Help Birch Bog Organic Cranberry Farm

Hello! My name is Tracyn.

I’ve done a lot of extraordinary things in my life but I don’t think I ever could have dreamed of owning an Organic Cranberry farm, knowing little to nothing about cranberries, nor much about the ins and outs of organic farming. But, in 2021, my then-husband and I bought one, in the mountains of Western Maine.

By what I now know was purely with some beginner's luck, we harvested the biggest crop since the bog had first produced a harvestable crop in 2002. We naively thought we were naturals, and thought with a little better (or ANY!) planning/managing we could maybe even make decent money off the rare commodity of organic cranberries. (Scroll below to learn more about this unique crop!)

In 2022, the bubble burst and barely 90 (yes, 1% of the previous year!) pounds were harvested. Upon studying a bit about it, it could have been many things, but it was very difficult to pinpoint.

In May 2023, the heartbreaking dissolution of my relationship forced us to put the 2-acres of organic cranberries, along with the additional 14 wooded (and wildlife-rich!) acres up for sale. Initially, this seemed to make the most sense. With both of us working full-time, it would be difficult to farm, and neither of us could easily buy out the other. Weeks went by and the idea of the property becoming a campground, or just a workshop with a living space, with no interest in the cranberries, wore on both myself and my partner.

Gratefully, we have worked out an agreement so that I can stay at the farm. Thankfully I have my full-time remote job, which pays all of my living expenses. However, as the farm operation's ownership changes, I have decided to pursue this fundraiser to help reset/re-establish the farm and get it back on track. I had struggled (and was initially too saddened) to be motivated to maintain and care for the bog when it was on the market. I will not 'catch up' with weeds and any other project before this year's harvest in October, but hope to be able to in 2024.

Any and all support of this GoFundMe will help me do the following:

• Annual MOFGA Certification fees

• Annual Business Fees / State Filings

• Liability Farm Insurance

• Equipment Maintenance/Parts

• Packaging Materials

• Fish Emulsion Fertilizer – multiple treatments

• Beneficial Wasps **

• Entrust Insecticide ** (MOFGA approved) 2-3 treatments

• Labor to sort, pack, deliver

Despite a better-looking crop for this fall, the frequency and quantity of rain has put an uncontrollable strain on the crop this year. My hope is to harvest whatever I can from this year’s crop (if it ever dries out!) and move forward with a solid plan for more consistent and successfully producing crops. This GoFundMe will provide some of the financial backing/stability to do so.

• I also want to employ some labor to clean up sedge, cat-n-nine tails, grass, and bushes that have needed to be cleared since the farm was first purchased. This will greatly improve the harvestability and organic upkeep of the crop, allowing a balance between managing the crop and the security of my remote online job.

I am fortunate to be part of the MOFGA Journeyperson program and have a mentor, John, who owns a 189-acre organic cranberry farm, James Lake Farms, in Wisconsin. He has been helpful with my planning/strategy. Other notable knowledge folks who come to mind are the Woodwards (previous owners), Charlie Armstrong (UMaine Extention's Cranberry expert) and Cran Dan & Jan(ice) (from a Mass bog who randomly stop by and embark upon me their wisdom). I am blessed to have all of these resources.

Of course, I completely understand that not everyone can or may want to contribute. Please know if you are interested in helping with your time (it is an amazingly labor-intensive process!), want to make a purchase, or can share/forward this to a friend, that all of those efforts are immensely appreciated. Please follow @BirchBogFarm on Facebook/IG or at www.BirchBogFarm.com to stay informed of other ways to support the farm.

I hope to be OPEN for years to come. Thanks for reading part of the farm’s and my story.

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FUN FACTS /FAQ’s about Cranberries and Birch Bog Farm

• Birch Bog Farm, formally the Woodward Cranberry Farm, has been certified organic since 2002

• Cranberries are a perennial fruit grown on vines that can be up to 100 years old.

• Wisconsin is the largest producer in the US, followed by Massachusetts, New Jersey and Oregon.

• Organic cranberries make up less than 5% of all cranberries grown. Additionally, dry harvested Organic Cranberries (like those grown at Birch Bog Farm) make up less than 1%. A truly unique and rare product.

• Although they are grown in bogs/marshes, Cranberries are NOT grown in water. Water is used to cool/warm the plants or to flood for a wet harvest (because cranberries float!). It is also used to protect the plants when they are dormant

• Cranberries are considered a super-fruit, like blueberries, and are very rich in anti-oxidants.

• Harvest is generally in October and thus why Cranberries are a traditional Thanksgiving food (this is no coincidence!).

• Fresh, dry-picked cranberries will keep in the freezer for at least a year!

• From the time a cranberry is harvested until the time it is delivered to a customer/store, it will have been moved, sorted, winnowed, weighed, packed, transported etc… 13+ total times before landing in it’s final spot to be ‘for sale’.

• It was named ‘cranberry’ because the blossoms look like the neck of a ‘crane’

• Ripe cranberries bounce the most, and this characteristic is used to help sort in machines

• There are less than 200 acres of cranberry bogs in Maine, and only a small percentage of those are certified organic

Thanks again for reading, and considering a donation.