Prime Ark Freedom
The Day We Stumbled Upon Prime-Ark Freedom Blackberries at Keuka View
Some days you set out with a plan. Other days, the plan finds you.
During what was supposed to be a quick stop at one of our favorite local nurseries, Keuka View, we were met with a sight we absolutely weren’t expecting. Keuka View is a place we visit regularly not for advice or big shopping lists, but because they consistently have some of the best-quality plants in the area. Even on days we’re “just looking,” we know we’ll walk away inspired—or tempted.
But on this particular visit, we barely made it through the entrance before the universe tapped us on the shoulder.
Right out front, positioned like they were waiting for us, sat a lineup of pots labeled:
Prime-Ark Freedom Blackberries.
Anyone who grows blackberries knows this variety is the dream: thornless, vigorous, early-fruiting, and generous. It’s the kind of plant you usually have to hunt for online, preorder, wait months for, hope arrives healthy, and pray doesn’t sell out before you click “checkout.” Finding them locally is rare. Finding them right at the entrance felt almost scripted.
And the best part? There were exactly eight.
Not racks. Not rows. Just eight sturdy, well-sized Prime-Ark Freedom plants sitting there as if they had been set out specifically for us to find. It didn’t take much debating. All eight went straight into the cart.
We didn’t go looking for blackberry plants that day, but it felt very much like they found us.
Planting Day: Giving Them a Home
The very next morning, before the coffee even finished brewing, we were outside preparing their new space. Earlier this year—back in May—we planted our first small batch of Prime-Ark Freedoms as part of our early experiments at North Forest Farms. Those originals were tiny starter plants, barely pushing new growth by the time summer rolled around. They’re still alive, still growing, but definitely still in the “small and scrappy” phase.
These new ones from Keuka View?
Massive compared to the May plantings.
They looked like older siblings returning from college—taller, thicker canes, and more established root systems that clearly had a head start. Planting them side by side almost felt like a before-and-after comparison: what we started with versus what we’re working toward.
We dug fresh holes, amended the soil, set each plant in carefully, and watered them in until the ground settled firm around their roots. Side by side, the difference was almost comical—but also deeply encouraging. Seeing those mature plants next to our smaller May survivors made our early trials feel worthwhile. It was a reminder that even tiny beginnings turn into something substantial with time, patience, and the right conditions.
Now, these eight new additions are tucked in the ground, ready to give us a season of observation. This little cluster—part experiment, part milestone—marks a big moment for North Forest Farms. Not because it’s a huge planting, but because it’s a once-unplanned find that moved us forward faster than expected.
The Bigger Picture
We have a long road ahead before the land becomes what we envision.
We're still testing soil, studying drainage patterns, clearing space slowly, and building the early bones of what will one day become a much larger berry project.
But farming—especially starting a farm from scratch—isn’t one big leap.
It’s a collection of small, meaningful steps.
A handful of lavender started from seed.
Lavender planted between rows to benefit the orchard.
Tree branches repurposed into trellis supports.
A roadside stand built from pallets.
And now—eight Prime-Ark Freedom blackberries discovered by pure chance.
These unexpected moments remind us we’re moving forward, even on the days where progress feels slow or overwhelming. Every plant we put in the ground becomes part of the story of North Forest Farms—one rooted in patience, discovery, resourcefulness, and the joy of learning as we go.
Finding those Prime-Ark Freedoms sitting out front at Keuka View felt like a small sign that we’re on the right path. And planting them the very next morning—right next to our smaller, earlier efforts—made the farm feel a little more real.
Sometimes the best stories don’t start with a plan.
Sometimes they start with eight blackberry plants that seem to be sitting there waiting for you.
