Our Farm throughout the Seasons
Winter
Flooding
Shielding our cranberry vines from the winter chill involves flooding the beds with water. We repeat this process multiple times in the winter season with the aim of forming over a foot of ice on the beds, enabling us to drive dump trucks on top of the ice to distribute sand.
Sanding
After we have created enough ice on the beds the sanding process can begin. Using a dump truck, sand is evenly spread on top of the ice, approximately 3/4 of an inch thick. After the spring thaw, the sand filters down to the vines. This stimulates new growth, encourages rooting, and enables the vines to become more productive.
Spring
Planting & Renovations
Old vines are burned off, and the roots are removed. Any excess topsoil is also removed, screened, pulverized, and later sold. Sand is added or removed to make the bed level. New vines are then planted.
It takes about 3-5 years for a new bed to be productive.
Irrigation
After the snow melts, the plants are held under water until the ground thaws. Irrigation pipes are put in place, and frost watch begins for the crew.
If temperatures reach 35 degrees, sprinklers are turned on to protect the plants from freezing.
The crew has frost watch all spring, summer, and fall until harvest ends.
Harvest
Irrigation
Our favorite time of year! Our crew works tirelessly to harvest our 320 producing acres, this will typically take about a month to complete. Join us for a free marsh tour to learn more about the process of harvesting cranberries.
Summer
Blossoms
The cranberry plants begin blossoming in June. We rent about 20,000 honey bee boxes, and X bumble bees. The bees will be on our marsh for about x weeks, they will work hard to pollinate all of our blossoms. The bees get delivered at night when they are least active.
The honey we sell in the gift shop comes from the bees on the marsh.