About

About the Berry Patch Farm

Dean and Judy Henry realized a dream by establishing the Berry Patch Farm in the early 1970s. Today you'll see Judy at the markets, Dean on the tractors, and their son Mike at the stand and picking the freshest harvest. Throughout the Berry Patch you'll see the personal touches of each individual involved.

We grow strawberries, raspberries, vegetables, apples, and more: see what we harvest when.

You can get Berry Patch goodies from the farm, at markets, and through CSAs (community supported agriculture).

The Berry Patch is known for its fine produce and innovative techniques. At the farm you won't find carnival rides, cotton candy, or silly entertainment to detract from the genuine quiet of the country. We focus our energy on growing good food and being good stewards of the land.

Innovative Agriculture Merging with Nature

A pragmatic approach to organic, sustainable farming.

Dean is a scientist at heart, who thrives on knowledge and challenge. He studies the latest methods and tests techniques to raise the best produce in ways that are healthy for the land.

We use sustainable farming techniques in all of our crops. Some are produced organically and other crops are produced utilizing the latest integrated pest management techniques (IPM). We use a great deal of compost for fertilizer and weed control. Drip irrigation makes the best use of our pure well water to produce top quality apples and berries for you.

Awards and Mentions

The Berry Patch Farm has been awarded the District Soil Conservation Award.

INDEPENDENCE IN A SUSTAINABLE IOWA BERRY PATCH - excerpt: "Besides using disease-free hybrids to reduce spraying, Henry sometimes applies organic approved, nontoxic insecticides and experiments with compost as a high-quality fertilizer and weed suppressant. Upcoming learning opportunities include a joint venture with Iowa State University in researching recipes and applications for compost tea, and expanding compost usage in his day-to-day operations."
Eating in Iowa: The Berry Patch Farm - excerpt: "I also like buying from the Berry Patch Farm because of the Henry family’s attitude towards their land. Dean says that he wants to make the land better than when they bought it and his use of drip irrigation (where possible), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and organic-style practices indicate that he practices what he preaches. Not ones to follow the crowd, Dean and Judy aren’t trying for organic certification, so if that is important to you, their produce won’t be up your alley. For my money though, I’d pick a locally, responsibly grown product over an organic product from Chile any day. Why? If I want to know how that blueberry I’m about to put in my mouth was grown, I can visit the farm and ask Dean.
Currently most of their blueberries and raspberries are raised using organic practices and the use of IPM allows the farm to minimize the use of chemicals. IPM is labor-intensive, requiring pest and plant health monitoring, record-keeping, and a large degree of knowledge about both the pests and the plants. By using IPM Dean estimates that he has reduced the amount of chemicals used for pest control to 20 percent of what he used when he started farming."
Area farm is growing a big blue crop this year - excerpt: "The treasure I speak of is blueberries, some of them as big around as nickels.... The Henrys are always experimenting with something to improve the quality and quantity of their produce!... But for the Henrys, this farm is more than just a way to make a living. Growing fresh fruit and helping those who come to the farm is truly a labor of love."
Berry Patch Farm featured this October in the Joan Bice Underwood Tearoom, ISU University Extenstion - excerpt: "Sustainable farming techniques are used in all crops. Some are produced organically and other crops are produced utilizing the latest integrated pest management techniques (IPM). Drip irrigation makes the best use of our pure well water to produce top quality apples and berries."