The History of Klock Farm
In the summer of l980, Clair Klock and his wife Beverly leased the Larson Blueberry Farm in Corbett, Oregon, a 20 acre farm which had a mature planting of blueberries, apples, raspberries and a variety of caneberries. During the next eleven years we expanded this operation both as a U-Pick operation and commercial pick, harvesting approximately 50 tons of blueberries each season.
In 1982 we purchased a 27 acre property in Corbett and established Klock Farm, offering blueberries, raspberries and marionberries. We had also started a small nursery operation, selling a variety of blueberry plants and other select perennials.
Today we have a loyal following of customers who come every summer to U-Pick our healthy and delicious berries. Many of our customers have become life-long friends. We hope to carry Klock Farm into the future with continued excellent harvests of quality blueberries.
After 35 years in the blueberry U-pick business Clair and Beverly have retired and will be leasing the blueberry field to our daughter and grandson.
Conservation
One of the underlying purposes of Klock Farm is to produce quality fruits and berries in an environmentally sound manner. To that end we have done or are doing the following.
Production of Food
We use a strict form of Integrated Pest Management. An illustration of this was the fact that when we started farming on leased property we were able to cut the pesticide and fertilizer consumption by 50 percent. At our present operation, while not organic, we use only about 5 % of what a normal conventional blueberry operation would use.
Erosion Protection
Wind and water erosion in the Columbia River Gorge are at times intense. We receive approximately 75 inches of rainfall a year, wind speeds commonly reaches 50-70 miles per hour for sustained periods during the winter and have at times been rated at 100 mi/hr. We have grass conservation cover between our blueberry rows and a windbreak on the northeast side of the field.
Wildlife Habitat
We have increases environmental protection for the natural resources here at Klock Farm. In cooperation with Oregon Department of Fish And Wildlife(ODFW) we have developed an Oregon Wildlife Habitat Conservation and Management Plan for 16 acres of agricultural and forest land. We first entered this program in since 2002. The land is managed for wildlife diversity. We have recently designated with the help of Oregon Fish and Wildlife 9 acres of our forest land to exclusive watershed health and wildlife purposes. A variety of habitats were established to increase both the diversity and population of wildlife and fish. These habitats include young deciduous and coniferous forest as well as open field habitat for owls and hawks. The watershed protection is enrolled under the ODFW Riparian Lands Tax Incentives Program Protection program for the benefits of both wildlife and fish. We found that the tax saving was nil, however the environment benefits was great and that is just fine for us. Because laws and programs change we are activity working on a permanent conservation easement of the streamside area for watershed health and other part of the property for wildlife, timber or agricultural production depending on which one future owners wish to do. . This will be a deed restriction that limited any future owner to those uses. Please call Clair at 503.695.5882 with questions.
For more information visit:
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Habitat Program site www.dfw.state.or.us/lands
Forestlands
Klock farm in 2013 converted 15 acres of designated forest land subject to the Oregon Forest Practices Act to wildlife and riparian (streamside) programs. Prior to this designation any owner would have been able to cut every tree on the property and only leave a 10 foot buffer of brush. This increases protection of this area for terrestrial wildlife, amphibians and fish. The forest land is managed for long-term (old growth) objectives. This includes thinning of deciduous trees, development of large woody debris and control of invasive species such as Garlic Mustard, Knotweed, English Ivy and Himalayan Blackberry. Refer to the following web sites for more info:
Oregon State Extension Service http://extension.oregonstate.edu/clackamas/forestry
Clackamas County Soil and Water Conservation District www.conservationdistrict.org
Native Pollinators
It became apparent over the years that conventional honeybee pollinators were not effective at our elevation (1000 feet), abundant rainfall, and high wind conditions. Therefore Klock Farm depends on and encourages native pollinator habitat. In consultation with the Xerces Society (for conservation of invertebrate species) we have developed a variety of habitats for native pollinators. The bare patches under the blueberry rows are prime habitat for solitary pollinators.
Xerces Society www.xerces.org
Greenhouse Gases
Concerned about climate change as well as wildlife habitat, Klock Farm is proud to reduce the effects of our fossil fuels by maintaining a forest that includes young trees that capture greenhouse gases. Our carbon offset is approximately $1,400 per year with 70 tons used. Our total farm production (forest, grassland and berry field) is approximately 405 tons/yr. (20 tons/acre/yr.) for carbon. This conservative figure leaves 335 tons of carbon offset that may be purchased from the farm on a yearly basis. If interested, call Clair to work out details.
Hiking Trails
Our trails are for the enjoyment of our friends, neighbors and customers. They are constructed in a manner that reduces the impact from erosion and allows or areas of undisturbed land with wildlife cover. These trails are wildland trails meaning there are hazards in various spots and hikers need to pay attention when walking. The trails are not open on windy days. Thank you for not littering, feeding wildlife and picking flowers or vegetation.
Please call Clair at 503.695.5882 to discuss any of our agricultural, forest or wildlife conservation practices on the farm.
Production of Food
We use a strict form of Integrated Pest Management. An illustration of this was the fact that when we started farming on leased property we were able to cut the pesticide and fertilizer consumption by 50 percent. At our present operation, while not organic, we use only about 5 % of what a normal conventional blueberry operation would use.
Erosion Protection
Wind and water erosion in the Columbia River Gorge are at times intense. We receive approximately 75 inches of rainfall a year, wind speeds commonly reaches 50-70 miles per hour for sustained periods during the winter and have at times been rated at 100 mi/hr. We have grass conservation cover between our blueberry rows and a windbreak on the northeast side of the field.
Wildlife Habitat
We have increases environmental protection for the natural resources here at Klock Farm. In cooperation with Oregon Department of Fish And Wildlife(ODFW) we have developed an Oregon Wildlife Habitat Conservation and Management Plan for 16 acres of agricultural and forest land. We first entered this program in since 2002. The land is managed for wildlife diversity. We have recently designated with the help of Oregon Fish and Wildlife 9 acres of our forest land to exclusive watershed health and wildlife purposes. A variety of habitats were established to increase both the diversity and population of wildlife and fish. These habitats include young deciduous and coniferous forest as well as open field habitat for owls and hawks. The watershed protection is enrolled under the ODFW Riparian Lands Tax Incentives Program Protection program for the benefits of both wildlife and fish. We found that the tax saving was nil, however the environment benefits was great and that is just fine for us. Because laws and programs change we are activity working on a permanent conservation easement of the streamside area for watershed health and other part of the property for wildlife, timber or agricultural production depending on which one future owners wish to do. . This will be a deed restriction that limited any future owner to those uses. Please call Clair at 503.695.5882 with questions.
For more information visit:
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Habitat Program site www.dfw.state.or.us/lands
Forestlands
Klock farm in 2013 converted 15 acres of designated forest land subject to the Oregon Forest Practices Act to wildlife and riparian (streamside) programs. Prior to this designation any owner would have been able to cut every tree on the property and only leave a 10 foot buffer of brush. This increases protection of this area for terrestrial wildlife, amphibians and fish. The forest land is managed for long-term (old growth) objectives. This includes thinning of deciduous trees, development of large woody debris and control of invasive species such as Garlic Mustard, Knotweed, English Ivy and Himalayan Blackberry. Refer to the following web sites for more info:
Oregon State Extension Service http://extension.oregonstate.edu/clackamas/forestry
Clackamas County Soil and Water Conservation District www.conservationdistrict.org
Native Pollinators
It became apparent over the years that conventional honeybee pollinators were not effective at our elevation (1000 feet), abundant rainfall, and high wind conditions. Therefore Klock Farm depends on and encourages native pollinator habitat. In consultation with the Xerces Society (for conservation of invertebrate species) we have developed a variety of habitats for native pollinators. The bare patches under the blueberry rows are prime habitat for solitary pollinators.
Xerces Society www.xerces.org
Greenhouse Gases
Concerned about climate change as well as wildlife habitat, Klock Farm is proud to reduce the effects of our fossil fuels by maintaining a forest that includes young trees that capture greenhouse gases. Our carbon offset is approximately $1,400 per year with 70 tons used. Our total farm production (forest, grassland and berry field) is approximately 405 tons/yr. (20 tons/acre/yr.) for carbon. This conservative figure leaves 335 tons of carbon offset that may be purchased from the farm on a yearly basis. If interested, call Clair to work out details.
Hiking Trails
Our trails are for the enjoyment of our friends, neighbors and customers. They are constructed in a manner that reduces the impact from erosion and allows or areas of undisturbed land with wildlife cover. These trails are wildland trails meaning there are hazards in various spots and hikers need to pay attention when walking. The trails are not open on windy days. Thank you for not littering, feeding wildlife and picking flowers or vegetation.
Please call Clair at 503.695.5882 to discuss any of our agricultural, forest or wildlife conservation practices on the farm.
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