Minnesota Harvest

Come Pick Your Fun!

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BARN RAISING

Over the Winter, Kevin Breeggemann , Minnesota Harvest General Manager ( and architect/builder) drew up handsome plans for a 100 FT long barn.  We needed space for workshops and equipment storage. However, as prospective brides came to tour the grounds,  the drawing caught their eye.  One by one, they reserved the barn for their wedding day. (this year)  With the Spring rains, our barn raising was slowed a bit, but you would never know it now.  Brother Fred Breeggemann put our crew to work as you can see below. So, the Red Barn will be ready to open in August for grand festivities.  That explains the stained glass windows and vintage chandeliers.  With seating for over 500 people, we expect there will be others who find it a great place to meet.  If you are already married how about a Family Reunion?



Barn

DEVELOPING FOR THE FUTURE

New Plantings:  Our baby Honeycrisp and Zestar trees are off to a great start.  With 300 more trees “to pick from” we son’t run out of these favorite varieties so quickly.
Re-Tooling Old Varieties:    Not every variety introduction  is a winner.  Twenty years ago the “Purple” apple looked great and sounded like a good bet, but hasn’t become anyone’s favorite.  So, we asked Dr. Frank Jost to come up from Rochester to coach us up on grafting techniques.  Dr. Jost, in addition to a demanding medical career at Mayo Clinic, managed to plant an extensive experimental orchard years ago at his country home near Rochester.  He is a master at grafting  and now we are getting there, too.  Check out our outdoor class room in the photos below.
DID YOU KNOW that you could cut back a punky old apple tree and turn it into an entirely different variety?  Well, 300 of those old “Purple” apple trees are now Honeycrisp!  If you schedule a visit in 2016 you may get a taste of the first crop.

FALL OUTDOOR FEATURES

Wagon rides, Live Music by Cactus Willie, and Corn Maze

New attractions include the “Apple Launcher”,  actually a giant sling shot on a sturdy platform.  If you are anything like David with a sling shot, you get a prize, of course. We also have face painting!

INDOOR FEATURES

August-October 2014

DICKENS VILLAGE SHOPS;   Visit our Gourmet Grocery Store, Susan’s Tea Cup, Woodworkers World, Artist’ Corner, and Old Fashioned Dry Goods Shop.  Don’t miss the bling in the Red Hat Ladies Boutique. 
SAVE ROOM FOR FRESH BAKED APPLE PIE THIS YEAR.   Enjoy an old favorite, Caramel Apple in a Dish.  Fresh baked and frozen apple pies available as well as fresh pressed apple cider.  Grab a snack at our Old Tyme popcorn wagon.
ON THE PAVILION: Enjoy Mn Harvest’s newest
feature:  Bob’s Smokestack Ribs.  Lunch features include Brats, Hot Dogs, BQ Pork Ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, catfish, and fries. (Recent recipient of Best BQ Ribs in MInnesota)  Eat outdoors indoors by the open fire and enjoy music by Cactus Willie.
CACTUS WILLIE WILL BE BACK TO ENTERTAIN YOU INDOORS.   — a favorite for several decades at Minnesota Harvest