A message from Bill and Peggy:
As we prepare for the coming season there are many business decisions that we are considering and many legal and environmental regulations which may impact us in the near future.
Each year we listen to our customer’s comments and their desires for new and different vegetables, berries, and fruit. For 2022, we are adding beets and edamame to our planting list. Every year we attend numerous classes during the winter months to keep abreast of any new varieties that would be a good addition to the crops we offer. We have been toying with the idea of growing more of our own fruit to sell. That would mean the addition of growing tree fruit instead of bringing it in from Hood River, Yakima, or other local areas. We know that our soil(s) would do well for growing trees so we will see what the future brings – possibly cherries, apples, peaches, and pears grown right here on Bi-Zi Farms. With the issues we have faced in recent years regarding Christmas tree availabilities we are also thinking of using a small portion of our land to grow our own Christmas trees. If we decide to do this, it will take years for them to be ready for sale as well as a lot of learning on our part.
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We are considering the use of new agricultural and environmental practices. One thing that we are considering is the addition of high tunnels. High tunnels are a light weight greenhouse that are placed directly into the soil and are able to extend the growing season both earlier and later by adding that little bit of frost protection to the crops. Depending on the year, it could start the season a month earlier and extend the season a month later into the fall. We are also considering growing crops in the greenhouse – not hydroponically, but rather in movable raised beds of soil when the greenhouse is otherwise unused. With that said we would someday like to increase the number of greenhouses on the farm from 4 to 8. This would allow us to significantly increase the number and types of flower baskets and vegetable starts we offer in the spring as well as providing ample room for the raised beds.
We are not a certified organic farm, however, we do use many organic-type practices. Contrary to popular belief, being labeled organic does not mean that no spray has been used. Many of the same chemicals labeled for organic operations are used by conventional farms such as ours. It is common practice now for chemical companies to sell a product under one name at a certain price and then rename it an “organic product” – it is exactly the same product with the same chemical makeup but can be up to triple the price. We cannot claim to be organic as long as the documentation we receive with the chemicals does not specifically identify it as “organic”. Please know that we will continue to be extremely conscientious when selecting anything applied to our fields, crops, and the food that you feed to your family.
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With how much we have grown since our farm store was built in 2000 we are feeling a desperate need for more space. We are hoping in the coming years to build a new store that will allow us to expand on the products and services we offer.
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For many years now we have held a Pumpkin Patch and Harvest Festival and it has become a staple for many families in our area. Last year we added a Sunflower Festival to the calendar and had a lot of fun and success, we will be continuing that festival for the foreseeable future. We also have a few other events that we want to add to the 2023 calendar including, but not limited to, an Easter Festival where kids hunt eggs and enjoy farm animals and a Strawberry Festival celebrating one of our most popular crops!
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Things are always changing and evolving in our world and we will be doing everything that we can to stay in and support the people of Clark County.
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