There’s been a lot of buzz about one of Eagle Grove’s newest businesses in town…Backyard Berries. There are a lot of people who are, dare we say it, “berry” excited about the opportunity to pick fresh-grown berries without having to do all the planting, watering, and maintenance themselves. Even better, what’s unique about these amazingly sweet berries is that you don’t have to get down on the ground to pick them…you stand up.
Backyard Berries, located at 1000 South Jackson, is a U-Pick Berry Farm that began as an idea of Jake Van Diest of Webster City. Then he told a few friends and family about it. In October of 2020, right smack in the middle of a pandemic, he and the others decided they were going to do more than just talk about it. They were going to put the dream into action. That group included Jake and Emily Van Diest of Webster City, Jake Wilde and Madi Walker of Eagle Grove, Clark and Lindsay Morgan of Eagle Grove, and Josh and Yalonda Amonson of Woolstock (who actually already owned the land where the berries were planted). After talking with the experts at IBEX Growing Systems, they came up with a way to make their business stand out (or should we say up?) by planting their strawberries in a raised bed.
When warmer temperatures rolled around in early June of 2021, the planting began. These eight partners, with the help of lots of family and friends, planted 12,000 rooted strawberry plants (30 rows) in bags that sit in a structure approximately four feet off the ground. It took them three days to complete.
“I just think it’s really unique and we’re all really happy with how it turned out,” said Jake Wilde, a 2014 graduate of Eagle Grove High School who also has a degree in greenhouse management from Iowa State University.
He admitted though, the plant maintenance and upkeep is a lot of work.
Lindsay Morgan agreed saying “It’s been a lot more work than we thought.”
But the fruits of their labor have all paid off, and now it’s time for all of us strawberry-lovers to reap the rewards. If you’re wondering how they taste? Let’s just say they’ve been kid-tested and kid-approved. The children of the owners have been happy to provide these quality-control measures.
“Usually, when I bring my kids out and pick, I have to make my kids stop,” Amonson said with a big smile and a laugh.
“We think once people get their hands on them and try them, they will realize quickly how sweet the berries really are,” added Wilde.
They gave their operation a trial run last Friday evening, Aug. 20, inviting all those family and friends who helped them with the planting to come out to the patch to pick a few, or a basket full. The comments were all similar as to how good they tasted, and how many berries were on a plant.
You can pick your own and taste them for yourself starting this Saturday, Aug. 28 starting at 8 a.m. They are not sure how long they will be open for picking. It depends on how long the berries last.
“We’re not sure exactly what to expect,” said Amonson. “We just hope people will be patient.”
“We’re still learning,” added Wilde.
While you can bring your own containers if you like, Backyard Berries will have containers available for you to use as well. They have smaller sizes that fit about a pound (more if you stack them high) and handled baskets that fit two or three pounds roughly. Berries will be charged by-the-pound.
Backyard Berries will have 20 of their 30 bushes available for picking this weekend, which means the 10 other bushes should be ready for picking on Sept. 4. They will continue to have weekend picks, and possibly add weekday picking times depending on availability of the berries.
The crew is also hoping at some point that there might be a sunflower or two in full bloom for your viewing enjoyment. If they are, don’t worry, you won’t miss them as they are right next to the strawberries.
When all of the berries have been picked for the season, Wilde said they will drop all of the plants to the ground for the winter when the frost comes. But when spring arrives, they will bring them back up and another crop will grow from the same plants.
Next year, Backyard Berries also anticipates having blackberries and raspberries ready to pick. They have already been planted, they just need more growing time.
“We are excited to bring something new to the Eagle Grove community and for the response that people have given us this far,” said Wilde.
Amonson added that it’s about more than just picking strawberries, “It’s about offering an experience…and a place to gather.”
“It has been really cool doing this with family and friends,” said Yalonda Amonson. “It’s given us a reason to get together even more often.
