What started as a small gardening hobby for Beth and Rick McGeough quickly grew into something much more. After a few busy farmer’s markets and high demand for her red raspberries, grown on only 40 plants at the time, Beth realized the solution was to invite people out to the farm to pick their own berries.
“People often say they feel a magic out here, picking berries,” Beth shared. “We focus on the quality instead of the quantity; we enjoy knowing how the berries are cared for and offering that to families”.
Currently, Edge of the Woods Raspberry Farm, located in Indianola, grows red raspberries, black raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, tart pie cherries, plums, gooseberries, currants, and rhubarb. When visiting, you can pick your own berries or shop at their berry building, stocked with freshly made jams and pies.
“To me, it is all about the people who come here and the stories behind it,” she said. “We get to see generations of families visit and we partner with other small businesses in the area to promote each other.”
Berry picking season will officially begin next weekend, with the farm open 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Special events through the Indianola Chamber of Commerce and Travel Iowa are occasionally held at the farm throughout the summer, with updates and specific berry picking availabilities posted on their Facebook page. They can also be found in the Choose Iowa Passport and Farm Crawl, coming up June 26-27.
“The Choose Iowa program and passport are the highlights of promoting Iowa in my opinion,” Beth said. “We love being a part of that”.
Edge of the Woods Raspberry Farm is a perfect location for a one-day road trip to spend time collecting fresh fruit on an Iowa summer day. To learn more about the farm, hours, and seasonal updates, you can visit their website at www.edgeofthewoodsberryfarm.com.