By Gena Eve Viggiani.

Hydroponic strawberries?

I’ll admit, I let my mind wander a bit on this one. I’m picturing the classic scene from Frankenstein, except there is a giant strawberry on the table with all kinds of contraptions hooked up to it and the mad scientist proclaims, “It’s alive, It’s alive”! I may have gotten carried away.

Linda Eldred’s, Strawberry Fields U-Pick Hydroponic Farm is as far from science fiction as you can get. Actually, it is
a quaint little farm and country store,located on Rt. 20 in Skaneateles, where the strawberries are the main attraction.

However, there is a science to the growing of these strawberries. “What makes these berries so unique is that they are grown up in stacks not on the ground, They are given their nutrients in the water up to three times a day since they are not grown in soil and they are ever bearing, which means that they will keep on producing berries all summer and all fall”, says Linda.

I asked Linda how she came to the decision to grow the strawberries in this unique way and she told me, “I have always loved gardening but did not like the weeding that goes with it. People love the concept of not having to pick strawberries on the ground and that they can stand and pick”.

Strawberry Fields opened in July, 2009 after a lot of research about Hydroponic growing, Linda and her husband decided to give it a try since they had a farm located on Rt. 20 and thought it would be a great location. Aside from the main attraction, there is also a country store that offers varieties of fresh seasonal vegetables including tomatoes, and their own farm grown sweet corn. The store also carries New Hope Mills products.

Linda says, “I haven’t worked outside the home in over 27 years, I was busy raising our 5 children, home-schooling them and being a home-maker which I loved. Now, they are all grown except for our last child and I find myself enjoying working my own business. I love meeting all the people and offering a product that everyone loves and goes away happy and glad to have been here to experience this amazing concept”!

Some people might be wondering if this approach to growing the berries is organic or safe, so I approached Linda with this question and she explained, “Although we are not certified organic, we do not use harmful pesticides and we try to use all organic fertilizer”.

In addition to the farm and store, Linda has created a Facebook page where each week she tries to feature a dessert made with strawberries. It was there that I learned that Strawberry Fields has “Chocolate Dipped Strawberries.” Can you say “Yummy”?

“Our season runs all summer and fall until we get a hard frost, which last year was the end of October”, says Linda. Although unusual, this is one thing that separates Strawberry Fields from other local farms. Where else can you get succulent and sweet fresh berries through the fall season? Come to the farm to experience the unique growing of the berries, and visit the store for other seasonal fresh produce and gifts.

An outing to Strawberry Fields U-Pick Hydroponic Farm is a trip you don’t want to miss!

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Location:
RT.20 Just West Of Skaneateles
Skaneateles, NY, 13152

Phone:
315-246-5657

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/strawberryfieldsfarm?ref=ts

Hours:

Tues – 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Wed – 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Thurs – 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Fri -9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sat – 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

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Read other Up Close & Personal Stories from this Series.