Support Your Local Farms

We did not get a small garden planted this year as planned. But plans for a decent size garden for next season is already in the works. This summer though, I plan to purchase as much local produce as possiable. As I truly believe in supporting our local farmers. One way I plan to support them is visiting some of the local U-Pick farms in the area to pick fresh berries.

I hope to be able to find strawberries, blueberries and raspberries to made wonderful summer treats and some extra to put in the freezer for this fall and winter.
Here is a list of local U-Pick farms in Ingham county. If you are looking for farms in your area,
just do a google search.

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Ingham County U-Pick Farms

Balzer Blueberries - Blueberries.
2784 S Aurelius Road, Onondaga, MI 49264. Phone: 517-628-2370.
Please call ahead for season opening information and picking conditions.
U-pick and ready-picked; please call ahead for ready-picked. Open: mid-July thru Aug., seven days a week, Monday to Friday, 3-8:30 p.m. Saturday, & Sun. 8 am to 8 p.m. Directions: 2784 S. Aurelius Road, Onondaga. 2-1/4 miles S of Aurelius Center.

Clearview Orchards - apples and pumpkins, wagon rides
1051 Barry Rd Haslett, MI 48840. Phone: 517-655-1454. A family-owned orchard in a quiet country setting. U-pick apples and pumpkins. Also, pre-picked apples, peaches and squash. Asparagus in May. Wagon rides on fall weekends. Open: May, Sept.-October, Tuesday to Friday, 9:30 am to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, 9:30 am to 5 p.m. Sun. 11 am to 5 p.m. Closed Monday. Call to confirm. Directions: From Haslett: go E on Haslett Road to Green Road; turn left on Green and go to dead end. Turn right onto Barry. Go 1-1/2 miles to 1051 Barry Road. From I-69: Exit S on Woodberry 2 miles, cross railroad tracks, left on Barry, 1 mile to 1051 Barry Rd.

Gibb's Berry Farm - strawberries
2838 Gale Road, Eaton Rapids, MI 48827. Phone: 517-628-2253. Email: nobleb@voyager.net. Early, middle, and late season strawberries sold by the pound. U-pick operation runs by member of Onondaga Community Church. A significant portion of the proceeds will go to the new church building fund. Directions: Starting in Eaton Rapids drive E. on State St.(Plains Rd.) approximately 3 miles turn right on Gale Road. drive approximately 3/4 mile on right. Open: June; (depends on weather); Sun-Saturday 8am-7pm.

Gruber Raspberry Farm - raspberries
Changed owners – (formerly Veenstra)
1061 E Sherwood Road, Williamston, MI 48895. Phone: 517-655-2901. U-pick in September & Oct. Call for hours. Closed Sun. Directions: I-96 Exit 117 (east of Lansing), N on Williamston Road through Williamston to Sherwood Road (blinker light). W on Sherwood Road From Lansing, 3 miles E on Grand River Ave. from Meridian Mall, 1/2 mile N on Meridian Road, 2 miles E on Sherwood.

Lechleitner Blueberry Farm - blueberries, pumpkins
1584 W Barnes Road, Leslie, MI 49251 517-676-4220
127 S of Mason 4 mi. to Barnes Road. Go E 2 mi. Between Eden & Ives Road Farms just before Ives Road on N side of Road. U-Pick - early, medium, & late varieties of blueberries depending on availability, and also pumpkins. We are a small family farm with mostly natural produce. We have 6 varieties of blueberries on 1 acre of land. Blueberries come on between late June & early July depending on the season. We have early, medium, & late varieties. Picking can go into Sep. depending on availability of berries. Call for status on picking days and time. Call for pumpkins in the fall. Open: Monday to Saturday 9 am to noon & 4pm-8pm.

Rowe’s Farm Market & Pumpkin Patch -

pumpkin patch, fall raspberries, 10-acre corn maze, pumpkins
4047 W Columbia Road, Mason, MI 48854 517-676-9360.
Email: rowespumpkinpatch@cablespeed.com.
Directions: 127 to Mason/Cedar St. Exit, turn toward. Mason, go around curve to light (Columbia Rd.) turn right, go 2 miles, on S side of Road. Open: September 27 - November 2 2008; Wednesday to Friday from 9 am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday from 12 pm to 6 pm. School tours, hayrides, petting farm, pedal tractors, inflatable activities, homemade donuts & cider, caramel apples and much more. (UPDATED: October 14, 2008)

The Shrimp Farm Market - Michigan’s first Shrimp Farm
3450 Meridian Road, Okemos, MI 48864. Phone: 517-347-4999. Email: shrimpone@aol.com. Directions: Okemos Exit off 96, N to Jolly Road, E on Jolly Road to Meridian, N on Meridian 200 yds. Friday harvests of fresh shrimp throughout the year. Retail sale of all types of shrimp.

Swallowtail Farm - follows organic methods, raspberries, and pre-picked produce 1633 Hagadorn Road, Mason, MI 48854. Phone: (517)980-6634. Email: swallowtailfarm@gmail.com. Directions: We are located 7 miles south of Grand River and 9/10ths of a mile south of Holt Road on Hagadorn. We are two houses south of the "s" curve on Hagadorn Road. Open: daily dawn till dusk. Our fall u-pick raspberries are generally available mid-August through mid-October (depending on weather). We follow organic methods, but are not yet certified. Payment: Cash, only.