Whew!

Whew......... that was like writing a novel. Shame on me for saving up all this delicious stuff and serving it to you all at once. But...... now you can save the whole memo and know just what I'm up to right? LOLOLOL A lot of this stuff just came together!

Can't wait to see you all again! The blossoms are HUGE out there right now. Neal said we should set up our own web cam so you could keep tabs on how YOUR strawberries are growing :) I'm guessing we're about 15 - 20 days from harvest - Yipee!!!

Cheers as always!

Sally Strawberry

Eggs

Lee ordered 45 more baby chicks in February. They are due to start laying in July or August. He'll have an assortment of brown, olive, and a few white eggs this time. If we have the Ely stand we will distribute them there. Email me back if you would like to be on my list for egg distribution. The list worked extremely well last year. The girls are laying right now so we could get some of you started on fresh eggs right away.

Anderson's Organics

I spoke with Andersons recently and it's a go this year for veggies. They will be at the Casa stand at least once a week on Saturday. If they were to come more often, what days would you like?? Personally I would choose Wed and Saturday.

IF we were able to ...... would you be interested in veggies at the Ely Rd. stand as well??? Either Andersons or my son Lee might be able to swing it if there was the demand. Tell me what you think.

Blueberries

I can hardly believe it......our blueberries are blossoming! We should definitely have our own blueberries this year. We'll have a a limited supply since the plants are 1 year old and are not mature until they're 8. The production will increase each year. This is a brand new venture for us gang - unfamiliar territory. We'll need to learn everything - harvesting, packing, containers, labeling, etc. But heck...... we did it with the strawberries didn't we??? No worries mate.

Sally Strawberry

Location #2 - need feedback!

Remember the previous messages about a second location????? That idea is still on the table......IF I can show overwhelming support from you to my carpenter hubby. In other words, he'll try to fit it in with all the spring madness farmers experience if I show him the positive support I get back from you.

Here's the scoop........we are thinking of paving the entry (yes PAVING) at our home location - on Ely Rd. North towards Old Redwood Hwy and converting an outbuilding into a stand.

Is this a good idea? How many of you will be able to get berries more often with this other location?

What about the days and hours? I am considering a similar schedule as the Casa stand - daily from 10:30 - 5:30, closed Tuesday. It's on the table if we should close in July when the crop is down. If I had to streamline the days and hours to accomodate labor, harvest, etc. what would you like?? I had thought about W, F, S, Sn from 12 - 5:30 but I want to know what you need first.

On paper everything looks good until you try to DO it!!! I'll be the runner/delivery girl + staffing a second stand and everything that goes with it. A new adventure!!! Ya gotta love it!

Sally Strawberry

Casa Grande days and hours

We plan to open the Casa stand in mid April. Our hours would be 10 - 5:30 daily, closed on Tuesday. In the past, we close on Tuesday AND Thursday when the crop slows down in late June. Last year the season was slightly nuts. We ended up being closed during some of June (remember the heat??) and most of July. We did not close on Thursdays as we (and you) needed all the days we could get. We DID change our hours to 12 - 5:30 to allow more harvest time in the morning and help reduce the amount of times we were sold out during the day. I just couldn't take your sad faces when we didn't have berries for you :(

THIS YEAR - I would like to have this schedule: (notice I italicized like)
mid Apr - June 17 10 - 5:30, closed Tuesday
June 18 - Sept/Oct? 12 - 5:30 (or sold out), closed Tuesday

During this time period it is likely that, as usual, we will be closed on 1 or more of our regular days. Heat and production dictate EVERYTHING we do. We surrender control to Ma Nature.

Any comments or suggestions about our schedule (aside from having no control when Ma Nature closes us down right before your big party LOLOL)

Sally Strawberry

Casa Grande Stand Move

Who noticed the stand in a different place and the NEW parking lot??? PEP housing will be building on our old location this summer. We moved next door, one gate up, from our old spot (and we'll stay there this time). The extra parking will REALLY help. We will put up our ENTER and HOURS sign to help you find the gate again. For your safety, we strongly suggest you turn right as you exit the parking lot. We want to avoid congestion and confusion because of the center island and strip.

Sally Strawberry

Mailing List Update

I send a postcard announcing the season opening every year. If you have moved it's important to let me know so I can edit your address. About 50 come back due to address changes or non-deliverable reasons each year and I delete them from my database.

I would love to move to email announcements as my primary mode of notification and phase out postcards to all but those who need or want them. If you receive a postcard AND email updates AND would be happy with just email please:

Drop me a note with your email address (to confirm it on my list) AND your full name and address (to help me find you on my list and delete).

The email messages are SOOOOO much easier and timely!

Sally Strawberry

Email list update

Hey gang!!!!

Have I been hibernating or WHAT?? It has been a nice, long, restful winter. So much for that..... spring is poppin' now!! I have a ton of things to tell you all :)

Email list update
I'm updating my email list. If you have changes please let me know. I will be happy to add all your friends and family too :) Ask them to send me a message titled "Berry Update list - please add". I delete all unfamiliar messages, so the title is important. I will be happy to delete you from the list if you no longer need updates - just let me know.

Cheers as always!

Sally Strawberry