Henscratch Farms Vineyard and Winery
Fresh Produce, Family Fun and Good Wine in Lake Placid, Florida
Jan 19, 2009
From December until April it’s strawberry season at Henscratch Farms in Lake Placid, and the berries are as big a baby’s foot and taste like they’ve already been dipped in sugar. The quaint little farm is ideal for an afternoon of family fun and strawberry picking. And since the berries are grown vertically in towers, there’s no bending over required.
Delicious Local Florida Strawberries
Drew Jones and Brooke Bundy are new owners as of August 2008, but Andrea Sweitzer, who has helped manage the farm for a year and a half says she already sees a big difference. “We have the best strawberries in the tri-county area,” she boasts during a 2009 interview with Suite. “They are red, red, red and sweet, sweet, sweet.”
The strawberries are grown hydroponically, a soil-free procedure where the plants receive water and nutrients through an irrigation system that keeps them wet. This type of farming avoids soil bugs, and the farm uses only all-natural pesticides and fertilizers-- no harsh chemicals.
Henscratch’s strawberries cost $2.99 a pound, and pickers can get as many or as few as they like. Unlike at the grocery store, when “U-pick” them, "U" never get a bad berry.
Family Fun in Highlands County
Besides the strawberries, there are plenty of other attractions for all ages at this local farm and winery. One hundred and one free range chickens chase each other about the property and become super friendly when approached with a bucket of feed. Harley the 300 lb. Vietnamese pot-bellied pig and Herman the Turkin (a turkin being a cross between a turkey and a chicken) are onsite celebrities.
Central Florida Wine Tasting
The farm also offers tastings of its award-winning wines and features live bluegrass music from the Front Porch Pickers every Wednesday from 2 to 4 pm. Visitors can sit for a bit in the rocking chairs on the front porch, tour the distillery and country store, or take a walk down to the pavilion where an old-fashioned swing sits overlooking the duck pond recently populated with golden coy fish.
Locally Grown Vegetables in Lake Placid, Florida
As far as crops go, Henscratch Farms is expanding its hydroponics to include vegetables, including several varieties of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and cabbage. Availability varies so call ahead for specifics. The blueberries will be ready in the spring.
The benefits of buying local produce are many. Residents of Lake Placid, Sebring, or nearby towns in Highlands County can visit the farm regularly for fresh produce, free range eggs and homemade wine. As for the out-of-towners, a trip to the Lake Placid area wouldn't be complete without a visit to Henscratch Farms. If it's still berry season, they're sure not to leave empty-handed.
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