What started as a strawberry u-pick has grown to a garden of your wildest dreams.
Lynn Robb Strawberries Market Garden started 30 years ago, and has expanded to offering a wide-variety of fruits and vegetables.
Linda Brundige and her husband Robb have operated the farm with the help of their children, and now grandchildren.
The u-pick was started after 13 years of milking cows. Not wanting to work anywhere else but the farm, Brundige set her sights on a new venture.
"I wanted to be at home on the farm," she expressed.
This was where the concept for a u-pick strawberry business was born. Now, they offer u-pick or we-pick services from spring to fall.
In May, their flower, vegetable bedding plants, and asparagus are ripe and ready.
As the season ebbs into summer, the honeyberries, strawberries, raspberries, peas, beans, onions, and lettuce are eagerly waiting for families to come.
"Those are the things that are native to the area, and it's what people want. That's what they were asking for," said Brundige.
For the first two weeks in August, they continue to offer the usual strawberries and raspberries, but add a whole list of vegetables to the mix.
Whether it's potatoes, pumpkins, lettuce, cabbage, corn, or cucumber, they have it fresh from the vine.
The opportunity to meet people, and put fresh fruits and vegetables onto the plates of families is what has Brundige growing year after year.
"A lot of it is also the satisfaction of being able to grow a decent crop," she added. "It's always a gamble."
Similar to farming, Brundige said their success really depends on the growing season and how well it all plays out.
When needed, the family will come together to help plant the seeds and get ready for another season.
"They all come out and help," Brundige described. "It's mostly the grandkids now, but my kids do come out and help when we're planting."
The family owned farm is 16-kilometres north of Bonnyville along Hwy. 41, and seven-kilometres west on Twp. Rd. 630.
Their open all summer-long, seven days per week.
On weekdays (Monday to Thursday), families are invited to take to their fields anywhere from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. From Friday to Sunday the farm is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
They don't just offer u-pick services. They will also pick for families who might not have the chance to make it out to the farm themselves.
They also offer off-season goods such as raspberry or honeyberry cheesecake, homemade berry pies, muffins, jams, jellies, pickles, and salsa.
Brundige explained, "If they want good, fresh product, they can see where it grows and see what's happening to it, plus they get to pick what they want. They can order it when we have staff to do it, but they can always pick it themselves."
They sell their fresh fruits and vegetables at the local farmers' markets, so those who can't come out can still enjoy their product.
