You-Pick
Each year we grow a few crops specifically for folks who want to come out to the farm and you-pick. Some of these crops you may also receive in your share (green beans and basil), while others are only being grown for you-pick (flowers, okra and cherry tomatoes).
How it Works
Every week that there is you-pick available, we will list available crops in the weekly newsletter. If this is your first time coming to the farm for you-pick, find one of the members of the CSA team (in the pack shed or out in the fields) for a you-pick orientation.
You will need to bring your own harvest containers and—if you are interested in okra or flowers—your own pruners or scissors. All you-pick crops will also be marked in the field with a “you-pick” sign.
We also have a perennial you-pick field with additional herbs and flowers. The adjacent rhubarb plot is not available for you-pick. Lastly, we have you-pick raspberries and blackberries.
Video Instructions:
- You-Pick Harvest Tools
- You-Pick Containers and Guidelines
- You-Pick Harvest Techniques
- You-Pick Berries
For all harvesting from plants: Only take cuttings, not whole plants. Only harvest items that are ready. Only take what you will use and always leave some for others.
Protocols
When coming for you-pick, you are required to follow our protocols, which include:
- Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer prior to harvesting.
- Clean and sanitize your own harvest tools.
- Provide your own containers to take items home.
- Follow guidelines for recommended harvest amounts (per household, per week)
- Quart-sized container of each of the following (about 1 lb.): raspberries, blackberries, cherry tomatoes, hot peppers, green beans, okra, tomatillos
- Pint-sized mason jar of each of the following: flowers and herbs
- Sunflowers: 10 stems
If protocols are not followed, we reserve the right to discontinue the you-pick operation.
Hours and Parking
Once open, you may come to the farm for you-pick anytime during normal farm hours, Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m., with extended hours on Thursday until 6:30 p.m. We are closed on all major holidays including Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4th and Labor Day.
We ask that you park your vehicle in the parking lot and walk to the you-pick area to keep vehicles out of our fields. If there is an issue of accessibility, please talk to a staff member for guidelines.
Directions to the Farm
The Horticulture Research Farm is located on the southwest corner of Man O’War and Nicholasville Road. From the UK campus, head south (toward Nicholasville) on Nicholasville Road. Turn right onto Man O’War Boulevard. Take the first left turn (there is a stoplight) onto the farm. During the day, you will need to pull within inches of the farm gate to trigger it to open.
Once on farm road, stay straight, eventually passing a large parking lot to your right and several large greenhouses on your right. Once you have passed the greenhouses, you will see a small parking lot on your left. You’ve made it to the Organic Farm! Park in this lot and find a member of the CSA team.