By Matthew K. Roy
PEABODY — Strawberries are now ripe for the picking at Brooksby Farm.
Raspberries will be ready early next month. Blueberries are on deck for later in July.
The farm store is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hanging flowers, annuals, herbs and vegetable plants are for sale. So are jams, jellies, honey and assorted bakery items.
Amidst all the activity, Patrick Kriksceonaitis, 50, has just begun his first summer as Brooksby's manager. Prior to starting work here, he spent 25 years in the golf industry, most recently working as superintendent of Essex County Club in Manchester.
Kriksceonaitis has been on the job for less than four months. The Salem News recently checked in to see how he is doing and asked about what people can expect this summer at the farm.
How has it been going?
It's going great. The weather has been doing well. I've been getting assistance from (former manager) Jamie O'Brien. ... He's still around part time. ... (Assistant Manager) Joanne Roden is a big help. The animals are all healthy. The crops are looking good. So we're psyched.
How big is your crew?
Never big enough. Right now we have seven people. There are 80 acres of fruit and over 20 acres of summer crops. There's never enough hours in the day. But we're making progress.
Seems incredible you maintain this place with only seven people.
If we had 10 people, they would all be busy. The thing about a farm is you never have enough labor. And every day you just set priorities and, sometimes, if a little patch isn't exactly the way you want, that's the way it is. You make the best with what you have and you just keep going forward. Next thing you know, it's snowing and the season is over.
What time does work start?
It depends on the day. Some days it starts at 8 a.m. When it's hot or we're doing special projects, we'll start at 6 a.m.
What are the summer crops?
Summer squash, zucchini, pickles, cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplant.
Some of the animals on the farm?
Eight sheep, one llama, one goat, two emus, who knows how many chickens, a couple dozen turkeys, some pheasants, and the peacock.
What can people expect this summer?
We're really trying to provide a service and more than just the food. ... Instead of spending a gazillion dollars going somewhere with the family, you can come up and feed the animals, have a picnic on the front lawn, maybe pick some strawberries or raspberries. The city makes out, the family makes out. It's good for the mental health.
Saturday, July 19, is Customer Appreciation Day at Brooksby Farm. It is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be an old-time corn boil, hillbilly hayrides, and pie sampling, among other offerings.
