Fruitlands Bed & Breakfast

08/27/2026

August 27 - We have decided to bring a close to our U Pick for this season. We were hoping to make it to September. We still have green berries out there and the SWD seems to have met its match again in the nematodes, but it is time for use to move on to the next focus. In between berries and apples there is much to do with house painting and gathering the bounty of our veggie gardens. We freeze a lot and make a lot of our own organic pasta sauces, salsa, soup and pesto.

If you are passing by, we do have the nice Tolman sweet apples for 2-3 weeks. We are offering those free to say thank you.

We picked our first organic corn yesterday. We are harvesting a lot of broccoli, cauliflower, red cabbage, beans, beets, carrots, egg plant and more. Our sunflowers are just awesome right now. I will pick you a bouquet and ask that you add to the money that we are collecting for World Central Kitchen and Ukraine Children's Action Project.

Thank you to everyone who visited Fruitlands this season. We hope that you enjoyed the flowers too and found some peace and hope in them.

Our B&B gets busier in the fall. Apple picking is coming. There is always work to do. We might even get to the lake. 50 years here on the top of the mountain. *I invite you to read the "About" page on our Web site.

A brief background on Fruitlands.

08/26/2026

Every year I try to experiment with something new in the flower category. This year I have grown morning glories in four different colors. The hummingbirds love them as do I.

08/26/2026

Wednesday, August 26 - After doing a walk about this morning and seeing piles of bear s**t and broken branches, I have decided to remain closed for blueberry U Pick. Disappointing. The quality is going back up on the SWD side of things. I am not sure that we will open again, but check in.

If you have been here, you know the spreading Tolman sweet apple tree that fronts where we park cars. It is ready and loaded with fruit. It is a yellow, early, and nutty apple. Our favorite us for it is in a Waldorf salad. Delicious. It is sub acid. That means that the flesh can turn a bit brown when it contacts the air. If you are in our area and would like to try some of these, I am sharing them for no cost. I don't want to see them wasted. We may make some realy juice from them in the coming days.

The sunflowers are in their glory.

08/24/2026

Monday, August 24 - I did apply the last 50 million Sf nematodes Sunday morning. I believe that during the day and evening that we did get enough "rain" to wash them into the ground before they dehydrated. We are still having bear issues. A lot of the Chandler branches were broken over last night. That is our latest and largest blueberry.

We will continue to be closed today for U Pick. I hope to be open again for Wednesday. Meanwhile, I took a large box of organic broccoli heads to the Cabot Store this morning. After 50 years of growing veggies here, I can honestly say that this year is epic even with the lack of rain in the last few weeks. We do not have enough water in our deep well to use for much irrigation. I do have to water the tomatoes in the greenhouse.

If you are interested in any of our excess veggies, ask. We have organic tomatoes on the table. $3 / lb. We will have red cabbage and cauliflower soon. We will also have NE pie pumpkins and butternut squash. All organic. Our corn is coming in quickly. We will also have some of that for sale. I tend to pick corn when someone wants fresh ears. They don't sit around.

A reminder that it is nearing apple season. We will have a lot of organic Cortlands for sale and cider later. Right now we have a huge crop of Tolman sweets. They are a yellow apple with a blush. Not a keeper, but oh are they are great in a Waldorf salad. Sweet, nutty flavor.

Sunflower bouquets picked for you at the moment to raise money for two organizations working in Ukraine. WCK and Ukraine Children's Action Project. By donation.

08/23/2026

Sunday, August 23 - We are closing down U Pick today due to weather and the need to get the last nematode release done. We have to have rain to do this so send us some good vibes there. We suddenly have too many soft berries due to the SWD. We still do not see any visible, but they are here. I hope to get the nematodes into the ground, strip off soft berries to the extent possible (the hens will be happy about that), and hope to be open again with late-season blues. We do still have a lot of green berries.

08/22/2026

I am trying to raise some humble funds for World Central Kitchen and Ukraine Children's Action Project. Both are doing significant work in Ukraine.

These are the first of our pro-cut sunflowers: peach, white and orange. We also will have thousands of autumn-beauty blossoms. If you stop by, I will cut fresh for you. By donation. Every penny will go to these organizations.

08/22/2026

A reminder that we are closed Every Saturday. I am not 100% sure about Sunday. Waiting on weather an "inspections" of blueberries. I am still waiting on rain so that I can apply the last 50 million Sf nematodes on the grass around each blueberry bush.

08/21/2026

WCAX has done a nice piece on the Vermont Flower Farm right here in Marshfield. Friends of ours.

Everywhere you look, there's a feast for the eyes at the Vermont Flower Farm in Marshfield.

08/21/2026

Friday, August 21 - Blueberry U Pick opens at 9 - 1. Yesterday, I picked more than the few others who came to pick. We have hada very few SWD show up in the past 2-3 days. The last round of 50 million Sf nematodes arrived yesterday and are in the fridge. I am hoping for some rain so that I can get them in the ground.

Lots of sunflower blossoms!

08/20/2026

We now charge a small fee for this service to cover gas.

One of the most exciting additions to the northern part of Vermont is the completion of the LVRT, the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. At 93 miles long, the LVRT is the longest rail trail in New England and connects 18 towns from St. Johnsbury to Swanton. The LVRT is a four-season, multi-purpose recreati...