Author: MaryAnn Henson
Shipping Charges
Shipping
Shipping is the one cost no one wants to pay, especially me. Often times, it adds to the cost of an already pricy item. So, in order to get the most for your money I’m going to explain how our shipping works and why.
How it Works…..
We charge a flat rate per order. Meaning that buying 6 jars will cost you the same in shipping as buying 12 jars. Therefore, a 6 jar order will cost a total of $47.50. That’s $7.92 per jar. A 12 jar order will cost $79.00. That’s $6.58 per jar. That’s $1.34 per jar difference.
Why…..
Why it works this way has a lot to do with weight. Jam is heavy. Weight is a big factor when determining shipping costs. When items are shipped they are put into weight classifications. A 6 jar jam order happens to be in the same weight classification as a 12 jar order. Therefore, it’s more cost-effective to buy 12 jars.
This Ain’t No Smucker’s…….
Blackberry Hill is a line of artisan products like no other. It’s all done by hand with all natural products. Anything that can be grown by the Mazelin family, is grown by the Mazelin family. All other ingredients are carefully outsourced to ensure that the highest quality is consistent. The end product is amazingly delicious and all natural!
To help ease the blow of costs we have recently added a PayPal Credit button. Once approved, it allows payment over time. Large orders ($99.00 and over) are split into monthly payments. Orders under $99.00 are given 25 days to pay.
Mennonite Markets Wind Down
Markets Winding Down
The beginning of September marks the start of wind down for the Mennonite Community Farm Markets. Come October they will be closed until Next May. The vegetable choices are thinning but they still have many unique items.
The store at Horton has the most beautiful hand made queen size quilt that I have ever seen. I’ts a blue diamond pattern–gorgeous! It’s pricy (which is why it is not on my bed right now), $400.00. Worth every penny no doubt although I found a very sweet Mennonite lady that will do quilts for $250-$300!!
The Horton store (actually all 3 of the markets) has a very wide selection of ointments. These products are made usually by the female family members. They have one for joint discomfort that I send to my friend in Texas. She is a 73-year-old nurse and says that it is a life saver for her. They have a salve that helps with breathing issues. I have never used it. It smells like Vick’s but not as potent.
I have also noticed more hand-made novelty type items. This confuses me a little because I have always been told that they don’t do “decorative” items. I wanted to buy pumpkin seed off of them 4 years ago for jack-o-lanterns and was told they only did “pie pumpkins”. Anyway, they have these little clothes pin holders that look like cute little lacy aprons.
Don’t forget about the baked goods! All of the markets have the most delicious goodies. The same yet different because whatever family is associated with that particular store is who makes the goodies. So, you can get the same item in two different stores that taste totally different. Everything is really good but without the extreme sugar rush that we are all used to. Personally I love it all!
Be sure to visit one of the markets before time runs out! See different items, get some awesome sweets, and talk to super nice people!
The market at Horton
How Did Mary’s Garden Grow?
Garden Failure
Am I the only one out there that had a horrible garden this year? The whole thing was a complete failure! A flop! A disaster!
We go all out with our garden. Appropriate rows are plastic covered. All rows have a drip tape irrigation system. Cover crops get planted in the fall. We fertilize regularly. It always looks picture perfect come planting time. Yet, everything was horrid!
Out of 200 tomato plants we were left with 15 after all the spring hail and rains. We planted 100, got hit with hail and lost them all. Replanted 100 and got hit with hail again! Then there were 20! What was left produced very sad-looking fruit. Jett Stars that looked and felt like hard packed hot-house tomatoes. So depressing. I didn’t even attempt to can any.
Planted a row of sweet corn. We had high quality seed we got from Wayne but you never would have known. The biggest “ear” of corn was as big around as the base of my thumb. The stalks were a pretty green but no bigger around than a piece of rebar.
Let’s not forget the onions, or not onions I should say. I have no clue what happened. The did absolutely nothing! A few of the starts rotted but most showed no change at all. How does that even happen?! Hopefully soil testing will have the answers.
Gardening is costly, time-consuming, and back-breaking and I love it! This year was depressing but I’m excited to get prepared and have a great garden next year!
How did your garden grow?
My 2017 tomatoes
All Natural
All natural Blackberry Hill Farms
“All Natural” means very little these days. It’s plastered on every other product you pick up in the store. The words “All Natural” can be found on everything from jam to hair products to clothing to furniture polish. What does it really mean?
According to the Food and Drug Administration “All Natural” is defined as “…nothing artificial or synthetic (including all color additives regardless of source) has been included in, or has been added to, a food that would not normally be expected to be in that food.” So, by definition, Blackberry Hill jams are “All Natural”.
Know for yourself is something is truly natural by looking at the ingredients list. True natural foods will have a simple and easy to read list. All Blackberry Hill products that bare the Blackberry Hill label have all ingredients and nutritional information listed on the label…..Know what you put in your body! Questions? Please ask!
From the Kitchen
From the Kitchen of Blackberry Hill Farms……
Candied Jalapeno Dip
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Blackberry Hill Farms Candied Jalapenos (diced)
1-2 tablespoons candied jalapeno juice
2 cups shredded Cheddar Jack cheese
1 package(8oz) cream cheese
2-4 tablespoons whipping cream
Beat together cream cheese, 1 tablespoon jalapeno juice, and 2 tablespoons whipping cream until smooth. Add cheese and jalapenos. Add jalapeno juice if dip is too thick or to make dip spicier. Add cream for creamier dip.
Enjoy on chips, crackers, or whatever you wish!
Lucas Family Farms
Wade Lucas Family Farms
What a gem Shirley, Arkansas has to offer! Wade Lucas Family Farms is the place to be for Arkansas’ finest fruits, veggies, and delicious baked goods (Don’t forget your Blackberry Hill while you’re there!)They also have a restaurant where you can relax and have a meal after getting your fill from the U-pick fields! Certainly a great place to have fun with family and friends!
Pickle Season at Blackberry Hill-Update
What’s up with pickle season?
It’s pickle season at Blackberry Hill. Hands down the busiest time of year. The work day for the Mazelins starts around 3AM and ends long after the sun goes down.
At Blackberry Hill they grow everything they possibly can for their pickles and relishes. This includes cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers, zucchini, and cabbage. Possible more, that’s what I can think of off the top of my head.
Without any hired help the Mazelins plant, maintain, pick, chop, cut, cook/prepare, hand jar, and label every single jar themselves. Usually, with 2 or 3 people total. As many times as I have seen this in action, it NEVER ceases to amaze me. The efficiency and swiftness of the process compares to any “modern” facility. Last week alone they jarred over 2000 cases (24,000 jars) of Million Dollar Pickles.
The downside to pickle season has got to be time. During this approximately 6 week-long period it takes a little longer to get orders out the door. That is why we ask that customers allow up to 2 weeks for delivery. It’s usually not required except for this time of year. But of course, if anyone has any issues whatsoever they should feel free to email, text, or call.
Blackberry Hill at Price Chopper
Blackberry Hill in KC Price Chopper stores!
It’s a jam lovers’ dream! Get Blackberry Hill delivered from your local Kansas City Price Chopper store!
While looking around on the internet this week I noticed that Kansas City Price Chopper stores are offering delivery. I’m sure you would never find the entire product line in any one place other than this site (the jam house is not open to the public) but no doubt all the best sellers are there. According to the website, you can order all your groceries online and have them delivered to your door in as little as one hour…..definitely worth checking out!
