MEET THE BEARS . ..

Imagine . .. the  looks the  neighbors  gave  when  they  realized the  farm down the  road,  growing  beautiful  fruit and vegetables , was  really  being  ran by  a  group  of  little  stuffed  bears !     But like  them,   I'm  sure  that  you  will  discover  that  this  is  a  very  magical  place ... Blu  Bears  Garden.

There  are  over  300  posts with  pictures  that  truly  show  the  beauty  of  the  seasons hear  on the  farm as seen  through  the  eyes  of  Blu  Bear , his gal   Straw  Beary ,   field  reporter  Randall  O'Beary ,  traffic  &  web manager  Choo Cho,  medic and  human  resources  Mikey  and his team  leader  Ike.   Together  with  their  friends  they'll  share  the  many  adventures and  wonders that come  to  life  before  you're  eyes.  

Hello  again ,    the bears  appreciate  your  visit!   Although  we didn't  have  the  ability  to  keep  updating  this year's  gardening  posts, the bears  would  like  to  tell  you  about  the  new greenhouse  /  high  tunnel ,  and  the amazing  test  crop  results .    We  hope  that  you  will  continue  to  read  our older  posts , and  invite  your friends .   For  a review  of  the  garden  from  the  2015 growing season ,  please  check  out  our  Facebook  pages  BLU  BEARS  GARDEN    and   Randall  Paul  Nalett ,    close  personal  friends with  field  reporter  Randall  O'Beary . 

We're planning  on  exciting  things  for  the  next  season ,  and this  blog .    Your   pal,   Blu  Bear  9

GREEN HOUSE CONSTRUCTION BEGINS

The  posts  are in!  Now  the  bears  take  over  the  task  of assembly  of the  heavy  duty  metal  frame!  This  is  one  time  that  they  really  count on some  people  power!

Watch  for  the  exciting  new  changes  coming  to  the  farm!

Keep  gardening ,  your  pal

Blu  Bear

NEW UPDATES COMMING SOON !

As the bears  scramble  to finish  getting  the  crops  in, they  have  been  unable  to  keep  up  with  everything  that  has been  happening  here  on the  farm.

Just  to let  you  know  that  they are  thinking  of  you, and  hopefully  we  will  be  able  to  make  sure  you  get  the  latest  news.

The  green  house  posts  have  been  set , and  construction  begins  this  week ...

Strawberry  picking  every  day  now ...

THE NEW GREEN HOUSE 30' X 48' HAS ARRIVED !

Finally , after all  the waiting , the  new  high  tunnel   (think  green  house  )  has been  delivered .  The  bears  know  that  you  have  been  waiting  for  the  planting  season  to get  growing ...and we are all very  sorry  that  we have  been  able  to  keep  you  posted .  

Straw Beary  was out  in the  garden  weeding  her berry  patch, and  wanted  to  let  you  know  that  they  are starting  to  look  great .  She  picked  her  first  little  bowl ,  so  that  means  we are going  to  be  out  there  every  day  with  baskets!

We've got  a  million  things  to  do  so please  check  out  some of  our older  posts,  with   all the  photos  of  the  past  few  years.

I  hope  to  see  you  visit  again  soon!  Oh, before  I  go,  I  have  to welcome  our new readers  from China!  The  bears  were  extremely  happy  that  you  were  able  to  log  on.

Your  pal,   Blu  Bear

Farmer Larry Reports on Garden's Soil Condition

" Farmer  Larry  "  has appeared  in  many  posts  over  the  years .   His efforts  to  make  Blu  Bears  Garden   successful  have  made  for  some  great  photos,  stories and smiles.   But, he has  discovered  that   the  42,000  sq  ft  of  planting area  is  in need  of  some  serious  help .

Yep...it's  gonna  take  a  ripper  and  the  disk, and the disk, and the  disk,  then  the  finisher!  That's  three  different  pieces  of  equipment.   And  I  think  he  said  "and the  disk"  three times  for  a reason!

We have  experimented with  no till planting  last  year, and found  that  the  clay soil  becomes too compacted.  Or maybe  you  could  say  " hard  as a rock "  !!!  And  we also  learned  that  ground  has to  be  almost  perfect  for  the  seed planter

Larry  Gerken  @ Blu  Bears  Garden  

to grow  lettuce, radishes  and  carrots.  What's  important  about  these  types  of  crops  is multiple  plantings.  Some  radishes  are ready  to  eat  in less than  a  month so we can  plant it many times  a year.

The  bears  know  that  to make  the  most  of  the  garden, some  tilling  needs to be done  often.   A new  rottotiller ,  and  a small  tractor  will  be  the  next  additions to  the  farm ,   God willing.  And the  new  high  tunnel  (  think  30'  x  48'  green  house  )  should  be  arriving  any  time .  In short, the  bears  have  their  work  cut  out  for  them.   Don't  forget,   we still  have  an acre to plant !

This  is  one  of  dozens  of  pics  of  " Farmer  Larry  " helping  the  bears  get  ready  for  planting.  THANK  YOU  FOR  YOUR  HELP LARRY !

Oh, I  almost  forgot  to  mention  that  China has  finally  joined  our  readers !  Welcome  China to Blu  Bears  Garden .  

Blu  Bear  

FARMING UNDER COVER

Very  soon  the  new  " high  tunnel  " will  be  delivered .  The  only  real  difference  between  it and  a green  house ,  is that  the  planting  is done  directly  in the  soil .  Here's an example  of high  tunnel  farming . 

The  plants  are  protected  from  extreme  weather  

This is  a  gothic style  high  tunnel   (the  kind  we are  putting  in  )

The  biggest advantage  of  under  cover  farming  is the  extended  growing  season !  We can  start  planting  earlier  and harvest  later .  This  will  help  us  improve  our  plant,  produce  and  seed  stock .

From  the  bears  view ,  they  are  scared  that  it comes  in a gazillion  pieces and  they have  to  figure  out  how  to  put  it  up!   

LAST SPRING FROST JUST WEEKS AWAY

Here  in North  West  Ohio , our  last  frosr/freeze  is only a few weeks  away!  If last  years  date of May  13th  holds true  for  2015,  the  time  to  get  growing is now.  You still  have  time  to  start  some  tomato  and  pepper  plants,  but  time  is  definitely  running  out.

Here  at the  garden  we are  down to one more  flat  of peppers  and have finished  with  tomatoes.  Hopefully  we will  find  homes  for  the rest  of  the  patio  container  plants.

I will  keep  you  posted... and soon the  growing  season  will  be in full  swing  at Blu  Bears  Garden.    I'm looking  forward  to  hearing  from  you  and  stay  tuned  for  more  stories  straight  from  your  favorite  bears.


YOUR  BEST  FRIEND . ..CHO CHO  

Traffic  Manager  Cho Cho  

Blu Bears' Garden: MYSTERIOUS SINK HOLE THREATENS OHIO FARM !

Blu Bears' Garden: MYSTERIOUS SINK HOLE THREATENS OHIO FARM !

MYSTERIOUS SINK HOLE THREATENS OHIO FARM !

Sink hole  can start  with  out  warning

This  one  formed  in  the  garden,  and  although  it  is  only  a  little  one ( about  2 feet across  & deep  )  they  still  gef your  attention.   Drive  into  it ,  or  make  a wrong  step  and it would  be serious.   A break  in  a  drain  tile  most likely  caused this damage.   Fortunately  for  the  bears,  the  nearby  strawberry  patch  was spared.

I hope  you  have  started  some  plants  for  your  garden...  the  clock  is ticking!  Today  I  did  a  flat of green  peppers.  With  a little  bit  of  love, water  and  sunshine  they will  grow  into  50 strong  seedlings and produce around  200 peppers.

GOOD LUCK  WITH  YOUR  OWN  GARDENING !  

Your  pal Blu  Bear  

 

Gardening 101 at the Wauseon Public Library Thursday !

Blubearyfarms@Gmail.com   Local  gardeners and future  growers  a like will  have  some  fun  with  seeds, soils  and plants  this  Thursday  6:30 @ the  Wauseon  public  library ! 

The  bears  have  selected  some  of their  favorite  plants  and  seed  to share  with you.  Everyone  attending  will  take  home  a patio cherry tomato  plant   (Baxter  Bush ) and of course  the  seeds  that  they  will  start  whIle there.  

One  seed that  always  is a must-have  for  year round  gift  giving  is called  Tiny  Tim.  Growing  up  to 15 " tall, this  early ,  dependable, tree-like dwarf  cherry  tomato packs full of yummy  3/4" fruit!  And , was  once  called  the  world's
smallest.   We  hope  that  you  will  join  us for  all  the  fun!

BAXTER  BUSH  TOMATO

PLANTING SEASONS GREETINGS

I  came  across  this  older slide show  that  never  made  it to  you,  but  seeing  it brought  back  so many  great  memories  of some  special  people  from  the  Wauseon  chapter  of F.I.S.H.  and  life  here  on  the  farm . ..here  it is...

Get ready for the planting season !!!

By now you have started  to think  about  what to grow  this year.  Whether  just a  few strawberry  plants  in  a  hanging  basket, or  a full  time  garden,  the varieties  available  has never  been  greater!  On Thursday, April  9th,  the bears  will  be sending one of its helpers to the Wauseon  public  library  6:30 p.m  to answer gardening questions  and show some the tricks we use to  make  sure  our  seeds grow into strong  healthy  plants.

Wauseon  public  library  

We also  will  have  plenty  of plants  to share with  those  who  attend!

Hope  to  see  you  there!

Blu Bear  

HIGH TUNNEL COMMING SOON !

Growning under cover of High Tunnel

If you are a regular reader, than you probably remember when Straw Beary applied for  a U.S.D.A.  equipment  grant .  Last  year  it was  approved . . and  this  season  we plan to get  it up and  running !   The  first  step  was  to  pick a supplier  and  type .   Well,  Straw  Beary   chose  a local  Ohio  business ,  Waldo Associates .   They  showed  us a   30'  x  48' unit  that  is just  perfect .   Our  next  step  is  to  prepare  the  garden  area  for  installation   and  spring  planting !

With  a  little  help  from  some humans, us bears  hope  to  see  all of  our  dreams  come  true .  Stay tuned  for  more  stories  from  the  farm  and  watch  the  planting  begin !

 Straw Beary & Blu Bear