Blueberry Update Mid-May

May Update

Blueberry News

We never know when the blueberries will be ready for picking but everything this year, in 2024, is looking great! There are some indications that even point toward the season starting a little early (maybe). June is the typical berry month, but we may need to start picking toward the end of May if the days get hot. Here are a few photos taken just this morning… in the rain.

may update

May 13, 2024

Looking Good

So far, it looks like we are going to have a record year! Oh my goodness, wouldn’t that be wonderful? It would almost make up for the past two years. Mother Nature is in charge though. And we are thankful for such a mild spring. The conditions have been nearly perfect and you can see the results.

We will post again as these pink and green blueberries ripen.

 

May 13, 2024

 

 

Welcome to April!

so far so good

So Far So Good 😀

March is when the weather has been tricky these past few years. Things warm up for a week or so in February and everything begins to bloom. Then the temperatures dip back into the twenties in March and all the blossoms are ruined. But not this year! March has been very mild.

Here it is April 2nd, 2024 and all the blueberry blossoms are looking good. The bees seem happy and leaves are beginning to appear.

Fingers Crossed

Hopefully this beautiful weather will stick around. Mather Nature gives no guarantees though. I was reading something from last year, and it was really cold on Memorial Day! We will do our best to keep a good mindset that all will be well this year.

Here are a few photos from the blueberry rows last week. Two showing close ups, and one wide shot of a section of the blueberry terraces.

so far so good

 

so far so good

We hope to see you in June

If 2024 is a normal season, then the blueberries will ripen all month long in June. Right now, things are looking good. It’s entirely possible that this will be an early season. We will keep you posted.

Here’s hoping for an abundant June Blueberry picking season!

Free give-a-way

RabbitEye Farm is proud to be a sponsor of Gray Hill School Farm who is giving away seeds, plants and compost! Their event is this Saturday April 6th from 10-noon. Here is a link for more information:  https://grayhillschoolfarm.org/ 

Gray Hill School Farm

 

Holiday ideas for your table

frozen

Hot “specialty” pancakes on a wintery morning (easy)

Think about the feeling if someone said to you, “I’m going you make you some blueberry pancakes.” That’s about the equivalent of saying, “I love you.”

So, let’s talk logistics. Check your freezer. Did you put some of those blueberries from June into the freezer? Well, hopefully you did because this is gonna be super easy. You can use any pancake recipe or mix and elevate it to “specialty-mode” by simply dropping in some frozen blueberries. Yes, frozen and not thawed. Straight from the freezer into the pan, and you don’t have to mix them into the batter either. Pour your batter into the pan and place your blueberries where you want them – as few or as many as you want. Flip as usual, to cook the other side, and voila! You are a hero.

pancake

Homemade Pancake Charcuterie Board with Fruit and Bacon

What about a buffet idea?

Blueberry pancakes on a charcuterie board! Make small pancakes, arrange them on a board and fill in with fruits, nuts, specialty meats or bacon, and cheeses. Pancakes are easy to make ahead too, which is perfect for this type of presentation.

Whether you want to make a savory, sweet, or a combination arrangement, consider tiny pancakes. They also make great finger sandwiches. Whatever you decide to do, it looks best if you have a consistent size pancake. When cooking, try using an ice cream scoop for the batter. (Choose one with the thumb trigger that scrapes the scoop. They come in all sizes.) This is helpful because if you just pour from a ladle, a significant amount of batter sticks to it each time. The key secret is to quickly put the same amount of batter on the griddle each time.

cobbler

Sweet Homemade Blueberry Cobbler Dessert with Ice Cream

Blueberry Cobbler for your Gobblers

Look at the Thanksgiving table and you will mostly see the colors of brown and orange. The turkey is brown, the stuffing is brown, gravy is brown, sweet potatoes are orange, pumpkin pie is orange-brown.

Why not include a vibrant blueberry cobbler? Your deep violet colored dessert will stand out. Folks will think you spent a lot of time on it, but its really easy. You can make this with frozen blueberries too! Again, straight into the cobbler dish from the freezer.

Here is the recipe (which I usually double and use a rectangular glass casserole dish):

Blueberry Cobbler Recipe

In an 8 inch square baking dish, mix:

 

3 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
3 tablespoons white sugar
1/3 cup orange juice
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
…set this aside for now.
In a bowl, combine:
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 pinch salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
In another bowl, mix together:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Then mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.  Drop this batter by rounded tablespoons on top of the berries that are already in your baking dish.  Bake in preheated 375 degree oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown.  (I usually double this recipe.)  This is adapted from a blueberry cobbler recipe on allrecipes.com.

 

Happy Holiday Season!

It’s a special time of year. From Thanksgiving, all the way to St. Patrick’s Day we hope you make many warm and delicious memories! Enjoy your friends, family, and by all means enjoy your food!

 

All Finished

All Finished

The 2023 Blueberry Season has Ended

Thank you to everyone who came out to RabbitEye Farm and picked during this short, hot, thunder-stormy season. It has been an odd year, but we are thankful to have had even the few pick days that we did. We are now closed for the season.

Berry picking season is always too short. Both June and berry picking season is ending. Twenty Twenty-three has proven to be a challenge, but we are optimistically looking forward to next year. Keep us in mind!

Rain Plan NEW Hours

The forecast and rain plan

Rain is forecast for several days. The cloud cover also means picking during the middle of the day is fine and not too hot. The rain plan for anyone interested in picking blueberries this week is to just call or text before you want to come out. The weather is unpredictable so we can’t keep normal hours. So, the NEW hours are that Sunday through Thursday, you can now plan your pick at your convenience anytime (and between thunder storms), but please text or call ahead so we will do our best to accommodate your arrival. Phone: 706-518-8869.

How’s the picking?

The berries, bushes, and grass are all soaked, but there are plenty of big blueberries to pick. You may have to reach a little deeper into the bushes, but you can easily fill a bucket or two. This new rain plan should work out great for everyone… just contact us first to make sure. We are nearing the end of the season so don’t wait too late. Check out these beautiful smiles: