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I feel so dumb. Gnismer Farms in Dalworthington Gardens has been a pick-your-own for 11 years - and I've only just discovered it.
Last night I went to check it out. It's this tidy little farm in amongst a neighborhood of bungalows. I couldn't have picked better weather, with just a hint of coolness in the air.
They give you a nifty little box with a handle that holds about 5 pounds and turn you loose in the strawberry patch, rows and rows of strawberries at all stages of ripeness. The trick is to pick the ripest ones you can, the ones that are almost turning maroon, that burst with strawberry intensity in your mouth.
We also got some field-fresh spring onions, and patriach Lynn Gnismer (say "NEYES-mur") told how to turn them into a side dish with the consistency of buttah.
Farmer Gnismer emphasizes that you can't do this with a "dry" onion. It has to be a spring onion with the green top still attached. So I tried it when I got home.
You trim the top and root off, set it in a bowl and add a pat of buttah. Then cover it loosely with plastic wrap. Microwave on High (100 percent power) for 5 to 7 minutes. I did it for 6, with a tennis-ball-size bulb, just long enough to begin caramelizing the onion. I let it sit for a few minutes, then added some salt. Yes, the flesh was like buttah, as silky and soft as it gets, and suffused with mild onion goodness. I had no trouble eating it on its own, but you could also use it as a base for fish, chicken or pork. It's fantastic.
As the season continues, Gnismer says he'll have strawberries for about three more weeks. But he's also got a blackberry patch that should be ready for picking around May 15. And he has melons, tomatoes, and more coming. Gnismer Farms is at 3010 S. Bowen in Dalworthington Gardens. It's open most afternoons into the early evening.
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Thanks to your recent blog post, we headed to the farm on Saturday and had some good fun picking. The berries weren't as sweet as I had hoped, but can't beat the freshness. I made a strawberry sauce with a touch of balsamic vinegar that has been delightful over angel food cake with a bit of whipped cream on top!
My daughter and I went today and filled both baskets in less than 30 minutes. Strawberries are ripe, beautiful, and lucious. They had only a few strawberry baskets left and we snared a couple. Worth many many return trips!
This farm I will not recommend to friend or others to go to. Because there is to much law in this farm.... the owner is the law.... scary man.
A Fat, unfariendly & rude owner, keep telling people how high educated he is but with him attitude i find that he is not up to the standard.
And is a man dun like kids and public, i dun see he is good in farming..... he got no reason to tell people off when he himself got attitude problems....
Open a farm to public without any sign and expect people to obey his rules....with the fish.... really rubbish.
Pleasedun go to this farm... i think better to drive futher away to find other better one.
WARNING! Please be aware of this big fat man who claim to be the owner of the farm. We were shocked as the owner came yelling at us for taking photograph in the farm and started to hurled abusive language at us. I mean what is wrong for us to take some photographs as souvenirs, it's not as if we have no intention of buying the strawberry. We apologize to him as we were unaware of the no photography rule. But it was of no use, apparently he demanded us to give him our camera. We find that it is ridiculous and offer to show him that we will delete all the photos that we took in the farm. However, he was not appease instead he walk up to my friend using his big size to intimidate her and threaten to call the police. We were extremely shock and speechless and wonder what is his true intent because we were not the only one there with camera. It seems that the countless apology we made were of no use and this started to make us go crazy and finally he admitted that today is our unlucky day. I was like WHAT!? Then started saying being the owner of the farm and he can do whatever he like to the people inside the farm and he call the shot. We were so mad and my friend started to cry, we were so embarrasses by the situation that i have to drag my her away into the car and leave. It really make me wonder why does the owner behave in that manner. It is because he is being racist to my friend who isn't a local because it seems to me that he is quite ok with the other local taking photograph. This is a disgrace to us. Please boycott the farm as he claim he is a millionaire and doesn't need my business during the argument.
The farm seems very pleasant and humble but it does not speak for the owner(the man who claims it). I personally withness a close friend of mine being confronted by this man who claims to be the owner. There is no signs showing rules or restrictions as to areas you cannot trespass. Apparently a close friend of mine was intrigued by the quality and pleasantness of this farm and decided to venture into the other " crops" which is actually beside the strawberry area. He actually ventured in because he did see some locals and people viewing in that same so call restricted area. But up comes this huge guy who claims he's the owner and started inimidating my friend with his size and bossy attitude. My friend kept apologizing but he kept lecturing and kept commenting on his upbringing. That i thought as indeed unneccessary. He was very rude and crude in his choice of words. When my friend wanted to leave after apologizing, he kept lecturing and blocking his way. Pls bare in mind the attitude you would be facing when visiting this farm plus the rules....cos it will spoil your day.
My family and I have been to farms but we have never encountered such an experience. Really sad.