Farmer Joe
Located just a few miles North of Coeur d’Alene in Rathdrum , Idaho ...... a Botanical Masterpiece- The Berry & Nut Farm. Beginning in 2007, but really started to take form decades ago in the imagination of a man who is dedicated to the Earth & his family . Huckleberry Joe, Farmer Joe, or Joe Culbreth- he will answer to any of them. Beginning with a 5 acre field of noxious w**ds waste high -Joe , his grandsons Joe McGee & Brad Bingham, and a John Deere Rider mowed & moved rock , a lot of rock. When all the w**ds were down, the holes & trenches started to be dug, and along came his girls Coreen & Kelly Culbreth to help Joe with his plan. Mounds began to form, trees, shrubs, & vines were planted, and a watering system was beginning. Many long hours, sweat, and dedication, the vision Joe had was visible and he turned in his relaxing retirement years in for 10 more acres of w**d and rock. Too much for one man, his city girl wife Sharon Culbreth , and occasional muscle from family, Joe found some dedicated individuals to help.
Now, eleven years later, The Berry & Nut Farm is fifteen acres filled with Apple, Cherry, Peach, Pear, Plum, & Nut trees . Huckleberry, Blueberry, Blackberry, & Raspberry bushes. The best Grape vines, and flowers .... lots of flowers. Was it mentioned that Huckleberries were growing on the farm ? Joe has domesticated both The Mountain Huckleberry & The Canadian Huckleberry - Saskatoon. The experts in the field said he couldn't... Ten years of patience proved differently. He also will change a tree’s identity, or if its not producing as good as another, or if he just wants to have another variety ( he has seventeen apple varieties now) , by ways of grafting . He's not just a Farmer . Row after row , section after section, plants & trees are planted in exact distance from one another on mounds of black soil & sawdust, in vertical and horizontal lines and curves strategically placed to create a design-pattern that is magical & was carefully planned by Joe. People of all ages & backgrounds get lost in it’s beauty and time becomes meaningless. If it weren't for the entire farm being mapped out by letters & numbers like streets, one would get lost among-st the thousands of flowering & fruiting botanical s which bloom & ripen in succession and fill the air with colorful fragrant blooms from Spring to frost and bear a edible healthy harvest.
Speaking of harvest....... you can take home some fresh farm produce , products made by the Farmer himself , or by the Farmer’s Daughter by stopping by The Roadside Stand located at 2795 W. Boekel Road, Rathdrum. We have our Farm Juices , Jams, Toppings, Preserves, Applesauce, Apple-pie filling, Blueberry pie filling, English Walnuts , Hazelnuts, Black Walnuts, & Heart Nuts. You can buy your own berry bushes , we have Blueberry, Blackberry , and Raspberry plants for sale. We also have Weeping Willow, Dogwood,Hazelnut, & P***y willow trees for sale. Asters are blooming now and can be bought at the Roadside stand too. Fall is a great time to plant.
