Small Farm & PYO Potential

This is a photo, not a painting, of a u-pick in Washington. So pretty!

1st step is developing a small section for personal use. Next, decide on a basic strategy: u-pick or not. Since it's a small farm, we'll probably be most successful in specialties and not mainstream varieties.

With u-pick, we'll need a plan for excess fruit: beer, wine, jam, fresh wholesale, dried, juice / ciders, chutney. Possibly we'd like to start our own nursury stock for on-farm use, online sale &/or retail sale. There's not much u-pick in northeast Alabama, possibly because residents typically grow their own, but there's a fair amount of thru traffic between Memphis/Florence and Hunstville.

• blueberries - perrenial, can sell fresh, dried, wine, beer, jam, frozen, or juice, easy to grow organic??
• blackberries - perrenial, highly perishable, can sell fresh, dried, wine, beer, jam, frozen, or juice, well suited for growing in Alabama?
• figs - perrenial, easy to grow organic, highly perishable, can sell fresh, dried, or jam
• kiwis- perrenial, highly perishable, can sell fresh or juiced
• muscadines - perrenial, can sell fresh, dried, wine, jam, or juiced
• watermelons - very good selling price, good market in Alabama
• pumpkins - would make Kaitlyn very happy, good late season u-pick item
• pecan trees - takes 7-10 years to start getting fruit, beautiful tree, possible timber value much later
• other fruit trees: have 3 white peach trees already

With non u-pick, we'd probably want to specialize & develop cultivars best suited for Alabama & sell online to specialty grocery stores & restaurants.

• green onion - good market rate, easy to grow organic
• parsley, basil, and other herbs - good market rate, somewhat easy to grow organic, highly perishable
• garlic - would be interested in varietal plantings of gourmet and selling to grocers, restaurants, and online
• kale
• asparagus - perrenial, love this veggie

Regional Annual Avg Daily Traffic

County Population

Regional Climate

Alabama Wine Tour (we're the pink dot)

Here's a link to a great blueberry reference guide for Alabama:
http://www.agrisk.umn.edu/cache/ARL01713.htm

Puerto Rico Vacation - Agenda Ideas

In a nutshell, Puerto Rico is an American territory (no passport needed); square shaped island, 40mi (N-S) x 110mi (E-W), with several small surrounding islands. Spanish is the main language though the dialet differs from Mexico having been infuenced by Africa, Spain, Armendian, & US.  Approximately 20% of the population speaks fluent English. The median income is $19,000. The landscape is mostly mountainous with coastal beaches to the north & south. The highest point is 4,393 ft. Caverns are located to the north west, rain forest to east, & the world's largest dry coastal forest to the south. The Puerto Rican Trench is the deepest trench in the Atlantic, 5.2 miles deep, found 71 miles north of the island. Average annual temperature is 82 degress without much variation. Baseball & cock fighting are big sports, pork & plantains are common foods, and music & dance (tango) are also big. San Juan is the 4th largest port in the Western Hemisphere & has been subject to many attacks throughout history, thus all the forts.Fort La Fortaleza:  The last 170 governors have resided here, oldest mansion in New World (1533). A World Heritage site.

Fort San Felipe del Morro (see top picture)

Fort San Cristóbal: built in 1797, once walled the entire city of San Juan but 1/3 was demolished in 1897 to ease traffic

El Yunque Dwarf Rainforest: Only rainforest on island. Located in large
park on east end of island. Yunque is in the center of this park.

San Pedrito:  rain forest bird

Coquí: rain forest tree frog

Cock fights: Hosted at Club Gallistico (San Juan) and in Salnia (southern islan).

Mona Island: Snorkling & rock climbing, pristine coral reefs & underwater caverns. Half way b/w Dominican Republic & Puerto rico, about 25 miles off shore

Mosquito (Phosphorescent) Bay at Vieques island: 5 miles east of main island, accessible by ferry. Vieques is a military base though mostly empty. Iguanas & horses roam the island. The 3rd picture is of 300 yr old Ceiba tree. The bio bay is claimed to be most impressive on Viegue island but others can be found at Lajas in La Pargera on southern part of the main Puerto Rico island & Fajardas on the eastern part of the main Puerto Rico island. Some claim the most beatiful beaches in the Carribean are found on Vieques island.

Café Restaurant La Nueva Union: 35 miles west of San Juan. Famous for goat stew, coconut flan, octopus salad & bbq pork.

Historic City of Ponce: Southern part of island, 2nd largest city, known for it's architecture (& crime, like San Juan)

Playa Flamenca: claimed as 1 of Puerto Rico’s prettiest beaches – about 10 miles east of main island of Puerto Rico

Arecibo: NW part of island. Home of the world's largest radio telescope

Camuy: NW part of island. Known for caves & caverns. Puerto Rico hosts the worlds largest underwater river? (not sure if reliable source)

Luquillo: public beach on eastern part of island w/ reef swimming & view of rainforest & easy access to ferry


Caja de Muertos Island: Uninhabited but beautiful small island 5 mi south from Ponce. Known for turtle traffic.

Plantations: Coffee, sugar cane, & tobacco, some museums & some still in operation open for tours. Coffee is still widely made here.

Puerto Rico Museum of Art:

Noche de Bohemia & Canvas Resturaunt: in central part of island, Caguas, Puerto Rico Big on tango & maracas. Other good restaurants- Ostra Cosa, The Parrot Club, Dragonfly, & Tantra.


El Convento Hotel In San Juan: 350 yrs old & $120 - $150 / night.

Cathedral of San Juan-Basilica built in 1520. 2nd oldest (building or church?) in Western Hemisphere, oldest in Dominican Republic.

Casa Blanca gardens: are supposed to be spectacular. Structure orignally meant to house Ponce De Leon but he died before hand. Housed his discendants until 1700s.

Paseo de la Princesa: a very pretty park/promenade in Old San Juan