STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 36
BERRY SCIENTIFIC:
N40 Blackberries did its homework before become picking destination
Many good ideas are born during conversations over coffee. For Darla and her husband Richard, that’ s exactly how their blackberry picking farm began. While discussing their love of fruits, Richard stated he’ d like to have 50 blackberry plants.
So they compromised and planted 800.
The couple was still working as a full-time research team at OSU when they decided to move forward with their blackberry plans. Darla is a member of the Payne County Master Gardeners and has loved horticulture since she was a Girl Scout dissecting lima beans at an outdoor adventure camp. Even with this background, they had no idea what was in store for them when they decided to plant some blackberries.
They joined the National Blackberry Growers Association in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and they found mentors in Sapulpa so they could pick their brains( and their berries). Then their two-year journey began. As they quickly found out, you don’ t just buy some plants and put them in the ground. They had to become scientists, meteorologists, botanists and agricultural experts.
Many things had to fall into place just to prepare the soil. OSU Extension picked the site and did soil testing to choose a perfect spot. The couple consulted with irrigation specialists to learn about water pressure and drip size per plant. They experimented with different blends and attended meetings with bigtime farmers. They literally spent two years cultivating the land before they even ordered their plants.
In 2015, Darla and Richard spent two full days planting little tiny blackberry sprigs 6 feet apart and then waiting patiently for six months to see some action. They were taking tissue samples, monitoring water usage and making sure the plants got enough sun. Maintaining the blackberry plants takes constant pruning and pinching. That’ s a lot of work to wait and see what happens when it’ s time to produce.
For the first two years, the couple was still working fulltime. They went from a weather-controlled environment to having absolutely no control, from working in a lab to working in agriculture. They self-financed their entire operation, including several investments like farming equipment and tractors.
“ We have a new respect for young farmers,” Darla said.
Fast forward 10 years and all of their hard work, dedication and patience has paid off. N40 Blackberries has welcomed thousands of visitors, appeared on both“ Oklahoma Gardening” and“ Is This A Great State or What?” multiple times, and even received a Pay It Forward award. Last year, N40 Blackberries U Pick
Blackberry Farm sold 6,650 pounds of blackberries. POUNDS!!( Yes, that’ s roughly 3.5 tons!!) N40 is open seasonly and is located at 8920 N. Western Rd in Stillwater. They offer a family-friendly experience with mowed paths, buckets for picking, and bags for taking your berries home. They also sell their fresh blackberry jam. There’ s always someone to greet you and they’ ve made their farm accessible to everyone including motorized wheelchairs, strollers, and those with walkers. Darla said she knew their blackberries were a hit when she overheard a small child exclaim“ Hello blackberries, goodbye candy!”
Check out their Facebook page and website n40berries. com for news, hours, and recipes. Darla baked me some blackberry muffins for our interview and they were delicious. This was a full-circle moment as we discussed their very first advertisement they placed in the News Press over 10 years ago had the wrong
SwOk address. Not on my watch!
STORY BY: JENNIFER JALBERT Stillwater Oklahoma Magazine PHOTOS by JENNIFER JALBERT
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