaver for us during our droughty periods in the Ozarks. Blueberries are very water sensitive because they do not have root hairs to search for water. While vegetables droop as a sign they need water, blueberries simply begin to die when confronted with dry conditions. Blueberries need one inch of water per week to maintain their growth without stressing the plant.

Since those first exciting days we have continued to grow and expand the farm whenever we have had the opportunity. We have added thousands of plants, a new equipment shed and checkout facility plus additional items that make the customers' experience at Brandywine Farms a more pleasant event. Today we have over three acres of plants, primarily planted in the Bluecrop and Blueray varieties. These two plants are mid-season varieties that seem to grow well in our rather difficult soil.

Once the plants are in the ground, the chore of tending the young bush swings into high gear. We carefully analyze soil pH, rain and irrigation moisture, and fertilize the plants three times per year. Each fall we have several dump truck loads of sawdust delivered to the farm and begin the long two-month process of replenishing the sawdust mulch around the base of the plants. This job is accomplished primarily by scoop shovel, tractor, and truck. The other main activity that keeps us on the job throughout the winter is pruning. During the winter months we go from plant to plant and hand-prune each bush. This enables us to get rid of old wood and diseased areas, and open the canopy of the bush to let sunlight and air into the interior of the bush. The prunings are collected and taken down to a large brushpile where they are burned to eliminate any disease from the farm.




After a winter of pruning, the arrival of Spring and the bees is an exciting turning point in the new season. We hold our breath during the late freezes in hope the delicate flowers will survive or that the thermometer will not touch the freezing mark. The bees tell us we have a lot of work to do to get ready for another crop. For the next three weeks they pollinate the small, white, bell-shaped flowers and begin the process of forming a small, greenish blueberry. From that point forward we are at the mercy of Mother Nature to provide us with enough rain to plump the big berries, and enough sun to push the sugar from the leaves into the ripening berry. As the picking season approaches, checklists that cover a seemingly endless list of activities are worked on frantically in order to be ready for opening day.

This short essay was designed to paint a picture of a season at Brandywine Farms. Dave and Mary Hinze invite you to pick-your-own blueberries during the season and enjoy their hospitality. We hope to visit with all of our old friends and look forward to making new acquaintances. Enjoy the remainder of the web page, and please do not hesitate e-mailing us with your questions or comments.