Strawberry picking is a fun, springtime tradition the whole family can enjoy right here near Chattanooga.
UPDATE 03-30-2023: Lorenzen Family Farm does not have strawberries this year. Please check out Smith Perry Berries for strawberry updates and when you can purchase them locally.
Lorenzen Family Farm is the perfect Chattanooga strawberry picking location. It’s still early in the season so you have ample time to head out and pick some strawberries. Here are some tips from my visit as well as a behind the scenes look into this farm’s existence.
The Best Time for Strawberry Picking
The typical season for strawberry picking is late April through early June. But before you plan your trip to the Lorenzen Family Farm, be sure to double check their Facebook page for any special updates. Sometimes they have more availability during the week depending on how the season is going. Kristen Lorenzen updates the page if they sell out before 11am so you don’t waste a trip out to the farm. But, as always, I highly suggest going first thing in the morning.
I still double checked the Facebook page to make sure I was still good to go the morning of. Arriving as soon as they opened ensured I had plenty of field space to myself. I got first dibs on the ripe berries and got out before the family crowds rolled in which arrived promptly an hour later. Of course, I also went early in the season so most of the berries weren’t even fully ripe yet. But there were still plenty to pick.
Lorenzen Family Farm is opened for strawberry picking during the season typically on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. This break in days allows time for the plants to ripen up again before the next batch of pickers comes through. Almost every time they open, people pick all the ripe berries. So it’s necessary to keep these off days in order to let the strawberries prepare for the next visitors.
Another Another tip that Kristen filled me in on is that strawberries are sweeter and last longer once picked if they are picked in the morning. By the afternoon it gets hot causing the strawberries to turn more to their sour side until the next morning. Kind of like how some flowers blossom in the morning but start to close up for the night when afternoon hits. Strawberries, in a sense, are the same way. And this is why the farm is only open during morning hours.
The Strawberries at Lorenzen Family Farm
The strawberries are nearly organic. I say nearly because in order to be officially organic, the government requires a lot of expensive testing. Plus the farmland has to be kept from any chemicals that would not be considered organic for several years. Needless to say, it’s a lot of time and money to earn that “organic” title and it’s not on the Lorenzen’s radar to complete at this time. However, they use almost all organic items when growing their strawberries.
They use peppermint oil which is a natural pest deterrent. And they let the spiders run freely. Yes, you read that right. I saw a couple spiders while I was in the field. And even though I hate spiders, these ones didn’t bother me. They are more scared of you and will run away the second you get close so you have no need to worry. The spiders play a crucial role in keeping the strawberries safe from predators. They get rid of the other bugs that would otherwise eat the strawberries. And spiders don’t eat strawberries so it’s a win win for everyone. The spiders get their food by protecting yours.
The Lorenzen’s main goal for the strawberries is to be able to pick and eat them right then and there. Without nasty pesticides, you can do this. In fact, it’s encouraged! They encourage you to taste test while you pick. Because, at the end of the day, that’s the best part of picking berries right?
The Story Behind the Farm
Lorenzen Family Farm sits on numerous acres. Before the Lorenzen family purchased the farm, it was dormant land that had been harvested for hay. And prior to that, it had been a cow pasture, which means the ground is fertile, perfect for growing flowers and strawberries. They bought the farm in 2013 and decided to try their hands at strawberries in 2014.
Nathan Lorenzen had always wanted a farm. When they saw this one on the market, they decided to purchase it and see what they could do with it. They had no definitive plans for the farm at first as this was new territory for them. It was a blank slate to have fun with, learn the ins and outs of farming, and try out various things. The Lorenzens had always been big into gardening. They always had large vegetable gardens. So, in a sense, this would become a larger scale garden.
“What to grow first?” This question arose early on and the answer was found by their son. He was only 5 at the time and suggested they try strawberries. Nathan and Kristen liked the idea so they decided to give it a shot. After all, they live in Dayton, TN, where the Tennessee Strawberry Festival is hosted annually. They planted 5 acres of strawberries and had a bountiful crop.
The plan was to offer you-pick as well as picking some themselves to sell at local markets. However, this endeavor proved to be more work than they bargained for. Nathan and Kristen both have fulltime jobs so this extra farm work became more of a fulltime job in and of itself. After that successful year, they decided it was time to downsize the strawberries to just 1 acre and only offer you-pick. This business model has proven over the years to be more manageable and more financially sound.
What It Takes to Grow a Strawberry Farm
When the Lorenzens first started with strawberries, they didn’t fully realize how much work goes into this crop that only yields fruit for a few weeks. Turns out, strawberries require attention all year long. They are planted in August or September and start to grow. During the winter they stay fairly dormant, but still require assistance to be protected from the cold. And in the early spring they continue to grow until they produce flowers which turn into strawberries. The typical season is late April through early June. But this 5-6 weeks timeframe varies by year and location.
I asked Kristen how they learned to operate the farm with no previous experience. She told me that their number one source for knowledge was YouTube. But, as we can all agree, no one is a better teacher than experience itself. Farming is a giant experiment. It takes an entire year to try something and see if it will work or not. If it doesn’t, tweak it next year for hopefully better results. And if it works, make note to keep doing it every year. Nathan has also made friends with other local farmers at the co-op they use to buy supplies from. This has allowed him to pick their brains for a more, locally fed approach to learning.
The Future of the Lorenzen Family Farm
As time goes on, the Lorenzens would love to utilize their farm’s fields and offer more varieties of crops. In fact, last year they did tulips for the first time. It was a gamble and they weren’t sure if they’d grow, but they did and were also a huge hit with the locals. Back in March they opened up the tulip fields for you-pick and sold out very quickly. The demand was more than anticipated and for good reason. Do you know of anywhere else around that will let you pick your own tulips? I sure don’t.
Due to the huge success of the tulips last year, the Lorenzens planned to plant three times as many tulip bulbs for harvest this year. Unfortunately I couldn’t make it this year, but I will definitely be putting this on my calendar for next March so I don’t miss this unique picking opportunity.
They’ve tried to do sunflowers as well, but unfortunately the birds really love them too. The sunflowers have yet to come through for a solid you-pick event, but they will keep trying. Farming is all about perseverance and never giving up trying new methods until you succeed.
The overall goal of anything they plant is for it to be a you-pick attraction. Not only is it easier on the family this way, it also adds to the community. Why go to a farm stand and buy fruits and veggies that have already been picked for you when instead you can take a few hours and enjoy doing it yourself. Get outside with the family, make memories, and choose which ones you want to eat. It’s all about the experience and the fun you can have on the farm.
Tips for Strawberry Picking on the Farm
Please note that there are no restrooms on site so be sure to go before you come. Hopefully this will change soon. The Lorenzens have plans to build a barn to house restrooms, their farming equipment, and maybe other surprise additions. As time goes on, this farm will be getting bigger and better. I can’t wait to see where it goes from here. And in the meantime, I will have to continue visiting, including later this month for more strawberry picking.
Also, the farm can be muddy and the ground is uneven so use caution. I highly recommend wearing shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Shoes, even when the ground is dry, will get really dusty. Clothes might get dirty when you kneel to pick as strawberry plants are low to the ground. Be careful to not step or kneel on the black parts below the plants though. These protect the strawberry plant’s root system and damaging the roots would of course damage the plant overall.
They provide gallon buckets for you to use to pick. I was able to choose just a quart container instead. They accept cash, check, PayPal, and Venmo. However, I would recommend cash if you have spotty signal when you’re in rural areas. My signal was not strong enough here to pay over the internet, but other people had no problem while I was there.
In Closing
If you have any other questions or concerns, you may find your answers on their website. The farm is located in Dayton, TN, about an hour north of Chattanooga. And be sure to watch my strawberry picking experience.
I hope you enjoy strawberry picking as much as I did. It’s a fun experience to look forward to every spring. Until next week, enjoy exploring Chatt!
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