Raspberry Production Workshop

A raspberry production workshop is scheduled for Tuesday evening, August 25 at the Rod Nippert raspberry planting located at 12861 Parmiter Road near Amesville. The raspberry workshop will begin at 6:00 pm and run until about 8:15 pm. There will be a pre-workshop program entitled “Welcome to the Federal Valley Area” held at 5:30 pm.

Rod has 800 feet of raspberry plants. He started with 400 feet of plants about 5 years ago and added another 400 feet of plants in the spring of 2009. Rod has enjoyed good success with raspberries and wants to share some of his production methods and his keys for success. He will focus on raspberry production using organic principles. Rod uses a unique fencing system to keep deer out of his raspberries and he uses a solar powered drip irrigation system to provide water for his berries.

In addition to Rod, Maurus Brown and Shawn Wright, OSU Extension Horticultural Specialists from the Piketon Centers will be joining us as resource persons for the evening. Information will be provided that will be applicable to both the home and commercial gardener. Topics that will be covered during the workshop include:

• Site Selection and Preparation for Planting
• Variety Selection
• Establishing the Planting
• Care and Maintenance (weed control, irrigation, pruning, thinning, trellising, fertility etc.)
• Handling Pest Problems
• Harvesting and Handling
• Marketing
• Economics

This workshop is sponsored by OSU Extension, Rural Action, Ohio Environmental Education Fund, and Bodacious Berries.

There is no fee to attend.

Contact the Athens County Extension office at 593-8555 or Rural Action at 767-4938 for more information.