End of June and Picking begins

After two weeks away traveling  , and rain almost every day for the last few weeks , it was time to start picking...

Some superb Cascades

Multiple cones on a side shoot - perfect hops

Bobby with his Provincial Basket

Best hops are above standing height - ladders to the rescue

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We have a HUGE harvest ahead of us , the Cascades in the back row are superb and many of the Bines have reached the top and are now crawling along the top wire.

Unless everyone gets out and picks we will not get all the hops off the back row.

the Circles are a little behind, probably another week or two.


We also had to "fix" the fallen Nuggett system, the old Rope Broke (lesson to know for the other rings)   This was a Nylon 3/16 rope with 800lb breaking strain , but has been up in the sun for 5 years  now.

Rob on the ladder picking Cascades

Nuggets down and trying to raise with new rope

The max height we could move it, just too heavy,,, will now shorten the ropes at top and tie them off to raise the bines off the ground

Its been a rainy week, perfect growing weather

Been out of town , but walked across in the rain , and we have hops ready for picking on some Cascades

Lets NOT let them rot on the Bines this year.

8x Neuport were also planted 2 weeks back on the back row , based on success in other parts of NC


Pictures from last weekend

New Cascades on RHS, Last years in background

Nuggets Growing well

Cascades almost to the top, lower growth starting to grow back

Memorial Day weekend, work as always

The spring has been amazing, we have had the best growing season ever, rain weekly and cool days in between.

The back row hops are now at the top of the wire, first time ever.

New growth hops also begining to show promise, cascades in the middle have a number of strong plants , and with the late plantings of Neuport already above ground too.

Work remains a challenge , we need more people out and about , 2 hrs a month each at minimum guys.   If you have even 30 minutes to give, we need it, so please come on out.

We did such an awesome job keeping the lower growth down during April , now is the time to come back and cull the light green growth that is trying to undo that work.

Pics to follow.......

Enjoy the holiday weekend and remember all those who have served before, and are serving our country now.

Pics from May 13

Back row , Cascades 2nd year on left

3rd Work Day Sunday 24 March 2pm

Lets keep at it, and again keep it short , max 90 minutes again


We have done well so far , with good turnouts both weekends

We have weed control to work on , stringing up the lines on back row, and water system

If you have a Hoe , the gardening variety , bring it for working on weeds in centers of circles 


Bring a beer for afterwards too.

Second work day March 10, 2pm

This weekend has freed up for me .... Sunday 2pm again

Lets stay on top of the work, max of 90 minutes and weather will be great too

will be opening bee hive with boy scouts at 1:45 too , so if anyone wants to come past early.

Will work on mounding soil on Cascades and Nugget circle -
harvest and  plant new rhizomes ,
string ropes in circles, weeding

hope to have fertilizer also there

Spreading pre emergent herbicide as well

Call me if any questions

BBG Hops Farm Picnic

Board have decided to move the Picnic up this year

so Sunday May 5 will be our Picnic

Please be prepared to work on the farm the weekend before as well as Saturday May 4th please