The Honeyberry Farm's webstore, HoneyberryUSA, was launched in the fall of 2010 from the log cabin of Jim & Bernis Ingvaldson, located 25 miles west of Bemidji, MN, and 25 miles north of the headwaters of the Mississippi River. With our international connections, (Bernis originated in Canada, Jim in the USA!) we aspire to provide the best selection of cold hardy fruit trees to our customers. Our U-Pick orchard offers delicious fruit all summer and fall. We have 2.5 acres (~1800) honeyberry bushes, an acre of tart cherries, and approx half acre each of saskatoons, currants, and elderberries in our U-Pick. Find out more about us at: Brief Farm History and The Honeyberry Farm blog
In the News:
Miscellaneous Farm Notes
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We put up 7 1/2' woven wire (sheep netting). Deer like to nibble fresh growth on the honeyberries, but they totally prune the cherries. Rain diminished the effect of Plantskyd (blood repellent). Maybe we didn't apply enough. We heard that a liquid mixture of shaved Irish Spring and water applied after each rain is very effective for all nibblers, including rabbits. We personally haven't had much trouble with rabbits but this Garden Web forum has an interesting discussion, from Irish Spring soap on a rope to egg sprays to scented toilet tank cleaners.
Critter fence has been used successfully by some of our customers.
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Bird Control
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LASER
Bird Control Group - This is the company with proven results. The laser is an expanded green beam 1-2” wide that is seen as a physical object by the birds, and with it's constant movement, the birds don't know how to categorize the beam; making the area look uninhabitable, pushing them elsewhere. See FAQ. Units run ~$10,000. Tell them you heard about them from us!
NETTING
Full Overhead Bird Netting Instructions, complements of Bob Thaden, Tongue River Vineyard & Winery, Miles City, MT. Bob says, "If you do it right, you’ll never regret it, and wonder why you didn’t do it sooner!!"
Listen to HoneyberryUSA's KAXE interview regarding netting options.
View PVC Frame instructional video for enclosing a small number of bushes.
Honeyberry Farm netting blog entry
Netting suppliers
Plantra (MN) and Oesco (MA)
We like Plantra's over-the-row netting which installs and stores much easier than other off-the-shelf nets that we have tried. The 3/4" hole is not a problem if suspended away from the plants but traps birds when draped over bushes when they try and stick their heads through. Select Plantra's Multi-Net for netting that birds can't poke their heads through. They also have overhead netting which we haven't tried yet. Oesco's Smart Net overhead netting has worked nicely for us but we did have to mend several rips when the structure was compromised due to very high winds and maybe due to some bird damage.
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Unprotected young Borealis honeyberry chewed by mice during the winter of 2010.
Gardeners in Alaska personally recommended Lowe's Arbor Edge #92700 for both mouse and weed control. The 27" plastic shield apparently deters mice from tunneling towards the tree trunk. But this wouldn't deter the rabbits.
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Jim & Bernis Ingvaldson
