Blackberry Ridge Farm

This is the first year our persimmon tree has made fruit, which, according to old weather folklore, might mean we should prepare for a cold winter. 👀

The Old Farmer’s Almanac has collected versions of this kind of weather lore for generations. One persimmon tradition says that an abundant fruit crop can signal a harsh winter ahead. Another involves cutting open the seed itself: a spoon shape is said to mean lots of snow to shovel, a knife predicts cold, cutting winds, and a fork points to a milder winter with light snow.

Of course, it’s just folklore—not a scientific way to predict the weather—but we love the old traditions that came from generations of people paying close attention to the land and the changing seasons. 🍁

What isn’t folklore is how valuable American persimmon trees are for wildlife. Their sweet fall fruit provides food for birds, deer, foxes, raccoons, opossums and other wildlife, with fruit often hanging on the trees late into the season. That makes these native trees a pretty wonderful thing to have around the farm.

And we’ll save a few for ourselves, too! Philip Hamrick gave me his family persimmon pudding recipe that I can’t wait to make this fall. Have you ever tried it for dessert?

A little local history behind the tenant house. 🏡

We’ve had so many questions about why the house was moved from Cornelius to Blackberry Ridge Farm in Huntersville.

But Thomas Orr’s 1888 map of Mecklenburg County tells an interesting part of the story: both its original home and its new home fall within historic Lemley Township.

So while the house traveled several miles, historically speaking, it never actually left Lemley.

And there’s more to the Lemley story… I have a few old documents and photographs to share next. 👀

We’re planning something festive… 🎄

Join us at Blackberry Ridge Farm for a Christmas Wreath Workshop this November. We’ll gather at the farm and turn these simple grapevine wreaths into something beautiful for the Christmas season.

November 21 • 10 AM

More details + registration coming soon. Save the date! 🌿🎄

Planning spring in September looks a lot like… ordering thousands of seeds. 😂

This time of year, I’m already thinking through what worked, what didn’t, and what we want growing at Blackberry Ridge next spring.

That means choosing varieties that have proven themselves to be prolific, reliable growers—and flowers that hold up well after harvest. Because pretty is important, but when you’re growing on a larger scale, productivity and vase life matter too.

I’m also trying something new this year! I considered making the jump to soil blocking, but ultimately decided I wasn’t ready to completely change a seed-starting system that has worked well for me. So I found a compromise: more durable, reusable seed trays designed for air pruning. The open cells allow the root tips to naturally prune when they reach the air, encouraging a stronger, more branched root system instead of roots circling around inside the cell.

Spring 2027 is officially underway. 🌸

Prepping for race day, but my socks clearly had other weekend plans. I just hope all the missing halves are enjoying themselves wherever they are 🤦🏻‍♀️

I may have mismatched socks, but I will be Rewilding with Human Powered Movement tomorrow at Rural Hill!

The real reason blacksnakes coil up when touched!

🤯When threatened, a harmless blacksnake will coil its body and sometimes even shake its tail in dry leaves to mimic a rattlesnake! It’s a brilliant survival tactic to scare off predators (and humans).

Share this with someone who is terrified of snakes! ✈️