The Jungle Farm Field Trip

 

The Jungle Farm

September 13, 2013

The Jungle Farm, was first established over 100 years ago!!! When the farms first began it was a grain farm, but has now evolved into something much more. The current proprietors, Blaine and Leona Staples, have transformed this farm into more than just grain. At The Jungle Farm you can find everything from strawberries to preserves, you can pick it yourself or just pick it up and go!

Mmmmm... look at all these tasty things!

A large selection of preserves is not the only thing the Jungle Farms has to offer. They host parties, school trips, corporate lunches, and picnics, just to name a few. However, I believe it is the charm that people come for. This farm not only produces great products, but gives you an unforgettable experience that has you coming back for more!

There are fields and fields of strawberries here, but there are also some strawberries grown under high tunnels to increase the length of the growing season. If strawberries are not your thing there are also raspberries, onion, leeks, kale, lettuce, and spinach to just name a few. Another option for you to get your hands on some of the delicious greens grown here, is to be a member of CSA (community supported agriculture).

Rows and Rows of Strawberries!

High tunnel

If you happen to like onions, I recommend you get them from this farm. I picked the largest onion I have ever seen!

LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THIS!!!

While you are here don't forget to stop by the corn maze, gnome walk, take a ride on a tractor, hit up strawberry mountain, featuring a 60 foot slide, and the punching the pumpkin game! All in all, if you stop by the Jungle Farms you are going to have a blast! If you don't believe me, check out the farms Facebook page. Leona updates it regularly with all the wonderful events and things that are happening at the Jungle Farm.

Tractor Ride

Enjoying the Tractor ride!

Corn Maze!

If you are looking for a new activity to do with your family, or just looking to support local farmers, (and get some great produce at the same time) this is the farm for you. However if it is not produce you are after, as Leona says, "everything is for sale", so make her an offer! And sometimes they even let you taste the produce, right in the field!!

BECK Farms Field Trip

BECK Farms

BECK Farms is run by Shelley and Rod Bradshaw, along with their two sons, Kurt and Brent. The farm was established in 1986, and is a member of Innisfail Growers.

Innisfail Growers is a co-op growing group composed of five families, who bring their Alberta grown produce to farmers markets throughout central Alberta. There are over twenty farmers markets a week that produce from Innisfail Growers is sold at!

 

Too seed these beautiful rows Shelley and Rod use a Power Harrow seeder. Adjusting the rate at which seeds are dropped, determines the size of carrot that will grow. For example, a higher rate of seeding yields smaller carrots, and a slower rate yields larger carrots. As you see above they also use a machine to pull the carrots. This guy is super cool! He grabs the tops of the carrots, breaks up the earth below the carrots, and pulls them out. After that the tops get cut off and dropped back onto the field, and the carrots get moved into a bin. However,  the fields at BECk farms, are not always this green. In the winter months they sell pickled carrots, jellies and mustards. 

But before these tasty carrots can be pickled they must be washed, sorted, and processed.

When that is complete some carrots go to market, some get pickled and some get stored.

And Some get eaten before they even have a chance!