The trees are full of berries and we’ve already started harvesting. This is earlier than normal because of this year’s unusually warm spring. It does looks like we’ll have a good crop available for our 5th annual festival.
The Mayhaw trees are natives and nature handles all their needs. Well, we do help by cleaning out all the natural debris. There is nothing artificial added to them. They are in a protected wet area. In fact, in the past it was so full of water that we went out in our canoe during harvest time. This year it is dry and we are using screening, tarps, plastic, and even a parachute under the trees to catch the berries as we shake the trees. The berries last a little longer because they don’t get wet but it is actually harder to harvest them.
There will be a lot going on at the ranch that weekend with hayrides, lamb and kid (goat) petting, seeing the free range chickens, and the big Great Pyrenees guardian dogs. One of our yearly highlights is an old-fashioned Mayhaw Jelly making demonstration. David Ward, our local jelly making expert, has something new this year. He has borrowed an old-fashioned fruit press. David wants to get every last drop of juice for his famous jelly. I’m think of using the pulp for a Mayhaw Butter recipe. You know, like Apple Butter or Pear Butter but Mayhaw Butter instead.
We have a great list of vendors that will be here for added interest. Homemade soaps, honey, fresh vegetables, walking sticks from bamboo, kitchen products, custom made bat houses, and good things to eat. Others are signing up. I’ll post a list soon.
During the festival, we will have berries available generally packaged into one-gallon bags (4 pounds plus an ounce or two). This is just the right amount to make 10 to 12 jars of homemade jelly. The price is $25.00 per bag ($6.25 per pound). There is jelly all ready made for those that don’t want the joy of process. We’ve even added Mayhaw Pepper Jelly to our line this year.
How to get here – Barnes Road is 1 mile north of JCKC and the farm is 7/10th’s of a mile off of North 19. GPS takes folks out 149 or Boston Highway but it is easier to come straight out 19. Look at the map on the Visit Us tab at the top of the website.