Facebook Mail RSS Twitter
  • Everyday
    • Education
    • Neighborhood Notes
  • Sports
  • Food & Art
    • Artist Profiles
    • Food Shopping
    • Local Farmers
    • Music
    • Restaurants
  • Community Channels
    • Around the House
      • Home Inspection Services
      • Insurance
        • Insurance Agent – Melanie Bakala
      • Real Estate Agents in Thurston County Covering Olympia Lacey Tumwater Yelm and beyond
    • Business Networking
      • Chamber
        • Chamber of Commerce
      • Economic Development Council
      • Rotary
        • Gateway Rotary
    • Community Talker
      • Instagram Article Feed
    • Health and Wellness
      • Hospital + Medical Center
      • Physical Therapy
    • Media Partners
      • Thurston Community Media
      • NorthAmericaTalk
    • Mentoring (Big Brothers Big Sisters)
    • Movies
    • Olympia Farmers Market
    • City, County and Government Information
      • People in Public Service
      • City of Lacey, Washington
      • City of Olympia, Washington
      • City of Tumwater, Washington
      • City of Yelm, Washington
      • City, County and Port Meetings
      • Port of Olympia
      • Thurston County Washington
    • Senior Life
      • Cemetery Products
      • In-Home Care
      • Senior Services for South Sound
    • Services
      • Auto Repair
      • Pet Emergency
    • South Puget Sound Community College
    • Thurston County Podcast
  • Featured Businesses
    • Around The House
    • Health Care
    • Local Retail Shops
    • Services
    • Women in Business
  • History
  • Photos
    • Community Events
    • Local Attractions
    • Sporting Events
  • Non-Profits
  • LocalTalk
  • Activities
    • Dogs & Pets
    • Family & Kids
    • Indoor
    • Outdoor
    • Gardening
    • Outdoor Recreation
    • Biking
    • Camping
    • Hiking
    • Running
    • Parks and Beaches
    • Thrifty Thurston
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Post an Event
  • Calendar
  • Travel
    • Day Trips
    • Overnight Trips
  • Podcast
Search
Saturday, June 14, 2025
  • About
    • Story
    • Team
    • Company News
    • Contact
    • Terms of Use
  • Advertise
    • How our Olympia advertising works
    • Launch a Campaign
    • Grow your Audience
    • Measure the Results
    • Company News
    • Contact
  • Events
    • Community Calendar
    • Articles
    • List an Event
  • I5 Traffic Cameras
Facebook Mail RSS Twitter
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
ThurstonTalk
  • Everyday
    • AllEducationNeighborhood Notes
      Oksana Skillings in her classroom showing huge playing cards to the seated students

      North Thurston Public Schools Celebrates Educators Who Embody Joy of Learning 

      a living space at The Rookery with a kitchenette, a white couch, brown round coffee table and two table.. There is a window. A mirror and artwork are on the walls

      Blending Sustainability, Walkability and Community Connection at the Rookery in Tumwater

      Dispute Resolution Center board member Eileen Yoshina (right) handing a glass trophy Peacemaker Award to Lonnie Locke (left)

      People in Public Service: Lonnie Locke

      a large group of men and woman with a couple kids post for a photo, four are kneeling, the rest are standing. They are in front of a pop up tent that says 'TOGETHER!" with three hand prints next to it One woman is holding a gift basket

      The League of Foundations Unites Three Local Nonprofits to Extend their…

  • Sports
  • Food & Art
    • AllArtist ProfilesFood ShoppingLocal FarmersMusicRestaurants
      a large group of people who work at Dick's Brewing Company standing by a gold ribbon. A woman in the middle holds a giant pair of gold scissors

      Dick’s Brewing Company Launches New Food Truck and Serves Up Flavor…

      Two smash burgers with cheese on white trays. One has tator tots behind it

      Neighborhood Feel-Good Coffee Pub NW Bar & Grill Celebrates One Year

      atsear fettucini on a plate

      Urban Foraging: Celebrating Edible Weeds with Melany Vorass Herrera

      pizzas and salads on a table with a glass of soda

      Keeping Pizza Fresh and Fun with Brewery City Pizza in Olympia

  • Community Channels
    • Around the House
      • Home Inspection Services
      • Insurance
        • Insurance Agent – Melanie Bakala
      • Real Estate Agents in Thurston County Covering Olympia Lacey Tumwater Yelm and beyond
    • Business Networking
      • Chamber
        • Chamber of Commerce
      • Economic Development Council
      • Rotary
        • Gateway Rotary
    • Community Talker
      • Instagram Article Feed
    • Health and Wellness
      • Hospital + Medical Center
      • Physical Therapy
    • Media Partners
      • Thurston Community Media
      • NorthAmericaTalk
    • Mentoring (Big Brothers Big Sisters)
    • Movies
    • Olympia Farmers Market
    • City, County and Government Information
      • People in Public Service
      • City of Lacey, Washington
      • City of Olympia, Washington
      • City of Tumwater, Washington
      • City of Yelm, Washington
      • City, County and Port Meetings
      • Port of Olympia
      • Thurston County Washington
    • Senior Life
      • Cemetery Products
      • In-Home Care
      • Senior Services for South Sound
    • Services
      • Auto Repair
      • Pet Emergency
    • South Puget Sound Community College
    • Thurston County Podcast
  • Featured Businesses
    • AllAround The HouseHealth CareLocal Retail ShopsServicesWomen in Business
      Kim Parks posing for a photo between framing on a house being built, wearing a black tank top and a tool belt

      Welcoming Kimberly Parks to the Boggs Inspection Services Family

      a kid standing on a huge rock

      Olympia Therapy Has Suggestions for Summertime and Developmentally Helpful Information for…

      two hands with orange gloves, one has a yellow cloth on a white sink and the other is spraying something out of a purple spray bottle into the sink

      Building Your Home Cleaning Caddy with Tips from Maid Perfect

      Jessica Oliver (left) and husband Joshua Oliver (right) sitting on a bench seat at a low table with drinks

      Penrose Physical Therapy Utilizes New Dry Needling Technique to Alleviate Patient’s…

  • History
    • Olympia History: Remembering the Daylight Bakery

      The Marie Bed & Breakfast in olympia

      From Historic Charm to Cozy Retreat: The Story of Our Victorian…

      People in Public Service: Cassandra Messegee Brown, Thurston County Superintendent of…

      Olympia History: Raging Fire Destroys National Wood Pipe Company, 1909

      Olympia’s Sea Mart building wall with cars parked in front of it

      ‘Hello Dere!’ Olympia’s Sea Mart/Yard Birds Shopping Center was a Downtown…

  • Photos
    • AllCommunity EventsLocal AttractionsSporting Events
      capital city pride

      Thousands Gather in Olympia to Celebrate Capital City Pride 2018

      procession species olympia

      Luminary Procession 2018: Lighting Up the Rainy Night in Downtown Olympia

      snowy winter scene

      ThurstonTalk Readers Capture Christmas Snow

      Twinklefest 2017

      Twinklefest 2017 Window Displays

  • Non-Profits
    • a large group of men and woman with a couple kids post for a photo, four are kneeling, the rest are standing. They are in front of a pop up tent that says 'TOGETHER!" with three hand prints next to it One woman is holding a gift basket

      The League of Foundations Unites Three Local Nonprofits to Extend their…

      a man holds a child with a woman standing next to hem and a boat in the background

      South Sound Parent to Parent is a Resource Helping Families With…

      Komachin Middle School Future Business Leaders of America standing behind a long table with food in bins

      Matthew Klifman Takes Over as All Kids Win Board Chair

      a large group of people sitting at round tables in a big building

      2 Amazing Community Events, 1 Impactful Weekend: Connect with Local Business…

      aerial shot of a house with solar panels on the roof

      Replace Those Electric Bills with Solar Power: Solarize Thurston is Open…

  • LocalTalk
    • TCMedia Celebrates Grand Re-Opening and Introduces New Leadership

      The Washington Center Anacker Scholarship for the Arts Winners Announced

      Lacey Community Survey Open to All Residents June 16

      Alauna Carstens running on a track with four other runners near her

      The Evergreen State College Places 109th in Learfield Directors’ Cup Final…

      The Evergreen State College students in their green cowgs, some with leis, some with graduation cords, stoles and graduation hats.

      Graduates Honored at 2025 The Evergreen State College Commencement Ceremony, Friday,…

  • Activities
    • AllDogs & PetsFamily & KidsIndoorOutdoorGardeningOutdoor RecreationBikingCampingHikingRunningParks and BeachesThrifty Thurston
      young boys and girls in t-shirts and shorts stand in a line on a field, the hands of an adult are seen handing the first two kids orange balls. The kid at the front of the line is throwing her ball.,

      New Engaging Youth Summer Camps Have Sports, STEAM, Coding, Music, Water…

      man in a blue sit-in kayak on the Black River. A bridge over the river can be seen in the distance

      Kayaking, Stand Up Paddleboarding and Canoeing Near Olympia: Black River Gate…

      a group of kids in a circle on a basketball court at Saint Martin's University, some holding balls. A coach is talking to them, also holding a ball

      Give Your Young Athletes a Summer Boost with Saints Sports Summer…

      view of the mima mounds and a paved walkway from an observation deck with a metal mesh railing

      Walking Trails Near Olympia on a Natural Area Preserve

  • Events
    • black night sky with two fireworks going off in red and green

      2025 July 4th Fireworks in Thurston County

      a band performs on an outdoor stage to a large crowd at the Come As You Are Music Festival

      Celebrate World Music Day at the ‘Come As You Are Music…

      a bunch of people in blue shirt on a track with a large purple blow up arch. The front three people hold a banner that says Connolly's Crew. Every cancer. Every life. Celebrating $1.2 million raised since 2008

      Relay For Life of Thurston County Presented by Twinstar Credit Union…

      One boy with his hands up like he is going to catch a ball stands next to another boy with his hands raised with a ball in them at the Day of Champions 2025

      Miles of Smiles at Tumwater School District’s Inclusive 2025 Day of…

      a man stands by a hand-carved stone sign, partially covering the words that say Tenino Agriculture Innovation Park 16410 Old Hwy 99 S. Another man takes a photo of him with a camera

      Tenino’s Agriculture Innovation Park Fosters Entrepreneurial Spirits Across Thurston County

    • Calendar
    • Post an Event
  • Calendar
  • Travel
    • Day Trips
    • Overnight Trips
  • Podcast
Home Food and Art Friendly Grove Blueberry Farm Attracts Pickers Young and Old

Friendly Grove Blueberry Farm Attracts Pickers Young and Old

By
Carrie Bell
-
blueberry farm
rm owner Karen Crown brings joy to the community by maintaining her u-pick blueberry farm.

Share via:

326 Shares
  • More
FacebookTweetPin

Blueberries have grown on the site of Friendly Grove Blueberry Farm for over 70 years. The protection of the Henderson Watershed has created the ideal conditions for the blueberry bushes to flourish in the acidic peat bog. Five varieties of blueberries grow at this rustic u-pick blueberry farm just a few miles from the bustle of downtown Olympia.

Alley Oop LogoI met with Karen Crown on a sunny weekend in July, speaking with her as the visitors streamed in to pick the blueberries that hang heavy on their branches this time of year.

“It is peak season,” Karen tells me. She shows a young picker how to hang the bright blue bucket around his neck leaving both hands free for faster picking. “Pull the branches down from above and reach in the middle. The branches are flexible!” She assures the pickers as they begin to arrive. Some are here to gather enough blueberries for an afternoon pie while others are on a return trip to pick their goal of 100 pounds of blueberries to last all year.

blueberry farm
A young blueberry picker takes advantage of the bucket with a strap for more efficient two-handed picking at Friendly Grove Blueberry Farm.

Her love of the farm and its lifestyle is obvious from the moment we first spoke. Karen graduated from The Evergreen State College after studying Natural Sciences and Humanities. She always knew that she wanted to farm. “My desire to eat healthy and a love of the outdoors connected me with farming,” Karen explains.

She worked at Independence Valley Farm before she purchased her own farm in 2005. Karen is the third owner of the farm. The original owners were two physicians who purchased it as a “hobby farm.” Harold Viola Fischer purchased it in 1957 and when he passed away his family sold the farm to Karen.

While she would love to be a full-time farmer, there is not enough money in blueberries. Karen works full-time in her job as a social worker for DSHS in Home and Community Services. The farm is staffed by volunteers during the week and requires most of Karen’s free time on the weekends. Fortunately it is a labor of love.

blueberry farm
Picking blueberries is a perfect summer activity for the whole family at Friendly Grove Blueberry Farm.

“Ideally they should be pruned by one third each year,” explains Karen. The pruning process is a balance between cutting the older canes that no longer produce and encouraging the new tender shoots. “The pruning is kind of a dance between the old and the new,” she tells me. Fortunately she has found volunteers who share her love of the blueberries and the farm to help with the never-ending pruning and mowing. Karen uses no pesticides or sprays, which means that some invasive plants such as Spirea Bog have also flourished in the nutrient rich environment. Pulling the invasive weed and mowing between the rows are a few of the requirements of caring for the bushes.

Karen would love to see more volunteers at the farm. There are so many opportunities for learning from the farm and the habitat that exits naturally within the Henderson Watershed. The farm provides the perfect natural habitat for pollinators. The abundant Mason bee, a small black bee that look like a fly is an even better pollinator than the honey bee. The farm is home to many types of insects, birds and six resident goats. Karen is currently hoping to begin working with a group called WOOFers, which brings volunteers to organic farms in over 100 countries in exchange for room and board.

blueberry farm
Peak season for blueberries lasts through mid August although berries can be picked all through the month at Friendly Grove Blueberry Farm.

The u-pick concept is not unique to Friendly Grove Farm but the passion that Karen brings to her patch of land in rural Thurston County certainly is. “I love the joy the farm brings people when the farm is humming with conversation,” explains Karen. She tears up when she tell me about generations of families coming to the farm to pick blueberries together. “There are children in backpacks and grandparents with their grandchildren nurturing relationships.”

Looking around the farm, I vow to return very soon with my own children even though they are no longer small enough to be lost among the rows.

Friendly Grove Blueberry Farm is open for u-pick Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and weekends from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.. Blueberries are $2.50/lb. for u-pick. For information about purchasing pre-picked berries by the pound call the farm at 360-528-0207.

Friendly Grove Blueberry Farm
3102 Friendly Grove Road NE
Olympia, WA 98506

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
FacebookTweetPin

Share via:

326 Shares
  • More
Previous articleHistory of Lacey’s Annexation Battles in the 1960s
Next articleAdopt-A-Pet Dog of the Week
Carrie Bell

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

black night sky with two fireworks going off in red and green

2025 July 4th Fireworks in Thurston County

a bunch of people in blue shirt on a track with a large purple blow up arch. The front three people hold a banner that says Connolly's Crew. Every cancer. Every life. Celebrating $1.2 million raised since 2008

Relay For Life of Thurston County Presented by Twinstar Credit Union Unites the Community in Fight Against Cancer

Circus performers in brightly colored costumes pose on a black stage in front of a red and white big top tent. Two are sitting, one is down on one knee, five are standing and one is standing with a woman on his shoulders.

Under the Big Top: Shoestring Circus Comes To Town With a Show Like No Other

Upcoming Events

Jun
14
Sat
all-day Register Today – FC Olympia Summ...
Register Today – FC Olympia Summ...
Jun 14 all-day
7 week long camps to fit your summer schedule. Want to come and learn new soccer skills from your favorite local club? Come to FC Olympia youth summer camps for kids 6-15 years old and[...]
View Calendar
Add
  • Add to Timely Calendar
  • Add to Google
  • Add to Outlook
  • Add to Apple Calendar
  • Add to other calendar
  • Export to XML

Local Community Sponsors

Local Community Sponsors

Business

Kim Parks posing for a photo between framing on a house being built, wearing a black tank top and a tool belt

Welcoming Kimberly Parks to the Boggs Inspection Services Family

Studies show that over a lifetime, the average American has seven careers and moves nearly a dozen times. Few of us stick to a...
a kid standing on a huge rock

Olympia Therapy Has Suggestions for Summertime and Developmentally Helpful Information for...

two hands with orange gloves, one has a yellow cloth on a white sink and the other is spraying something out of a purple spray bottle into the sink

Building Your Home Cleaning Caddy with Tips from Maid Perfect

Jessica Oliver (left) and husband Joshua Oliver (right) sitting on a bench seat at a low table with drinks

Penrose Physical Therapy Utilizes New Dry Needling Technique to Alleviate Patient’s...

grey sofa chairs, white round side tables and tan cabinets in the WSECU Hawk's Prairie branch waiting area. The wall has a green block painted on it that has the word 'WSECU' painted on it in lighter green

WSECU Opens Innovative New Branch in Bustling Hawks Prairie Area to...

Trending Now

young boys and girls in t-shirts and shorts stand in a line on a field, the hands of an adult are seen handing the first two kids orange balls. The kid at the front of the line is throwing her ball.,

New Engaging Youth Summer Camps Have Sports, STEAM, Coding, Music, Water...

a bowl of strawberry shortcake with a fork in it

Things To Do for Father’s Day in Olympia and Throughout Thurston...

Lacey Community Survey Open to All Residents June 16

Editor Picks

young boys and girls in t-shirts and shorts stand in a line on a field, the hands of an adult are seen handing the first two kids orange balls. The kid at the front of the line is throwing her ball.,

New Engaging Youth Summer Camps Have Sports, STEAM, Coding, Music, Water...

black night sky with two fireworks going off in red and green

2025 July 4th Fireworks in Thurston County

Oksana Skillings in her classroom showing huge playing cards to the seated students

North Thurston Public Schools Celebrates Educators Who Embody Joy of Learning 

Recent Posts

  • New Engaging Youth Summer Camps Have Sports, STEAM, Coding, Music, Water Games and More
  • TCMedia Celebrates Grand Re-Opening and Introduces New Leadership
  • The Washington Center Anacker Scholarship for the Arts Winners Announced
  • Lacey Community Survey Open to All Residents June 16
  • Welcoming Kimberly Parks to the Boggs Inspection Services Family
ABOUT US
ThurstonTalk is a community social network delivering positive stories about what it’s like to live, work and play in Thurston County Washington, including Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm, Tenino and the surrounding area. Advertise with ThurstonTalk. Brand your business and tell your story to your target market.
Contact us: info@thurstontalk.com
FOLLOW US
Facebook Mail RSS Twitter
  • About
    • Story
    • Team
    • Company News
    • Contact
    • Terms of Use
  • Advertise
    • How our Olympia advertising works
    • Launch a Campaign
    • Grow your Audience
    • Measure the Results
    • Company News
    • Contact
  • Events
    • Community Calendar
    • Articles
    • List an Event
  • I5 Traffic Cameras
© ThurstonTalk, Inc.
Share via
Facebook
X (Twitter)
LinkedIn
Mix
Email
Print
Copy Link
Powered by Social Snap
Copy link
CopyCopied
Powered by Social Snap