9760 Randall Rd
McClellanville, SC 29458
info@bluepearlfarms.com
Naturally grown, chemical-free foods
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Updated Saturday, May 13
Like all the farmers in the area, we appreciated the rain last week and hope for more this coming week. The birds in the woods around us keep looking for the wildly unpruned grapevines that used to house their nests, but they seem satisfied with the alternatives since the vineyard is know showing just this year's growth on the wires. The red muscadines are showing their copper-colored leaves now, and tiny bunches of grapes are forming on all the vines. Cardinals, blue jays, mockingbirds, purple martins, great white herons, the occasional plover, and even an eagle and a swallow-tailed kite are some of the visitors to the farm this last week. Another quarter-ton of wax myrtle stumps went to the dump this week; they look like attack squid from a B-movie when the shallow roots are pulled out of the ground once the trunk itself is extracted from its stranglehold around the blueberry base. Pruning away dead branchlets on the blueberries continues as well, thanks to our volunteer from Texas, and we are keeping a close eye on the berries themselves.
The little chicks we brought to the Pearl in late February are growing fast and apparently like to play king of the hill after dark in the coop with the big hens because there is a lot of thumping around loud enough for us to hear at the house. Summer season vegetables are coming on strong in the garden, from the earliest tomatoes, zuccini and yellow squash, bush beans, corn and more. The bees built up their numbers in their colonies, and are filling up the little wax cells with honey, and the colony that swarmed stayed put in their new home. You can see a video of the swarm and some photos on our facebook page.
It's almost the third Sunday of the month, and that means the Lowcountry Blueberry Jam is coming up. Sunday, May 20, from 3-7 pm, we invite you to join us in the fresh air, in the middle of our 2000 blueberry trees, to enjoy an afternoon of fine live music, great food from our neighbors at Our Local Foods, fine crafts and art beside Cypress Pond, and all kinds of fun for kids of all ages, including the world-famous Blueberry Toss.
At
the farmers markets, everyone is asking when the blueberries will be
ripe. We check them every day, and they are beginning to turn that
bright pink shade that gives this type of blueberry its name:
rabbiteyes. First they turn blue, then they start plumping up if there
is enough rain and get sweet in the warm sun, so let's hope the rain
keeps coming.
º
Blue Pearl Farms is part of the Mt. Pleasant Farmer's Market on Tuesday afternoons now, and you can find us at Pawleys Island Wednesday mornings with crabs and shrimp and the Charleston Farmers Market on Saturdays, once the berries are ripe. If you come by the farm or meet us at a farmer's
market, be sure to say
hello. Several of you have asked for recipes for crab soup and quick and easy shrimp, and you can find them here.
Blue Pearl Farms harvests Atlantic blue crabs for live sale by the dozen or the bushel. Call ahead to inquire about availability and for other information: 843-887-3554.
'Like' us on Facebook, or send a request to info@bluepearlfarms.com to be added to our irregular and infrequent, never-share-your-address email list to keep up with the happenings here at Blue Pearl Farms.
The berry crop was outstanding this year, and we invite you to bookmark us for next year's chance to pick-your-own delicious berries for the freshest blueberry taste starting in early June. We use no chemicals or pesticides on our farm foods to ensure your berries are the best you can eat. You, your family and friends are welcome to visit us at our farm, with its pond, picnic area and vineyard, for pick-your-own fun.
We can make special arrangements for a group, wedding, or birthday party.
Because this is the lowcountry, remember to bring a hat, some insect repellent, sunscreen and even a picnic blanket and folding chairs with you. Shoes and shirt are required while you're visiting our farm, and stools and stepladders are not allowed in the orchard. Some rows are accessible to physically challenged people as is our portalet.
We supply buckets for you to use while picking, and plastic bags for your fruit. We recommend refrigerating the fruit within an hour of picking for finest flavor, so you may want to bring a cooler with you. While you are picking, you can store your fruit in ours.
Please remember, no pets and no smoking. Contact info@bluepearlfarms.com or call us on the farm line at 843-887-3554 for more details.
Blue Pearl Farms is a working family-owned, organic practices farm that we are happy to share with you. Please take a moment to look over these guidelines before you begin your visit.
Things to Enjoy
· Selecting your own dark blue, chemical- and pesticide-free, fully ripe berries from our bushes.
· The picnic area on the far side of the pond, the handicapped and family-size access "nature's calling" facility as needed, and using our recycling and trash bins
· Tasting a few berries to find the bushes you like best
Things to Avoid
· Fire ants, poison ivy, falling in the pond, venomous snakes and Blue Pearl Tongue
o What snakes? Like everywhere in the Lowcountry, the Eastern rattlesnake may be present in shady and cool nooks and crannies.
o What is Blue Pearl TONGUE? That’s what you have if your tasting blueberries for selection slides into gobbling a bit too much for fairness
· Pruning our bushes for us by jerking or breaking limbs to reach a perfect berry
Blue Pearl Farms Berry Picking
Please remember, no smoking and no pets while visiting our farm.
· When you arrive, please pick up a vented basket or two to use for picking.
· We have Super Berry Safety Glasses available for your use, and especially for children, while picking. Please remember to return them when you check out.
· We’ll give you a bag to carry your berries home with you.
When you are ready to go, please bring your berries to the market for weighing.
· Our berries are sold by the pound, and we accept only cash and local checks.
Zelda Grant, a textile/fabric artist you may have met at a Lowcountry Blueberry Jam at the Pearl, is now offering some lovely new, blank photo notecards with envelopes. As a friend of Blue Pearl Farms, she is making a special offer: "First Crop, 2011"
These notecards capture the essence of our blueberries, and are suitable for framing yourself or sharing as a gift. With each purchase, $1.00 will be donated to Blue Pearl Farms. To place an order, please contact Zelda directly at Artzphotographer@gmail.com. Thank you for supporting the arts and Blue Pearl Farms.
