Bear Mountain Blueberry Farm

When you think of learning, you might think of the classroom or a textbook. But there are great lessons to be learned in other places too. 

Like a blueberry patch. I found one where indeed you’ll find blueberries… but you’ll find more if you just pay attention.

“Blueberries are good!“

It’s good to learn that early. Daniel learned that here at Bear Mountain Blueberry Farm near Springville. They grow ‘em… you pick ‘em. Things are pretty simple here.

Early in the morning Jim Gober and his dog Bob walk the long drive down to the paved road where a simple sign marks the entrance to their farm.  The instructions are to the point: where to park, where to pick berries. They’re $5 a gallon… that’s less than 1/3 of what they’ll cost already picked.

Gober raises what’s called high bush blueberries… either Climax or Tiff Blue variety. Folks come from all over.

“Well, they’re here to learn about blueberries and to pick blueberries, but I think primarily they come out here just to get away from the noise and hustle and bustle of the city,“ Gober said.

Joy Reeves is a brave woman. She came today to pick blueberries; she’s sort of a regular customer.  She brought Emily and little brother Daniel to help.  Daniel has an interesting picking technique.  What you do is pick the berry, rub it on your pants for a few seconds, then eat it.  The good news is, the ones you eat are free.

I walked the patch with Jim Gober. He’s a forester by trade, and does private consultant work.  He and his wife Nancy raised three children here. All of them work the blueberry patch and earned extra money collecting buckets and taking money for folks after they picked a gallon or two. They earned extra money for college and inherited a work ethic.

“The young kids don’t have the patience to pick a gallon of berries, but they start to learn what it takes, I guess, to spend time to get something that’s good for them to eat,” Gober said. “it’s just a great experience to come out here.“

I watched Carolyn and Molly for a little while. I’m guessing there’s about 10,000 things they’d rather be doing, but yet they stuck with it, did their part, and will share in the muffins or jam.

The important part is the optimism… the promise of more and better fruit next year. 

“That’s all new growth…next year all those vines will have new berries on them,“ Gober said.

Barring drought or an early frost, the blueberries just keep coming back… back for next years “you pick ‘em” crowd.  Word of mouth will bring new customers too.

Gober sees ‘em all… the young folks with little patience and the older folks who are on a mission and and are efficient in every move. 

I asked Jim if he’d ever considered strawberries or blackberries.

“Just a blueberry man,” Gober laughed. “That’s all the time I have to work with ‘em.“

It’s the Bear Mountain Blueberry Farm….....it’s easy to find. Just look for Bob the dog… he’ll be lookin’ for ya.

————

View Larger Map

Bear Mountain Blueberry Farm
8227 Clayton Road
Springville, Alabama 35146

Phone: (205) 681-8656