Weather

 March in Maine  is a time of transition; fresh snow causes school closings in the cold mornings and a muddy mess in the mid-afternoon sunshine.  The maple trees start to drip with sweet sap, and we will revel at the first Robin sighting, announcing its presence as validation of winter's end. 

March is a busy time on the farm.  The greenhouses smell fresh with seedlings as we hope for good planting weather in the Spring.  We are lining up our summer crew and stocking up on boxes and updating brochures and mailing lists.  Soon we will see the strawberry plants, covered in straw as protection from the winter,  peaking from beneath the snow.  Our anticipation grows, and we can almost smell that summer strawberry scent that looms in the months ahead.  Though there is much work to be done, we can hardly wait for June.

A Family Tradition

Strawberry picking is a unique and easy family trip that can quickly become a yearly summer tradition.  At Stevenson's, we often have car loads of all ages come together to pick, many carrying three generations or more, who come year after year for their winter stock of berries.  It is fun to see families spending time together in our fields.

One of the best things about operating a U-Pick Strawberry Farm is being witness to so many first time pickers.  To little kids, strawberry picking must seem quite the adventure.  The berry plant stand waist height and the rows seem to go on for miles like an endless sea of strawberries, a snack in all directions.  They come out of the fields sticky and red, evidence clearly written on their faces!  So pack up the car with grandma and baby and come on over to Stevenson's, and start a tradition of your own!

Strawberries and Summer Sunshine

Summer has arrived!!  The joy that summer brings manifests itself in the form of beach days, baseball, mowing lawns, sunshine, and most importantly; visiting Stevenson's Strawberries.
 
Today marked our first day of the U-Pick Strawberry season, and we couldn't have had a more perfect, Maine summer day!  The sun was warm, the strawberry juice ran red and we were busy making sure the fields were lush with berries for the pickers.  At the beginning of the season, the strawberry plants are full of all color berries; plush red ones ready to eat, orange ones that need a few more days, and infant green ones for later in the season.  This variety is a good indication that berry picking will last a few weeks!

There are plenty of ripe berries to pick from and folks went home with full boxes, full smiles, and the arrival of summer!

 

2011 Strawberry Season is Heading Our Way!

Here at Stevenson's Strawberries, the summer sun has begun to warm our
fields and strawberry season is just weeks away. We have been blessed with a
fortunate spring; this is the first season since we have been growing
strawberries that we have not seen a spring frost, and the plants have
responded with heavy blossoms. Should the weather continue to be in our
favor, we should have a great season.

We hope you are using the last of your frozen strawberries in preparation
for the new season. Freezer jam is a great way to use them up, and the
recipe below is quick and easy. Be sure to watch our website
http://www.stevensonsstrawberries.com/and facebook page for updates as the season draws near!

Strawberry Jam
5 cups strawberries, thawed and crushed in blender
7 cups sugar (use less if your frozen berries are already sweetened)
1 package fruit pectin
Measure sugar and set aside. Stir pectin into prepared fruit in a very large
saucepan. Bring fruit mixture o a full boil, stirring constantly.
Immediately stir in sugar. Continue stirring and bring to a full bubbling
boil and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Skim off foam with a
metal spoon and ladle into hot jars, leaving 1/8" headroom. At once cover
jars with hot lids. Screw bands firmly. Boil 5 minutes in a hot water bath.
Remove and let cool.