Porter's Patch

Porter Patch Update

troy — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:08:11 +0000

Hello Friends of the Farm,
Well it has been a very emotional month as our Matriarch of the Porter Family known as “Jeep” passed away. I would estimate that during the years she has picked tons and tons of Strawberries here on the farm, she was always the first in the patch to find the first ripe Strawberry. Forever in our hearts Grandma Jeep =)
Now it’s story time and I would like to share a few. Years ago Grandma Jeep was talking about selling the farm and it didn’t seem like any other family members were interested. I asked if she was serious and let time past. I have a passion for family history and a lot is here at the farm and the neighboring homestead (see history tab at www.porterspatch.com). I thought it would be a shame to see the farm sold out of the family and lost forever. Now the fun began and talks continued with Grandma. I know it was a tough decision for her as she had lived here for 67 years of her life. I guess she felt it was in good hands with me, so I put my house up for sale and it sold in a couple of weeks, so everything happened fast, I was hoping it would be a year, since I did not live in the area. She went on to Appleton and met many new friends, as with her personality who wouldn’t want to be friends with Jeep. Luckily financing the farm was done thru a beginning farmer program and my father and mother had the strawberry operation which I also purchased, because I needed an income off the farm to make this all work. Why I tell this story is that I don’t have an agriculture background, I was in sales in the beer biz for years and also close to retiring from the Navy, so for me to end up here seems odd, at least to me. I guess I was looking for a change, a big change. It has been a little over five years now and we have made many additions and improvement to the farm known as Porter’s Patch, with more to come, I’m always planning. We continue to strive to provide our customers with family fun and a good local source for fresh grown fruits and vegetables and take a great sense of pride doing it. Thanks Grandma Jeep for the opportunity 

Taken at the Farm closing Oct.6, 2006

Many great family stories have been flying around the past two or three weeks and this was a new one I did not hear before. My Uncle on my Dad’s side and I won’t name names; hint I only have one uncle. He was a youngster and planted cucumbers on the farm and was so proud. He found a bag of fertilizer that was his dads and carefully put a handful on each plant and waited for amazing results. I’m assuming to him this was going to be a first in his many crops of his farming future, but it turns out that it was a bag of concrete and took much razzing from his siblings and neighbors. He says he had a firm crop that year. He did go onto become very successful but as you can guess it was not in agriculture. Thanks for giving me permission to share, I think he did.
Growing Memories
Harvesting Fun
Porter’s Patch

TAGS: U-pick, pick your own, pre picked, pyo, you pick, peas, blueberries, pumpkins, squash, cucumbers, dill, raspberries, asparagus, navarino, Wisconsin, Outagamie county, wines, gift baskets, jams, jelly, syrup, hay rides, fall fun, wisc, wi, brown county, green bay area, fox valley, Appleton, Shawano, Neenah Menasha, grand chute, Waupaca county, farm market, Winnebago co, strawberry, northeast wisc, northeastern wi, barn quilts, produce, quarts, pints, wisc berry farm

Updates from the Porter Patch Farm

troy — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:53:30 +0000

Hello Friends of the Farm……Sorry we will all have to wait a bit for these yummy Raspberries

We just returned from a few days down at the Dells for the Wisconsin Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Conference. Once again we learned a lot and will soon implement some of those ideas to our farm. It’s always an exciting time of the year to visit with all the growers from around the state and to meet the new people who are just getting into the biz, and always nice to see our suppliers. The Wisconsin Berry Growers Association have asked us to host the 2012 Summer Field Day and it will be on Fri. June 1st, further info to follow at www.wiberries.org. This will be our time to showcase our farm operation to all other growers and a learning opportunity for us how we can better serve you, our customer, because we could not do what we do without you, so Thank You.

Talk to you soon……Growing Memories, Harvesting Fun – Porter’s Patch

TAGS: strawberries, strawberry, u pick, pick your own farms, you pick, PYO, pre picked, pumpkins, corn maze, pickling cucumbers, squash, asparagus, blueberries, peas, dill, hay rides, fall fun, fruit, vegetables, fresh, produce, farm market, locally grown, green bay wisconsin, appleton wisc, fox valley wi, brown county, outagamie county, winnebago county, northeastern wisc, berry, berries, quarts, gift baskets, jams, jelly, syrups, wines

Strawberry News @ Porter’s Patch Navarino Wisconsin

troy — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:11:58 +0000

Hello from the Farm,

The Strawberry fields are all covered for the winter months. We used oat straw this year & it seemed to work well. We put tons and tons on so the barn is pretty empty. We have winter wheat in the ground growing and that will be harvested and used next fall on the Strawberries.

We have ordered 12,000 strawberry plants and they should arrive around April 1 and the fun will start all over again. Our 2012 Strawberry plot is all prepped and marked out and will just have to wait for spring to arrive. Typically we get the plants in the ground mid to 3rd week in April and it all depends on the weather again.

Our new driveway is in and we will access all the berry fields from a different way, since we are in the back area, it should work out quite nice. Another big change for next year is that the whole season from May to November we will be at the Farm Store, so no moving down to the little Berry Shack for Strawberry season. This will be a big change, but this winter I will be busy making a lot of new signage to help with this process. Looking forward to a great Pick Your Own season coming inJune 2012. Ahhh can’t wait for those sweet juicy strawberries!!

As Always, See You at The Farm

TAGS: pumpkins, wisconsin, peas, blueberry, asparagus, raspberry, pyo, pre picked, u pick, you pick, farm markets, fruits, fresh, gift baskets, wine, corn maze, produce, vegetables, shawano, barn quilts, north east wisc, fox valley area, appleton, brown county, outagamie county, green bay wi, northeastern wisconsin, locally grown, tours, fall fun, raspberries, blueberries

Last Weekend for Fall Family Fun @ Porter’s Patch

troy — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 02:38:16 +0000

: Don’t miss it

Hello From the Farm

This will be our last weekend for all our Fall activities, stop on out for some family fun. Open Sat & Sun 29th & 30th Noon to 4 pm. Play Jeopardy in our Corn Maze and try to find all 13 hidden Jeopardy questions. Try your skill at the Apple Sling and try to shoot apples into a cow barrel. Enjoy a relaxing scenic wagon hay ride around the farm on the Pumpkin Express. Have some fun in the hay play up in the barn loft. See you this Weekend Recommend a call if poor weather conditions

TAGS: raspberries, u-pick, pick your own, you pick, blueberries, raspberry, raspberrie, blueberry, pickles, pickling cucumbers, asparagus, strawberry, strawberries, pre picked, already picked, pumpkin, peas, fruits, fresh, produce, vegetables, squash, corn maze, corn maz, corn mazes, apples, locally grown, brown county wisconsin, outagamie co, fox valley area, northeast wi, northeastern wis, green bay wi, appleton, winnebago county, shawano county, school groups, field trips, pyo, waupaca county, farm market, clintonville, grown local, depere, oconto county, pulaski, neenah menasha, oshkosh, kaukauna, pumpkin farms

WEEKEND FALL FAMILY FUN AT PORTER’S PATCH

troy — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 02:38:47 +0000

Hello from the Farm,

Our fall activities are in full swing at Porter’s Patch. The weather is great, the colors are bright, and families are harvesting memories. Plenty of smiling faces which is always fun. Don’t miss out, join the fun: Play Jeopardy in the Corn Maze, take a relaxing scenic Wagon Hay Ride around the farm on the Porter Patch Pumpkin Express, try your luck at the Apple Sling and sling apples into a cow barrel, draw your best pumpkin face on the silo, enjoy the Straw Play, and of course roam the pumpkin patch for that perfect pumpkin. Bring your camera……plenty of photo opportunities

Saturday & Sundays 12-4pm……Wagon Hay Ride $3…….Jeopardy in the Corn Maze$3……..Apple Sling $2 per bucket……Large pumpkins $5…..Med $3……..Small $2……..Squash $2………Straw Bales $5……..Corn Stalks $3……Colored Corn $3…….Gourds .50cent……Pie Pumpkins $2……….Two & under free for hay ride & corn maze

Our Farm Store is open daily 12-4pm for all your fall decorative needs.

We do take reservations for large groups during the week & offer discounts to a group, call for further info.

See You at the Farm www.porterspatch.com

TAGS: raspberries, u-pick, pick your own, you pick, blueberries, raspberry, blueberry, pickles, pickling cucumbers, asparagus, strawberry, strawberries, pre picked, already picked, pumpkin, peas, fruits, fresh, produce, vegetables, squash, corn maze, corn maz, corn mazes, apples, locally grown, brown county wisconsin, outagamie co, fox valley area, northeast wi, northeastern wis, green bay wi, appleton, winnebago county, shawano county, school groups, field trips, pyo, waupaca county, farm market, clintonville, grown local, depere, oconto county, pulaski, neenah menasha, oshkosh, kaukauna, pumpkin farms

Fall Family Fun on the Farm every weekend thru end of Oct. @ Porter’s Patch, Navarino

troy — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:49:04 +0000

Hello from the Farm….

Our U-Pick Pumpkin Patch will be open every weekend thru the end of Oct. Hours are Noon to 4pm. You & your family can search the Patch for that perfect pumpkin, roam around in our Corn Maze & play Jeopardy, or take a scenic relaxing wagon hay ride around the Farm on the Porter Patch Pumpkin Express, try to hit the Cow Barrel with the Apple Sling , kiddie straw trail, straw play, silo pumpkin face drawing, corn pick’n & shuck’n & plenty of photo opportunities.

The Corn Maze $3………. Wagon Hay Ride $3……..Apple Sling $2 per bucket of apples………..Pumpkins $2 to $5 depending on size…..Gourds .50 cent…..Colored Corn $3…….Corn Stalks $3……..Straw Bales $5…….Squash $2……..Pie Pumpkins $2………Apples .99 cent per lb…….Age 2 & under are free for the Corn Maze & Wagon Hay Ride

Our Farm Store is open DAILY Noon- 4pm for all your fall decorating needs: Pumpkins, gourds, straw bales, corn stalks, colored corn, pie pumpkins, & squash and Apples

Group rates are available for school field trips, just give us a call for further info.

Come harvest memories with us this fall at the Farm

TAGS: pumpkin patch, corn maze, corn mazes, farm, pyo, pick your own, you pick, school tours, school field trips, strawberry, strawberries, raspberry, bluberry, blueberries, pickles, pickling cucumbers, asparagus, farm market, fox valley , northeast wisconsin, wi, wisc, pumpkin wi, picking, picked, green bay wi, northestern wisc, appleton, brown county, outagamie county, waupaca county wisc, Shawano, clintonville, depere, neenah, friuts, produce, vegetables, locally grown, buy local, pre-picked, winnebago county

THE PUMPKIN PATCH, FALL RASPBERRIES AT PORTER’S PATCH

troy — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:02:13 +0000

Greetings from the Farm,

Our Fall (everbearing) Raspberries are ripening, and will be plentiful after Labor Day. We will again offer U-Pick in a couple of weeks. Pre-Picked Raspberries are available by order, however please have patience if you have an order placed or are just stopping in. As always we recommend a call before your trip. Our Fall Raspberries will go until the first frost, which we hope is late September or early October. Raspberries We Pick $4.50 per Pint……U-Pick $3.99 per pound with containers furnished @ no charge.

Pickling Cucumbers (canning pickles) will be coming to an end shortly, so if you need them don’t wait, give us a call soon.

Fall Family Fun will soon be underway. The Corn Maze is cut and ready to go. The Pumpkin Patch is ripening up nicely. The Porter Patch Pumpkin Express will be giving scenic relaxing wagon rides around the farm. The last weekend in September we will start our weekends of fun on the Farm thru the end of October…..Can’t Wait!!

Thank You for visiting Porter’s Patch……soon to be harvesting memories

TAGS: Pick Your Own, PYO,You pick, pumpkin patches, u-pick, corn mazes, cornmaze, gourds,colored corn, school field trips, sunset wagon rides, strawbales, corns stalks, fall festivals, wisc, wisconsin, wi, wis, green bay, appleton, brown county, outagamie county, shawano, fox valley, northeast wisconsin, northestern wisc, scarecrows, nite time corn maze, fall fun, blueberries, strawberries, asparagus, peas, straw bale maze, hay rides, pickles, pickling cucumbers, pie pumpkins, pumpkin face painting, mini pumpkins, squash, barn quilt, farm markets, local produce, locally grown, pumpkin farms, pumpkin fields, fall harvest, fall time, fall decoration

Raspberries & Pickling Cucumbers at Porter’s Patch

troy — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 01:38:08 +0000

Hello From The Farm

PRE-PICKED RASPBERRIES WILL STILL BE AVAILABLE BY ORDER, as always we recommend a call before your trip to the Farm. FYI, we do have Raspberries till it freezes in the fall with all our fall bearing(ever bearing) varieties & will offer U-Pick Raspberries again. Pre-Picked $4.50 Per Pint………..U-Pick $3.99 Per Pound with containers furnish @ no charge

PICKLING CUCUMBERS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE, just give us a call with how many pounds & the size you would like. $1.25 per pound. We also have dill while supplies last.

The Pumpkin Patch will be opening soon

See You in the Patch

TAGS: Pumpkins, peas, strawberries, asparagus, corn maze, colored corn, straw bales, gourds, pie pumpkins, mini pumpkins, squash, hay rides, field trips, school tours, fall fun activities, green bay wisconsin, appleton wisc, fox valley, north east wi, northeastern wis, brown county, outagamie county, pickles, dill, blueberries, farm fresh, farm market, locally grown, shawano, waupaca county

Raspberries at Porter’s Patch

troy — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 01:33:13 +0000

Hello from the Farm

Pre-Picked Raspberries are now available at the Farm Store, Open Daily Noon to 4pm. $4.50 per Pint, 10 Pint Flats available. As always we recommend a call before your trip to place an order.

For those who like to Pick Your Own Raspberries, Wed. & Sun. Only 8am to 4pm. As always please call ahead before your trip to check picking conditions as we do get picked out early and weather conditions can close PYO quickly. We charge $3.99 per pound with containers furnished.

Our Pickling Cucumbers are available, & we are taking orders, just give us a call. We sell them @ $1.25 per pound. Limited Dill will also be available.

Our Corn Maze is growing like crazy in the warm humid weather. The pumpkins are looking great too, not far till fall family fun at Porter’s Patch……Summer goes fast.

Sorry Blueberry lovers, we will only have a very limited supply as we received heavy deer damage over the winter (deer ate half the tops off ). They should rebound for next year and we hope to have a much better yield.

The Strawberries are all rennovated, finished late Sunday nite just before the rains came. This is an important process for the following years yield. This last rain was perfect timing and made the berries berry happy.

See You at the Farm

TAGS: Hay rides, strawberries, u-pick, colored corn, gourds, squash, mini pumpkins, shawano, clintonville, waupaca county, brown county, outagamie, wisc, wisconsin, fox valley area, appleton wisconsin, north east wi, greenbay, raspberries pick your own, barn quilt, berrys, berries, grown local, local fruits, farm market, fresh produce, fresh vegetables, locally grown

Pre-Picked Raspberries Available

troy — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:50:25 +0000

Pre-picked Raspberries are available. As always, we recommend a call before your trip or to place an order. $4.50 per Pint

PYO Raspberries are Wed. & Sun. only 8am – 4pm….weather permiting…..Pick Your Own will not start till Sun July 24th & please call to check picking condition before your trip. $3.99 per pound

See You Soon in the Patch