Smoking Possum Farm
Terry and Cathy Oberg
7012 Avenue 392 Dinuba 559.591.7028 559.972.1769
7012 Avenue 392 Dinuba 559.591.7028 559.972.1769
About Us
Why Berries?!
Terry and Cathy Oberg are in their eighth year of berry growing. Before that they had grape vines on their 5 acres. In their first years of farming grapes and making raisins they could count on making a little extra cash to fix something on the house or to take a vacation. But, then things changed and they got tired of losing money every year.
Terry's favorite fruit growing up was blueberries, which grow well in Minnesota. Cathy's is blackberries, which grow well here. Cathy has very fond memories of going to a neighbor's berry patch to pick boysenberries with her mom, then eating them with chocolate ice cream. They got to thinking that they already had the wire and posts and drip irrigation from the grapes, so blackberries came to mind as something to try. It was much easier to plant blackberries than blueberries in our valley soil. Plus, most people shy away from the thorns associated with blackberries, so there are not many blackberry patches. In 2004 they planted their first Olallie blackberry, Kiowa blackberry and boysenberry plants. They had help from their wonderful friends Larry and Gail Harder, and in fact, Cathy notes that, "When we were young (March 2004) we could plant new plants all day with Larry and Gail, on our knees, and then head for the mountains and cross country ski, by full moon, until 10 pm and still have energy to eat pizza!"
Terry's favorite fruit growing up was blueberries, which grow well in Minnesota. Cathy's is blackberries, which grow well here. Cathy has very fond memories of going to a neighbor's berry patch to pick boysenberries with her mom, then eating them with chocolate ice cream. They got to thinking that they already had the wire and posts and drip irrigation from the grapes, so blackberries came to mind as something to try. It was much easier to plant blackberries than blueberries in our valley soil. Plus, most people shy away from the thorns associated with blackberries, so there are not many blackberry patches. In 2004 they planted their first Olallie blackberry, Kiowa blackberry and boysenberry plants. They had help from their wonderful friends Larry and Gail Harder, and in fact, Cathy notes that, "When we were young (March 2004) we could plant new plants all day with Larry and Gail, on our knees, and then head for the mountains and cross country ski, by full moon, until 10 pm and still have energy to eat pizza!"
Lavender Too
Cathy had seen a lavender farm when she and Terry went up north, near Lodi, for their anniversary one year. She also loved the pictures she had seen from Provence France of the fields of lavender bushes. She knew lavender could grow here, being a drought resistant plant, so she did some research on what kinds to buy for this climate and bought her first plants. It was just a hobby and she liked the smell and the beautiful color of the flowers and the green leaves.
Interesting Tidbits
Berries are lots of work. Pruning, weeding, mowing and irrigating. Daily tending in the growing season and pruning in the fall. Not to mention the hours of picking berries once they're ripe (done mostly by paid pickers).
Cathy's favorite thing about farming is going out in the early morning for a walk among the berries and popping a fresh sweet berry in her mouth.
Terry's favorite thing is making food out of dirt.
For Terry, growing berries is good therapy, and it keeps him in CA until early July, which Cathy likes.
The leather sleeves on Terry's college jacket are finally coming in handy against the thorns.
Cathy likes the people part of the berry business - selling from the house and farmers' markets.
Favorite Kind of Berry
for flavor - Olallie blackberry
for looks - Kiowa blackberry
for jam - Boysenberries and Kiowa (50/50)
for pies - Olallie blackberry
Berries are lots of work. Pruning, weeding, mowing and irrigating. Daily tending in the growing season and pruning in the fall. Not to mention the hours of picking berries once they're ripe (done mostly by paid pickers).
Cathy's favorite thing about farming is going out in the early morning for a walk among the berries and popping a fresh sweet berry in her mouth.
Terry's favorite thing is making food out of dirt.
For Terry, growing berries is good therapy, and it keeps him in CA until early July, which Cathy likes.
The leather sleeves on Terry's college jacket are finally coming in handy against the thorns.
Cathy likes the people part of the berry business - selling from the house and farmers' markets.
Favorite Kind of Berry
for flavor - Olallie blackberry
for looks - Kiowa blackberry
for jam - Boysenberries and Kiowa (50/50)
for pies - Olallie blackberry
