After working in microbiology in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Georgia; Pat and Steve Berger are “grateful and happy to be back in scenic Minnesota.” Pat Berger grew up on the North Shore, where she helped her father in his garden, and assisted her mother and siblings in processing the harvest. Steve Berger is now retired from his “off-the-farm” job, and is exploring what other farm products he can add to Boreal Bounty now that he has the time. Hard cider and chickens are two considerations.
The Bergers developed the farm together, breaking ground on three 60 X 50 foot gardens and erecting two 50-foot hoop houses. They have also renovated the existing barn, which now houses goats Hazel and Tina and barn cats Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. The Berger’s Great Pyrenees/Anatolian Shepherd mix Kyra barks a friendly welcome to visitors.
“Our plan was to provide fresh, quality, organically grown produce and products for our family and local community,” Pat and Steve explain when asked why they began Boreal Bounty Farm. “To achieve this goal, we carefully chose plant varieties that are early to market to provide customers a wider variety of vegetables early in our short Northern growing season.”
Boreal Bounty Farm focuses on offering only high-quality vegetables through “just-in-time” harvesting, and quickly cooling and safely washing products after harvest. They employ organic farming methods, though they haven’t gone through the process of official certification.
Pat and Steve brainstormed many different names before settling on Boreal Bounty Farm. “We live in and around the boreal forest, and [we] talked of the wonderful bounty our land could produce, and voila! We had a farm name!”
During the 2023 season, Boreal Bounty Farm plans to offer, among other things, beets, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, celery, cucumbers, garlic, green beans, herbs, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuces, onions, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, rhubarb, snap peas, spinach, tomatoes, and winter and summer squash. Besides fresh produce, Boreal Bounty Farm also has home canned products, ranging from jams and jellies to herbed salts, spices, cucumber relish, and tomato salsa. This fall, the farm will have apples, apple butter, and apple cider. Pat creates and markets various chocolates and caramels during the holiday season.
Boreal Bounty Farm can be found on Saturday mornings at the Two Harbors Farmers’ Market, and also through the Two Harbors REKO Ring, members of the of the North Shore Farmers’ Collaborative, Studio 20/20 Art Tour weekend, and at their Clover Valley Farm Trail stand located on their property at 7221 Laine Road in Two Harbors.
For more information about ordering contact Pat and Steve Berger at borealbountyfarm@gmail.com.
