Jul 2000
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Strawberry Picking at Crooked HillsBy David BrisonStrawberry picking in the summer is a tradition for many of our area residents. Now, thanks to Jen Farnum and Marcus Saunders of Crooked Hills, we no longer have to travel to Perth, or even further.
It is now possible to pick-your-own at Crooked Hills Farm, on the Burke
Settlement Road near the Ardoch Road. There has been a steady stream of
people dropping in at Crooked Hills, and the picking has been good.
Jen and Marcus planted their first strawberries in the spring of 1998 and last year was to have been their first commercial crop of organic berries. However, they lost 90% of their strawberries to a bug that attacked the blossoms. This year a limited spraying was done. The season has been long and people caught on quickly to the local availability. Very few strawberries were wasted. Jen also had pre-picked berries for those who liked the drive to Crooked Hills, but didn't want to toil in the patch.
Jen
and Marcus have lived at Crooked Hills since 1991. Marcus had a very
successful tree planting business and he and Jen would leave the farm
each year to plant trees. In 1996, he sold the tree planting business
and the couple set about earnestly to become self-sufficient on the
farm.
The results of their hard work are impressive. They have a thriving organic B & B with two separate cottages, and two units in their renovated farmhouse. They planted 4,000 Christmas trees when they first arrived and now sell them on the wholesale market. This spring, they produced 200 gallons of maple syrup. Marcus also sells hay to people who keep horses. This summer he expects to have 4,000 square bales. To top it off they have sold around 1000 lbs. of their own honey this year.
In her spare time, Jen teaches aerobics in Sharbot Lake and has gone to
The University of Ottawa to prepare for elementary school teaching. She
practice taught in Sharbot Lake this year and plans to teach full-time
when she can get a job.
Marcus is content to stay on the farm. But he says humorously that he hopes Jen can get a job with a dental plan.
