Where in Western Virginia to find pick your own farms and orchards for fruit, vegetables, pumpkins and canning & freezing instructions!

This month's notes: May 2013: The cool weather has delayed blooms and slowed growth by a couple of weeks, but don't miss strawberries: they started in most Southern areas in late April, and in late May up north. Click here for strawberry facts and picking tips, and this page for easy strawberry jam making directions. Blueberries will come in June in most areas. Of course, Florida, southern Texas, and other very warm areas are already picking both crops! See this page for hundreds of easy canning and freezing instructions/recipes, canning equipment guide! Also make your own ice cream - see How to make ice cream and ice cream making equipment and manuals. Then see each state's crop availability calendar for more specific dates of upcoming crops. Organic farms are identified in green!  See our guide to local fruit and vegetable festivals!. Please tell the farms you found them here - and ask them to update their information!!

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Western Virginia U-Pick Farms and Orchards, sorted by county

Remember: ALWAYS call (or follow the link to the farm's own website, if the name is a blue link) to confirm the information before you go! They may close, run out or change events, times, etc. without notifying me!

Buchanan County

Carroll County

  • Deer Haven Blueberry Patch - blueberries, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties
    118 Raven Ridge, Hiwassee, VA 24347. Phone: 276-730-4047. Alternate Phone: 704-904-5571. Email: info@deerhavenblueberrypatch.com. Open: Thursday to Saturday 8am to 4 pm from mid June to late August. Directions: From Hillsville take US221 North to highway 100 turn left go approx. 4.8 miles to Deer Ridge, County Road 753, turn right then take then turn right on Mitchell's Crossroads, go 4.8 miles to Windsong, turn right to Raven Ridge, across from Dry Pond Church, patch is on right. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. (ADDED: October 10, 2012)

Dickenson County

Galax (City of)

Grayson County

  • Fern Ridge Berry Farm - raspberries
    332 Fern Ridge Lane, Galax, VA 24333. Phone: 276 236-0002. Email: fernridge@valink.com. Open: Hours and days vary by berries in season and weather; Berries ripen from July through October 15. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. We offer a variety of raspberries that should be available by late June through October. Come bring the family with a picnic lunch and pick your own direct from the farm to you. We are an agri-tourism business. Please bring your own containers for pick your own or containers may be purchased. (ADDED: March 10, 2013, from VG)
  • Pine Mountain Trail in Mount Rogers National Recreation Area -  blueberries
    Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, Troutdale, VA. Visitors report that there are blueberry bushes about 6 feet high with big, half inch blueberries in August each year, free to pick. Directions: I-81 South to Marion, VA. At Marion take VA 16 South (Buchanon Highway) to Trout Dale. From there head west on VA 603. In 2 miles make left onto USFS 613. After about 2.5 miles go through gate and park within fenced camping/parking area. Trailhead is marked as Appalachian Trail, just beside camp host trailer. See this page for full directions. Note, USFS 613 is a very rough road, not really intended for passenger cars. (ADDED: July 29, 2009)

Lee County

Russell County

  • Nathaniel Ball Blueberries - U-pick blueberries,
    461 Lumber Lane Big A Mountain, Honaker, VA 24260. Phone: (276)873-5675. Open: You May pick any day with prior approval; We prefer morning pick, 7:00 to 1:00 or evening pick 6:00 to 9:00; You must call us before picking. Directions: Take Route 80 from Honaker, Virginia. Turn left on Finney Road, go 1 mile, then turn left again on Campbell Hollow Road. Go 1 more mile and turn right on Lumber Lane, which is a dirt road. Take the road to the top of the hill. You will see pine trees. Alongside the pine trees is a small private dirt road on the right. Take this road to the very top of the hill and you are there!. Blueberries July 1 to September 10. Payment: Cash, Check. 2010 prices: $8.00 per gallon pick your own! We do not pick to sell. Please bring containers to take your blueberries home. We do provide picking buckets for measurement purposes. Happy Picking! Stunning Scenery is Free!. (ADDED: August 20, 2010)

Scott County

  • Mann Farms - Strawberries
    11005 Veterans Memorial Highway, Fort Blackmore, VA 24250. Phone: 276 995-1000. Email: davidmannfarms@yahoo.com. Open: call or email for hours and availability. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. Pre-picked and pick-your-own strawberries. (ADDED: March 10, 2013, from VG)

Smyth County

Tazewell County

  • Thistle Cove Farm - fleece
    261 Cove Road RR 1 Box 351, Tazewell, VA 24651. Phone: 276-988-4121. Email: thistlecovefarms@gmail.com. Directions: on the website. Intersection of Maiden Spring Road (Rt 91) and Cove Road (Rt 608) in Ward's Cove section of Tazewell County. Crops are usually available all year. Open: By appointment Monday through Saturday. Sheep Shearing Day - 3rd Sat in April; 9:00 am to 3:00 p.m. Sheep Shearing Day on 4 April 2009; 9 am to 5 p.m. & freshly shorn fleeces available on that day. Fleeces available all year until sold out. Customer is able to choose their fleece at time of shearing. Payment: Cash, Check. Sheep Shearing Day - 3rd Sat in April, 9:00 am to 3:00 p.m. Fleeces, yarn, roving for sale all year. Lost Arts Guild members demonstrate and sell traditional Appalachian crafts. (UPDATED: January 25, 2009)

Washington County

  • Glenmary Gardens - pumpkins, strawberries, gift shop, picnic area, farm animals, weddings and wedding parties, school tours
    224 Old Abingdon Hwy, Bristol, VA 24201. Phone: 603-526-5146. Open: Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 to 12:30; Saturday from 10:00 to 4:00. Directions: From either north or south on I-81 take exit 5. If you are coming from the north take a left off the exit and take your first left onto Old Abingdon highway If you are coming from the south take a left off the exit and take your first right onto Old Abingdon highway Follow for about one mile until you get to stoplight. Take a right onto East Valley and farm is on right. Click here for a map and directions. Strawberries from July 15th until September 30th; Pumpkins from September 30th until October 31st. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa/MasterCard, SFMNP Vouchers. (ADDED: June 01, 2010)

Wise County

Wythe County

  • Henley Mountain Berry Farm - blueberries, Honey from hives on the farm
    879 Matney Flats Road, Wytheville, VA 24382. Phone: 941-661-7401. Alternate Phone: 941-286-8435. Email: wlbgaucho@gmail.com. Open: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 8am to 5pm, from the middle of June to the middle of September. Directions: From downtown Wytheville, follow Main Street (US Highway 21) south approximately 8 miles to the four-way intersection with Highway 690 (Cripple Creek Road). Turn left and go 1.9 miles to Matney Flats Road. Turn Left on Matney Flats Road and go 1.3 miles to the mailbox at 879. Turn right up the hill one quarter mile to Henley Mountain Berry Farm. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. (ADDED: April 12, 2011)
  • Williams Orchard - peaches, apples, nectarines, Asian pears, sweet corn, various vegetables, pumpkins
    5175 West Lee Highway, Wytheville, VA 24382. Phone: (276) 686-4851. Email: williamsorchardfallfestival@yahoo.com.Open: Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm; Sunday from 1 to 5pm in season; Fall Festival weekends only in October Saturdays 10am to 5pm and Sundays 1 to 5pm. Directions: From I-81, exit 60, go 3.5 miles east on Route 11. From Wytheville, go 8 miles on Route 11 west. Call during peach and apple season for different varieties and their availability. During October, all weekends full of fall harvest activities - hayrides, apple butter making, corn maze, face painting, lots of fun for children of all ages! Pick-your-own and fresh-picked peaches, apples, nectarines, Asian pears, sweet corn, various vegetables, pumpkins, decorative gourds and Indian corn, cider, preserves and jelly, honey. (UPDATED: September 20, 2010)

Farmer's Markets, Farm Stands and Roadside Stands, Etc.
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)

Wythe County

  • Henley Mountain Berry Farm - Farm stand / farm market on a farm, Farm market, not located on the farm, all produce is sustainably grown, all produce is grown using IPM (integrated pest management), Uncovered outdoor market, Preserves, jams, jellies, blueberries, Honey from hives on the farm
    879 Matney Flats Road, Wytheville, VA 24382. Phone: 9416617401. Alternate Phone: 9412868435. Email: wlbgaucho@gmail.com. Open: Wytheville Farmers' Market, located on Main Street, is open Saturday mornings from middle of June to the middle of September. Directions: From downtown Wytheville, follow Main Street (US Highway 21) south approximately 8 miles to the four-way intersection with Highway 690 (Cripple Creek Road). Turn left and go 1.9 miles to Matney Flats Road. Turn Left on Matney Flats Road and go 1.3 miles to the mailbox at 879. Turn right up the hill one quarter mile to Henley Mountain Berry Farm. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. A variety of farmgrown vegetables and honey will be sold at the farm stand and in the local farmers' market when available during Blueberry season, which spans from the middle of June to the middle of September. (ADDED: April 12, 2011)
  • Wytheville Farmer's Market - hormone free, grass fed meats, organic vegetables, home-made jams, local honey, home-baked goods, small batch charcoal, and local crafts
    Main Street, Wytheville, Virginia 24382. Contact: Jennifer Jones: Phone: (540) 223-3365. Open-air-seasonal. Open: every Saturday, May-October from 9:00am - 1:00pm. (ADDED: August 01, 2010)

Farm Bed And Breakfasts

Scott County

  • Creation Kingdom Zoo - 1 total room, Price range from $100 to $125, Large beds, Beautiful rural setting, washer and dryer available, Fishing nearby, hunting nearby, boating nearby, horse riding, golf nearby, swimming pool nearby, tennis nearby, Free farm tours for overnight guests, Within an easy drive to an Interstate road, No children under 18 please, No pets please, No smoking allowed, Help feed the animals, other animals, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, face painting, petting zoo, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours, events at your location (call for info)
    1692 Snowflake Rd, Gate City, VA 24251. Phone: 276-690-5450. Email: director@.creationkingdomzoo.com. Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: from Gate City Virginia take highway 71 towards Nicklesville and go 5.6 miles. Turn left onto Snowflake Road and go 1.5 miles to the Zoo entrance. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. Click here for our Facebook page. Interactive Zoo boasting close encounters with animals from 6 continents. Photos: Click here for photos of the rooms and farmhouse. (ADDED: September 04, 2010)

Local Honey Sources:

Meats, Milk and Eggs:

Farm Venues for Events, Activities, Parties and Meetings:

 

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Lids, Rings, Jars, mixes, pectin, etc.

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Picking Tips

[General picking tips and a guide to each fruit and vegetable] [How much do I need to pick? (Yields - how much raw makes how much cooked or frozen)] [Selecting the right varieties to pick] [All about apple varieties - which to pick and why!]  [Picking tips for Vegetables] [ Strawberry picking tips] [ Blueberries picking tips]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Illustrated Canning, Freezing, Jam Instructions and Recipes

[ All About Home Canning, Freezing and Making Jams, Pickles, Sauces, etc. ] [FAQs - Answers to common questions and problems] [Recommended books about home canning, jam making, drying and preserving!] [Free canning publications to download and print]