Beds, Berries, Trees…Beef and Honey Bees!

2024 Blueberry Picking at Cloud 9 Farm

Lots of work going on in the patch; We are taking out a lot of Northern highbush plants that have aged out. Sad because they have been the favorite as early producers…Blue Crop, Blue Ray, Blue Gold that always ripened in mid June. We are not expecting enough left to open in June this year. The Rabbit eye bushes are younger and going strong but they start ripening after the 4th of July. So… See you in July 2024.

Anyone want to volunteer to help with pruning or digging out dead bushes? That’s where you’ll find us the month of March!

Check here for opening news.

 

August berries

spot-berry-1
Luscious!
Blackberry row is fun to pick, too!
father and son pick berries_1
Bring the babe with you to pick!
Picking blueberries is a family event
Picked a gallon with two helpers!
A baby bird found in the blueberry bush!
There’s nothing like the fresh antioxidants from the blueberry to maintain your health!

Facilities and Rules

  • Bring a container to put your berries in to take home. We pick in cut-out gallon milk jugs tied around the waist. Then the gallons are weighed and poured into customers’ take-home containers. In fact, if you have any rinsed out milk/water/tea jugs, we can always use more to freshen up our stock.
  • The season begins the last week of June and goes through the last day of July and sometimes into August. It is always best to call ahead or email for an update: 828-628-1758. Also, the picking schedule page keeps updated.
  • Prices are $4.50/pound or $16/gallon (which is a little over 5 pounds). Cash, Venmo or check only.
  • We have rolling to level terrain that is kept mowed. The grass is dewey in the morning so wear waterproof shoes.
  • Bring your own water as we do not have any source for drinking water here.
  • We do have a green, out-house at the bottom of the patch and a port-o-john in the parking lot.
  • We do not spray any pesticides on our plants or berries because we value the native pollinator population and our own honey bees that help make our crop. Besides, we believe you should be able to trust fruit right off the bush as you do the taste test to determine which ones to pick!
  • Well-behaved children only. You must keep your children with you as there are ponds and creeks and poison ivy they could wander into. Our liability insurance is for the patch area only.
  • NO DOGS in the patch.
  • We keep your safety in mind but, as always, be aware of your surroundings.

WARNING: Under North Carolina law, there is no liability for an injury to or death of a participant in an agritourism activity conducted at this agritourism location if such injury or death results from the inherent risks of the agritourism activity. Inherent risks of agritourism activities include, among others, risks of injury inherent to land, equipment, and animals, as well as the potential for you to act in a negligent manner that may contribute to your injury or death. You are assuming the risk of participating in this agritourism activity.

History

More blueberry bushes get planted each year.

This patch was created out of an old corn field in 1967 as a hobby farm for the newly-retired father and mother Peterson to have something to do! After all, the Peterson grandfather raised strawberries and trees in the early 1900s in Minnesota, thus instilling the love of the land.

By 1974, every row in the 4 acre patch was planted and thriving as a U-pick Blueberry patch open to the public by appointment. This patch provided and provides today, the good feeling of purposeful living.

Perspective from Janet, the daughter, “My husband and I took it over in 1996, relieving my 88 year old father, and, blindly, not realizing all the work involved! He continued to do much of the mowing up ’til the age of 91. I have spent time since restoring the patch to its former glory and meeting the challenge of weeds, frosts, drought and sometimes, too much rain.”

The patch continues to serve over 70 families for their U-Pick needs and has seen 3 generations of pickers experience where food comes from. There is nothing like the sweet smell of blueberry blossoms in the spring enlivening the bare shrubs drawing the honey bees and native pollinators to the flowers for a bountiful blue crop in late June.

Directions

Follow your directions of choice below. When you arrive, park right inside the gate or along side the road out of the way of traffic. Do NOT park in the curve as cars come around too fast and spin out on the gravel. If Janet or a care taker is not there, follow Honor System Instructions will be on the table.

NOTE: Do not go to a house or up a mountain. The patch is in the valley along the road.

Directions from Asheville; I-40.

  • Take NC exit 53 A east
  • Go on highway 74 A East for 5.2 miles towards Fairview.
  • R on Emma’s Grove Road
  • Go 1.4 mi.
  • R on Bob Barnwell Road
  • Go 1 mile
  • (You will go past the Cloud 9 mailbox #137)
  • to patch on left/blue gate, tent and hut behind the big pile of mulch.

Directions from Skyland/Arden to Cloud 9

  • Find the Ingles/EarthFare intersection; Turn onto Mills Gap Rd.
  • Cross over the RR tracks, go straight through light which continues Mills Gap Rd (Crossing Hwy 25A/Sweeten Creek Rd.) Go 1 mile to Concord Rd. Turn L and follow Y to where Concord veers to right, you stay straight which is Emma’s Grove Rd. Go 2 miles and pass the Emmas’s Grove Baptist church. Turn Left sharply on Bob Barnwell Rd. Go 3/4 mi. on Bob Barnwell Rd. The pavement turns to gravel at my property line. Your GPS will tell you that you are there but go another half mile
  • (You will go past the Cloud 9 mailbox #137) to blue gate on left. Park in field unless it is raining and too slippery for cars, then park on road. Instructions will be on the table or in the tent. I will be somewhere nearby if you call me at 628-1758.

Directions from Fletcher to Cloud 9

  • Turn onto Cane Creek Rd with a CVS pharmacy on the corner. Go 2.3 mi. to the 2nd light. Go diagonally across Mills Gap Rd. to a continuance of Cane Creek Rd. (sign will point to Cane Creek Middle School).
  • Go another 2.7 mi. Turn L on Concord Road (it comes up fast).
  • Go 2/10 mi. Turn R on Gravely Branch Rd. Go to end. Turn R on Emmas Grove Rd. (no sign) Go 1 mile and turn a sharp L on Bob Barnwell Rd (after the church).
  • You will go past the Cloud 9 mailbox #137 to blue gate on left.
828-628-1758
cloud9relaxation@gmail.com
137 Bob Barnwell Road
Fletcher, NC, 28732
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