Saturday, October 9th we planted 1,488 more aronia melanocarpa berry plants. Bringing our total plantings to 2,388. It sure was a better day to plant than last year! Temperatures were over 75 degrees compared to last year when we planted in coveralls. We had wonderful help and could not have done it without all of them.

This year we drilled holes instead of trenching them in. Partly because the north field was planted in an area which last fall was primarly scrub trees and golf course. So many of the roots were not broken down enough to trench through. In early spring we used a Cat Mulcher to tear through the small timber and clear the field in preparation for this fall’s planting. What used to be two golf fareways and golf holes is no more either. The golf holes were a lot of work and not used enough to justify their labors so in went the berries. He’s just going to the golf course more now instead of mowing his own!

The summer of 2010 may be remembered as one of the wettest, yet the fall has been warm and dry. So since planting, we have been watering and watering! When the berry plants come they are much like an annual plant you would plant in your flower garden. They must be watered and cared for or they will not settle into their new ground. Especially in our heavy clay soils. So we’ve been spending a lot of time on the tractor pulling the trailer with the watering pump and hose connected. It’s a good system until the fuse blows, the battery dies, or someone falls out of the wagon when watering by hand and breaks a couple ribs.

We are looking forward to a wonderful healthy crop of aronia berries in the future. We continue to read and study about the health benefits of these high anti-oxidant fruits and look forward to their benefits on our farm for our family.

Today we laid out the new rows in preparation for our fall plantings.  We’re preparing to plant 1,500 new aronia plants!  Rows will be about 385′ long at the longest point!  It will certainly change the landscape out the window eventually.  It’s amazing when you stop and think about all the work preparing and planting those tiny little plants and what they will look like at maturity.  Oh the miracles of nature!

You wouldn’t believe the transformation taking place on the acreage. After the record-breaking winter’s snowfall, we wondered how the berries would survive. They have! Those small, small little plants are popping out of the ground and getting leaves. They really are hardy! Thank goodness. Our faith is restored each time we walk the rows. Even in areas where the snow was so heavy and the plants sunk in the trench, those little buggers are popping up. They are so forgiving–we know we’re in the right business!