All I want for Christmas…are blueberries: December 2025

Bashful blueberries - 13 Dec 2025

The past couple of months have seen a great deal of activity in preparing for the new harvest season. While recent months have been engaged with the horticultural priorities of the orchard and developing market garden, summer brings with it a re-focusing towards the other end of the supply chain - picking, packing, marketing and distribution. Even a small farm like the Glenlyon Blueberry Orchard needs to give attention to these important agricultural processes that lie beyond the orchard. These all come into play once the harvested fruit leaves the confines of the orchard and begins its onward journey towards the breakfast bowls, pie dishes and dinner tables of our valued customers.

In addition to the half acre food growing area, the property also includes a packing shed that features a walk-in refrigerator. This cools the newly picked fruit and stores it safely awaiting onward distribution via the orchard gate, farmers markets, local retailers and catering businesses. The sturdy shed was built many years ago and, while serviceable, was in need of some refurbishment. New insulation panels have been installed in the ceiling and northern wall to abate the summer heat. New air ducts have been installed up high in the southern wall to create a cooling airflow. Even a new western gate has been installed to give direct access from the packing shed to Spring Street to make loading the ute easier on market days. To improve food handling, new shallow punnets have been purchased to better accommodate the redcurrants, blackcurrants, raspberries and mulberries that will be harvested in coming weeks.

To improve communication with our valued customers, I have developed the orchard’s first website - which you are now viewing!

This will highlight produce that is currently available and details the many varieties of fruit that the orchard grows. While our blueberries are our major crop, we also have many cherry, apple, quince, mulberry and pear trees along with figs, persimmons and the mysterious medlar!

Now, if I could only give the blueberries a big hurry-up! We were picking our first blueberries on this very day in 2024. Right now, I have a field of blueberry bushes loaded with fruit that is bright green and weeks away from harvest! Keep an eye on the new website for notification of when the first of our produce becomes available, including our bashful blueberries.

Sandi and I are very much looking forward to the new harvest and once again supplying to all our friends, neighbours and the visitors to our region our delicious produce. Until then, wishing you all a safe and joyous holiday season!