Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 27
Above: There are 3 acres of strawberries on the Simpson Farm. Damage from deer will hurt yields this year. Above right: Picking berries at the farm is a tradition for many residents of the
Ozarks. Below left: Though he has tried other types, Wayne favors the Chandler variety of strawberry due to its uniform red color. Below right: The berries are picked fresh daily.
tures damaged more than 10 percent of their strawberry blooms this past sea- high demand with local buyers for the remainder of the summer.
Universities have brought field trips to learn Wayne's strawberry-growing
son. "In full bloom stage, if temperatures dip below 32 degrees, they're gone.
We have to watch the weather carefully and use row covers to guard against process. "I don't know how many people I've gotten started on plasticulture. I
really enjoy sharing about our work here." He's done presentations in Illinois,
frost or low temps."
They often cover the entire fields with blankets. The row covers are 30 feet Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas, Oklahoma and across Missouri.
They also were involved with agritourism for several years, offering hayrides,
wide and each covers five rows. "It's like getting a parachute up or down in a
a corn maze and pumpkin patch. "I also did tours of the cabin/museum I
little bit of wind," Wayne laughs. "You really have to hold on to it."
moved and rebuilt on our property. We have a lot of heirlooms dating back
With 15 acres of grapes, 3 acres of strawberries and 1 acre
each of blackberries, onions and other garden produce, the
to the 1800s from my family and my wife's family that we set up in the
Simpsons stay busy year round.
cabin. You can go in and live in there just like they did in the 1800s,"
Before they know it, May has returned and visitors start
says Wayne. "It fit right in with our agritourism." He also had a working blacksmith shop as part of the show.
arriving from all over. "We even have customers that come up
It wasn't until three years ago when Wayne had open heart surfrom Mountain Home, Arkansas," says Wayne. He says deer devMountain
astated the crop during the winter, and cool temperatures have
gery that they were forced to cut back on some things. He retired
from cabinet making and they scaled back on the agritourism.
pushed back the ripening date, but there still will be berries
Grove
"Then we lost our son, David, and my wife. Now it's just my
available.
daughter, Deb, and me. We've had to cut back some more. For
Their strawberries and blackberries are mostly pick-your-own,
example, from almost 1,500 tomatoes to 500 now." Their farm
but they do offer pre-picked berries upon request. Fresh garden
remains a family operation, along with the seasonal help of Debproduce including tomatoes, peppers, corn, zucchini, cucumbers
bie's husband and a few friends.
and onions are all pre-picked. They sell all their grapes to Stone Hill
After summer harvests are finished and the ground is tilled over once more,
Winery in Hermann.
"After 35 years, people start calling every spring to see when we're going to the September tradition will start anew. Long days of planting, waiting and
open and ask how the berries are looking," says Wayne. "We get calls every day. nurturing the crops will return. Once again, they'll be watching the weather
and dreaming of spring. Father and daughter share a knowing smile. Their
We're known as the strawberry people."
Once the berries are ripe and ready, cars line the road and fill the parking work is never done. "That's the life of a farmer."
lots every year. "We open at eight and by noon the rush usually slows down.
For more information about Simpson's Family Farm, visit www.facebook.
We've got five buggies we use to take customers to the field. They circle around
com/simpsonsfamilyfarm or call Wayne at 417-926-5308.
all day and customers can catch a ride whenever their baskets are full."
When strawberry season is over around the first of June, the Simpsons' shed
Kaiser is a freelance writer from Hartville.
immediately transforms into a farmers market. Their fresh vegetables are in
MAY 2018 | RURALMISSOURI.COOP
27
http://www.facebook.com/simpsonsfamilyfarm
http://www.facebook.com/simpsonsfamilyfarm
http://www.RURALMISSOURI.COOP
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rural Missouri - May 2018
Contents
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - Cover1
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - Cover2
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - Contents
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 4
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 5
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 6
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 7
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 8
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 9
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 10
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 11
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 12
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 13
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 14
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 15
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 16
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 17
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 18
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 19
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 20
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 21
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 22
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 23
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 24
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 25
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 26
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 27
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 28
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 29
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 30
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 31
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 32
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 33
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 34
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 35
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 36
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 37
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 38
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 39
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 40
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 41
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 42
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 43
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 44
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 45
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - 46
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - Cover3
Rural Missouri - May 2018 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/videotest
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201010
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com