Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris and Jill Blase.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Chris and Jill. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
When we moved into our house, we were thankful to be next to land with beautiful native trees, birds, animals, and a creek. We learned that it was for sale and a business could possibly build there. It concerned us that someday the trees could come down, so we wondered what we could do to preserve the land as close to its natural state as possible. The next year, Jill and our daughter Emily went to 5th grade camp at Camp Grady Spruce and they loved every minute of it. When they returned home inspired by their experience, we decided to purchase the property to start a family business with our children, offering student field trips in October and May for outdoor learning during our Pumpkin Patch and Blueberry season. We contacted a friend who has a Pumpkin Patch in North Dallas (Preston Trail Farms) and he partnered with us to start our field trips and our Pumpkin Patch. He has been an amazing partner. The year prior, we had planted bushes for our Pick-Your-Own Blueberry farm. Our kids were 13 and 10 years old and the thought of starting a family business from the ground was exciting. Chris grew up on a dairy farm in South Dakota, so working closely with family was something he cherished. His stories on the farm always entertain us when we are together by the camp fire.
We chose blueberries for our farm because we love blueberries. We are definitely learning as we go!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road. Jill found a lump and was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 43 in 2012, It was the summer before our 2nd pumpkin patch and we were stunned. As we let our friends and family know, they would say in the same breath, I’m so sorry, let me help you with the Pumpkin Patch and blueberry season. It was extraordinary. I could write a book on the kindness our family received during this time from friends, family, and strangers. People we knew and didn’t know would stop by with quilts, flowers, prayers, food, pumpkins, and books.
We made it through, our friends and family were great. Everything seemed to be fine, Jill’s hair and strength grew back and we were able to have our blueberry seasons and pumpkins seasons again, then during a routine follow up at the 2 year mark, the doctors found that the cancer had metastasized to Jill’s lungs and lymph nodes behind her esophagus. The prognosis for Triple Negative metastatic breast cancer is 18 months. We were stopped in our tracks. Our friends offered again to run the pumpkin patch, but we couldn’t bring ourselves to think about it. We had to find a treatment outside of what they normally recommend since it wasn’t working. Jill wanted to grow old with Chris and watch their grandchildren run the farm someday. To make a long story short, after two clinical trials, one for targeted therapy in Nashville that stopped working, and the other for Immunotherapy at Mary Crowley in Dallas, Jill is feeling great, and the tumors are still shrinking. We have continued to have our blueberry and pumpkins seasons thanks to our amazing family and Rockwall community!
Blase Family Farm – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We are a family run and owned Pick-Your-Own Blueberry Farm and Pumpkin Patch.
We are back to basics here. Working the land by hand with our kids.
It is heartwarming to watch families make memories here. For some, the holiday season starts at a Pumpkin Patch, and it is a joy to be a part of someone’s first Pumpkin Patch.
Every day we hear from all ages, even grandparents, “This is my first Pumpkin Patch.” We love seeing the pictures of kids growing over the years in front of our “How Tall This Fall” sign that was painted for us by family friends. Some highlights for us have been when a soldier returned home to surprise his family one afternoon (there was not a dry eye in the place), wedding proposals, and when kids tell us that they want to be a farmer after visiting.
We also appreciate having the opportunity to employ the local teenagers. For most, this is their first job. Watching them work so hard and being a representative of our small business is awesome to watch. We have 5th graders to 12th graders working here. Our first set of seniors graduated in 2016 and it was hard to see them go as they were the ones who helped to build us from nothing, and worked with us each year. Our son Brandon and his friends helped Chris transform the property from thorny weeds to pretty pathways, mostly by hand, a very hot summer in 2011, before we opened that first year in October. Chris and Brandon built the concession stand, fencing, animal pens, and picnic tables by hand. Our daughter Emily makes the homemade pumpkin fudge and has kept us laughing while running our concession stand since 6th grade. Jill’s mom Nancy helps the children feed the animals during field trips, and this year, Jill’s fun brother Eric, will be the hayride driver.
We are motivated when people thank us for our little farm. We are growing as we can. Last week we planted an additional 258 blueberry bushes.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Not killing the blueberry bushes! Every year, when the blueberry bushes bloom, the bees come, and the bushes produce blueberries, we are still surprised and high fiving each other! One year the bushes bloomed and the very next day there was a deep freeze, we lost 80% of our crop that year.
We feel successful when we work with our kids, we have fun, and people come and make memories with us. Paying the bills is helpful too!
Pricing:
- Pick-Your-Own Blueberries $4.50/pint
- Admission to Pumpkin Patch $7.00 per person, ages 1 and under are free
Contact Info:
- Address: 1232 E Fork
Rockwall, TX 75087 - Website: www.blasefamilyfarm.com
- Phone: 972-772-3645
- Email: jill@blasefamilyfarm.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blasefamilyfarm/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlaseFamilyFarm/
- Twitter: @blasefamilyfarm
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