Curt Maberry Farm Weblog

A Legacy of Sustainability - Growing Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Maberry Farm) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:11:00 +0000

This month Growing Magazine featured an article on my father in law, Curt Maberry. It's been over a year since his passing and articles like this reminded us of the legacy he has left behind. As this years season begins, it's easy to picture him walking proudly in the fields to check on the new berries. Read the article here.

We're Hiring!

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Maberry Farm) — Thu, 15 May 2008 22:17:00 +0000

As our 2008 harvest is nearing we are looking for some great summer help. If you are a positive, motivated and energetic person searching for a summer job, a summer job where you can meet and make new friends, learn about hard work, earn a little summer $, and have fun while doing it, Curt Maberry Farm is the place!!! We would love for you to join our hard working team. Please submit an online application or pick up an application at our office located at 729 Loomis Trail Rd. Lynden Washington. Look forward to hearing from you!

GPS Tested In Raspberry Fields

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Maberry Farm) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 22:48:00 +0000

Recently we tested a GPS - Real Time Kinematic (RTK) equipped tractor in one of our raspberry fields. The high-tech John Deere tractor was loaned to us by local potato farmer Greg Ebe. The system allows you to simply preprogram row widths down to the inch and the tractor steers itself very accurately. Since the technology is not optimized for raspberry fields we are still somewhat limited but we are researching ways to utilize this technology. You can read more about this story in the Lynden Tribune.

LHS Baseball - Curt Maberry Fieldhouse

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Maberry Farm) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:38:00 +0000

The Lynden High School Baseball Club, Mount Baker Rotary Club and active members of the community have come together to build an indoor batting facility in memory of Curt Maberry. We are very touched by this and know that our father would be honored. We hope that this facility will give a practice advantage to the team and contribute to the success of future baseball seasons. Go Lions!

For more information please read the PDF below:
CM_Fieldhouse.pdf

Kestrel Nest Box

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Maberry Farm) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 21:35:00 +0000

Recently at a WSU fruit growers workshop in Lynden we listened to Ben Dover speak about Kestrel Boxes as an alternative solution to controlling the population of starlings. The boxes will attract kestrals, the smallest member of the hawk family. We are considering installing these boxes in our blueberry fields this season. I wonder if other blueberry farms have had success with this? You can read more about Kestral Boxes on the Good Fruit Grower website.

Improving Waterways - Bertrand Creek

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Maberry Farm) — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 21:09:00 +0000

Earlier this year with the help of some dedicated employees we constructed 2 fish ladders on creeks that run through the farm. We are hopeful that this will protect and increase the population of 3 endangered species of salmon that have been known to run through this area. We're also taking further steps to try to improve the waterways along the farm. We planted approximately 27,000 trees along Bertrand Creek with help from a program called Farmers Growing Trees for Salmon. You can read more about our story and find out about other farmers who are trying to make a positive impact on our ecosystem by visiting:
www.farmingandtheenvironment.org.

Farming and the Environment

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Maberry Farm) — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 19:15:00 +0000

Curt Maberry Farm was fortunate to be awarded second runner-up in the Farming & the Environment – Vim Wright Stewardship Award. This is an award given to Washington State farms and recognizes and rewards farmers and ranchers who are on the cutting edge of sustainable agriculture. We feel very fortunate to be recognized by this great organization. www.farmingandtheenvironment.org

In Memory of Curt Maberry

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Maberry Farm) — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 17:30:00 +0000

Curt was born on July 18, 1946, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri to W.E. and Kathleen
Maberry and was the oldest of four children. He graduated from Lynden High School in 1964 and went on to attend Skagit Valley College, Washington State University, and graduated from Western Washington University with a teaching degree in social studies. He was a sports enthusiast and fulfilled his love of teaching children by coaching many youth teams in Lynden.

In 1968, Curt joined his father in the farming business as W.E. Maberry & Son.
He married Annette Warmink in 1973 and they soon purchased the family strawberry farm. Over the next two decades they expanded the farm from 60 acres to nearly 1000 acres of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and a processing plant. The Curt Maberry Farm has provided summer employment for many Whatcom County residents and Curt took great pride in giving tours to friends, family and members of the community.

In addition to farming, family and sports were two of Curt’s passions. He and Annette were the proud parents of three children and three grandchildren, with another grandchild due during this summer’s harvest. Curt was a dedicated father and enjoyed traveling and spending quality time with his kids. He rarely, if ever, missed a basketball, baseball, softball or fastpitch game. Most of all, he was an extraordinary mentor, remarkable leader and special teacher for his children, their spouses and extended family.

Community service was very important to Curt. He was a proud member of the Mount Baker Rotary, Lynden Park & Recreational Board, Washington Strawberry Board, Washington Red Raspberry Commission, a board member for the Lynden Boys and Girls Club and, for 24 years, a board member and president of the Northwest Washington Fair. He also sponsored and lent his time to countless community projects and fundraisers.

Curt was preceded in death by his father, W.E. Maberry, his mother, Kathleen Maberry, and his brother-in-law, John Lobland. He is survived by Annette and their children, daughter Maranda Ekdahl (husband Jordan and twin girls Eva and Elsa), daughter Angie Costanti (husband CJ and son Cooper), son Matt Maberry (wife Carole and “baby berry” on the way); sisters Susan Lobland, Janet Templeton, and Linda Enfield (husband Marvin); aunt Janice Likkel (Fran), uncle Jake Maberry (Money), aunt June Dudycha (Bob) of Chicago, uncle C.D. McKinney (Rae) of Jefferson City, MO, and uncle John McKinney (Delma) of Knoxville, TN; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Curt was many things to many people but he was most importantly a great father, doting grandfather, beloved brother, loving uncle, nephew and cousin; a loyal friend, tireless farmer, respected boss, generous community member, avid outdoorsman, enthusiastic coach, and a devoted Lynden Lion.