Real Food, Sustainably Grown with Organic Inputs
Open Most Days
You will be most happy if you call ahead, at 608-455-2803, for our daily recorded berry update. (Occasionally Paul or Louise may answer the phone, so don't be surprised.)
Sundays
We are always open, starting at 8:30 a.m., on Sunday mornings in August and September. We update our phone message hourly and close when we run out of berries.  Some Sundays early in the season we run out of berries by noon. We always update the phone message to give at least an hour's notice of when we expect to close.
Weekdays
We are also open during the week. We prefer pick-your-own customers to schedule pickings for the morning because we begin picking the field at noon for markets. In mid season this is not so important, but do call ahead to confirm availability especially if you are looking for lots of berries. We also pick to fill customer orders each day so coming early ensures we have plenty of berries to share.
Open 2 or 3 Saturdays
During peak season we are open for two or three Saturdays. This is generally around Labor Day. We will provide notice at our market stands and on the phone message about those picking dates.


Real Food, Sustainably Grown with Organic Inputs
Blue Skies Farm was Certified Organic from 1995 until 2006.  In 2007, after reading Michael Pollan's book The Omnivore's Dilemma, we stopped supporting the USDA and its Organic Certification Program. We continue to use traditional organic growing methods as described in theUSDA National Standards and by J.I. Rodale, the founder and publisher of Organic Gardening magazine.
 
Quick Information
Raspberry Hotline: 608 455 2803
                                    (Madison is local)
Directions
We are 16 miles south of the Beltline along Highway 14, past Oregon. You will be heading toward Evansville. When you arrive at the unincorporated community of Union, turn west (right) at the Union Tavern onto West Union Road and follow it about 1.5 miles until it ends. Then turn left on Crocker Road, we are 500 feet ahead on the left.
Address: 10320 N. Crocker Road,
                   Brooklyn Wisconsin
Hours:         8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. ALWAYS CALL AHEAD for AVAILABILITY.

Picking Guidelines
Pint containers and trays are available in the barn. We charge $3.00 for each pint of berries. Further instructions are posted on the milk house near our driveway and on the barn door.
We don't weigh you in
Feel free to eat berries as you pick -- that is what picking berries is about. We don't weigh you in or weigh you out.
Children are very welcome
Be aware that we are not a petting zoo farm or an agri-entertainment farm. We do have a very friendly cat and three friendly Setter dogs who will expect attention and stick throwing.
Pets welcome, but not on Sunday
Friendly pets are welcome if you bring them during the week and you pick up after them. We have a walking trail near our field so they can be run there.
Restroom and Water on site
We have a clean, unique, public restroom, but it is not handicapped accessible.Drinking water, picnic tables, shady trees and chairs are available.
Parking
Park under the trees, or on the grass on either side of the drive. We don't mind where you park. If you are disabled, go ahead and pull right up to the berry rows.
 

U-Pick Opens in Aug.
 In 2012 we are planning for a smaller harvest than in past years due to our need to rennovate a portion of our berry field. We expect to open for U-Pick berries in mid to late August, with the peak of the season being near Labor Day weekend.  If we have a warm and dry autumn, we should remain open until early October.
Daily availability fluctuates
We harvest berries every day to ensure the highest quality berries. Berry ripening responds very dramatically to rain and temperature. At the peak of the season, if the weather has been droughty and cool, we expect about 100 to 150 pints from our field per day. On the other hand, if we've had a rainstorm and warm overnight temperatures in the 60s or higher, we can expect 200 to 250 pints or more per day.  When the weather has been dry the berries have the most intense flavor.
Prepicked Berries
By afternoon we usually have pre-picked berries available for $4.25 per pint or $50 a flat of 12 pints. Each day by noon we put aside some berries for pick-up. They are in the small refrigerator in the berry room. If you want larger quantities please call ahead by at least a day and we will pick them for you.
Other Produce
Occasionally we have raw honey in pints and quart sizes. Since we harvest each day for markets, throughout the season we have fresh produce available, at market price.  That includes: heirloom tomatoes, lettuce, asparagus, herbs, baby beets and carrots as well as many other products as the season progresses.

Berry Therapy
For those of you needing a short outing -- like something quick to do with the kids, or a chance to get away from a hectic schedule -- you can always just drop in whether it is day or evening. We call this "Berry Therapy" which is a chance to be outdoors on a beautiful day grazing a handful or pint or more of berries.  We'll leave you alone in the field to fend for yourself
Find us during the week at these markets:
Dane County Farmers Market
Saturdays 7 a.m. until about 11 a.m.
We are located on Main Street between Starbucks and Walgreens.

Eastside Farmers Market
Tuesdays 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. next to the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center at 953 Jennifer Street. This is one block off of Williamson, toward Lake Monona.