The Inside Scoop

Just a Reveiw...

Top Pick Your Own Farms in Huntsville

by Jennifer Gates at Legend Realty

apples


Picking your fruit is a great outdoor adventure for the entire family with a sweet reward at the finish line. Whether you are trying to have some family fun, or looking to fill those cabinets with good old fashion jams and jellies, Huntsville and the surrounding counties offer several great choices. My favorite is picking blueberries and blackberries, but if apples, pumpkins, grapes or strawberries is your preference, then you’re in luck as Huntsville has several of them. Many counties in North Alabama have a few great pick-your-own farms, but I decided to narrow them down to just Madison, Morgan and Marshall counties since most people who read HuntsvilleScoop.com live in these three counties. I would have listed Limestone County too but only one pick-your-own farm (Isom's orchard) is still open and they only allow you to pick flowers. So pick a day to escape from the city and head down to your local pick-your-own farm for some fun fruit picking.


Madison County:

Boyd Family Farm

Boyd Family Farm

We asked the owner of Boyd Family Farm to give us an update on his farm. Here it is:

The Boyd Family Farm is a 31 acre U-Pick Blueberry and Exotic Animal farm in North Alabama. We are one of the largest U-Pick operations in the area with over 4 acres of blueberries made up of 2000+ blueberry bushes.

We bought the retired blueberry farm in 2018 and have been working tirelessly to renew the farm and provide the best possible experience to our guests. Our season begins in mid-June of every year and runs through the end of July. In addition to the berries, we house a variety of exotic animals that are easily viewable by the public. There is no admission fee, but berries are $2 per pound. Everything is old fashioned and self serve, but of course if you have any questions we're here to help. The farm is part of our way of getting people back outdoors and in touch with nature. We open Saturdays and Sundays of every week during berry season from 8am to 8pm.

Website: Boyd Family Farm

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Brown Farms

Brown Farm

Brown farms was established in 1950 in New Market, AL. While it is known to the public as a strawberry farm, Brown Farms has over 2,000 acres of row crops such as cotton, beans, wheat and corn. The strawberries sit on 15 acres so there are plenty of big ripe juicy strawberries to harvest.

Above is a picture of my daughter picking a bucket of strawberries. We have been coming to Brown Farms for years and enjoy coming out each spring. The best thing I love about Brown’s farm are the amenities. They have restrooms, a nice gift shop and large gravel parking lot. For those who love watering cans and primitive farm décor, there is a good selection here.

Website: Brown Farm

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Harvest Farm Blueberries

Not too much information on this farm except they are still open.

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Hyde's Harvest Vineyard

Hyde's Harvest Vineyard

Hyde's Harvest Vineyard offers several different types of Muscadines: Fry White, Black Beauty, Nobles, Darlene, Carlos, Concord, Norton, and Chardonel. These varieties usually ripen in late August/Early September, so check out their webpage in late August for times to come out and pick some awesome grapes. The vineyard started in 2010 and covers about 2.5 acres of Muscadines. They are $1.50 per pound. The owners ask for everyone call before you come out. They usually open 1 week of September.

Website: Hyde's Harvest Vineyard

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Lavender Wynde Farm

Lavender Wynde Farm

What farm is created without hard work? All farms big and small are created from the ground up with endless chores. If you’ve ever tried to grow lavender in Alabama, you would understand the challenges it carries. Although…. there is this amazing little farm called Wynde Lavender Farm, where they know how to grow lavender quite well. It’s a unique pick your own lavender farm in Harvest AL. that has a neat system set up on how to collect your fragrant beauties. They have a huge parking area set up, and once you come to the front of their field, they hand you a plastic ring, rubber band, and scissors. They do recommend you bring your own scissors if you can. I recommend wearing some good comfy clothes, shoes, and a hat for those hot days at the farm. After collecting your lavender, you also would enjoy their little bistro tables set up with homemade natural skin care products they offer for sale. Also, what I really loved at this farm was their lavender lemonade and refreshing slushies. If you feel inspired to grow your own lavender plant, I noticed they were selling some in pots including rosemary and mints. Oh by the way, that’s me in the picture with my bundle of lavender.

Website: Lavender Wynde Farm

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Mullins Orchard

Mullins Orchard

A fun small farm to visit, especially for the smaller kids as they have a few animals. The Blueberries and Blackberries run out fast, so come out as soon as they open for the season.

Website: Mullins Orchard

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Scotts Orchard

Scotts Orchard

Scott’s Orchard is over a 100 years old. They are literally on the state line of Tennessee and Alabama and have apples grown on both states. Currently they have 18 different varieties of apples on 100 acres and 20 different varieties of peaches on 50 acres. If you don’t like picking your own fruit, then visit their country store with apples, baking mixes, cider, vegetables, honey, jams, jellies, peaches, relish and more for sale. For those that want a good picture, if you call the owner in advance, you can take a picture of their peaches in full bloom around April.

Website: Scotts Orchard

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The Vineyard at Frog Holler

froghllerveneyard.jpg

Beautiful small farm located in Hurricane Valley with a wonderful manicured field of luscious Muscadine and Scuppernong grapes. Owner is very friendly and loves to answer all your questions. Prices in 2019 were $2 per pound or $10 a gallon. The season usually opens in late August but check the website for times and cost. No pesticides are used on muscadine grapes or Scuppernongs.

Website: Vineyard at Frog Holler

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Valley Christmas Tree Farm

Valley Orchard

They were once a Christmas tree plantation but closed their business in 2018. They still sell blueberries and are ready to pick in early June. Their phone number no longer works but you can reach them by Facebook. It is a pick-your-own by honor system. $8 a buck. According to the owner, you can come by any time during the day.

Website: Valley Christmas Tree Farm

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Zook's Orchard

Zook's Orchard

Zook’s farm started in 2013 and have been selling blueberries the past four years. There are over 330 plants with 6 different varieties to spread the season well into the late summer. Zook’s farm also has about 25 rows of wild blackberries. All rows are about 200 feet long and neatly mowed and trimmed. Both blueberries and blackberries sell for $2.50 per pound. Beautiful manicured farm making it easy for the pickings.

Website: Zook's Orchard

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Marshall County

Maggie Valley Berry Patch

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This is a beautiful farm with about 2 acres of strawberries and over 500 thornless blackberries. They also have Muscadines, heirloom tomatoes, herbs, vegetables and cut flowers. A WWII vintage barn was restored which now is the centerpiece of their farming operation. The farm has been featured in some of our best local magazines. The DAR presented the farm with a national conservation award in 2009. Alabama Living magazine and the New Hope Telephone Cooperative both have featured the farm in their publication. Pick-your-own usually starts around mid-April for strawberries and late June for Blackberries. Best to call for updated times and dates.

Website: Maggie Valley Berry Patch

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GNH Farm

GNH Farm

GNH Farms is a beautiful farm located next to Lake Guntersville State Park. The farm was established in 2000 by Jerry and Mary Wenker, with a U-Pick and We-Pick operation. The Wenkers retired from farming and sold their operation to Greg and Natalia who continue the pick-your-own operation. They own 3 acres of mature and very well established Muscadines and Scuppernong grapes. They have 8 different varieties of Muscadines, each with their own distinct flavors. They are also growing Asian Persimmons, one of my favorite fruit. They sell local honey, jelly, jam, preserves, syrup, cider, homemade candles, wine making supplies and more.

Website: GNH Farm

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Morgan County

Mims Blueberry Farm

Mims Blueberry Farm

Temporarily they are not open for pick-your-own but will sell for pick up or at the local farmer’s market. They own about 1000 huge blueberry plants. The first ones were planted in 1980 making some of them about 40 years old. When we went there about five years, they must have been 10-12 feet tall.

Website: Mims Blueberry Farm

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Reeves Peach Farm

Reeves Peach Farm

Reeves Farm was first settled in Hartselle by Thomas Reeves in 1835. The first crops were cotton, corn and other vegetables. Then in 1959, Jack Reeves, the great-grandson of Thomas Reeves grew the first crop of peaches. The farm continuously harvests peaches for 15 weeks and allows pick your own strawberries around the middle of April to June. Pumpkin pickings is in the fall.

Reeves Peach Farm just built a new and beautiful barn style store. They had a lot of produce and specialty items in their old store, so I imagine this will be much nicer considering it is twice as large. For those interested in just picking your own fruit, they advertise specific dates for strawberries and pumpkins on their website. Although they do grow a lot of peaches here, we have never seen them advertise pick your own peaches, perhaps because they are considered a high value fruit.

Website: Reeves Peach Farm

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Any question or need further information? Send me a note.


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