Harvest plentiful at local blueberry farm

Blueberry harvest season has begun in northwestern Montana and Eller's Blueberry Farm is ready to delight everyone with a plentiful harvest for 2018.

The family farm began in 1984 when Jerry and Yvonne Eller planted their first blueberry bush. Yvonne recalled that her and her late husband had been visiting a friend in Sandpoint who had gorgeous blueberry bushes. Jerry expressed a serious interest in wanting to grow them. It all began then, but little did they know they were starting a family business.

"Jerry kept wanting to plant more and more!" Yvonne exclaimed. "I never thought I would be a business woman. I was like, 'Honey, this is enough!'" Homeschooling their five children for 18 years was a big-time job on its own. "I was very busy," she recalled.

The property is undoubtedly a sight to see. In the last 34 years, the farm has grown from a few bushes to almost 100 rows of blueberry bushes, a vast garden of every vegetable that could possibly grow in the area and a colossal orchard of everything imaginable, including northern kiwis.

"I want this to be a place that gives people an experience, a place where they feel at peace," Eller commented. Simply stopping and observing, one will notice many tiny additions to the farm that add ambiance; signage, floral beds and decoration. Other features reflect plain old farming skill and experience. Gated doors are on a weighted pully system so none are accidentally left open, an outhouse with wash sink is located within the picking field for customer use, and Panda Bear, a Karelian Bear Dog, greets visitors yet protects the farm from hungry, fruit-seeking bears.

Over the last five years Eller has had a record high of providing 25,000 pounds of blueberries to her customers in 2016. The lowest in the last five years was in 2017, with 16,000 pounds. After walking the rows, it appears this year may be another top yielder. Many of the berries are green, but that is sure to change in the next few weeks. Eller said some of her berries reach the size of quarters, and although they are not "certified organic," they are organic.

Celebrate National Blueberry Month this July by picking your own blueberries, or have them picked for you, at Eller's Blueberry Farm. They are open Sunday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed on Saturday and is located at 2153 Highway 200, between Trout Creek and Noxon.