Red Fern Farm

09/05/2026

The pawpaws are ready to go now at Red Fern Farm. Today, September 5, we had over 50 pounds leave the farm. If you would like to come harvest pawpaws in southeast Iowa call 319-729-5905 or email [email protected] .

09/02/2026

We are preparing for customers and keeping an eye on the ripening chestnuts.

08/30/2026

We do not offer elderberries at Red Fern Farm, but here is an opportunity for our wisconsin friends.

Join us at the Savanna Institute Valley Farm elderberry harvest!

Our elderberries are ripening and ready to be picked. Elderberry Breeder, Lily Hislop, wants to know more about people’s preferences when it comes to plants and picking.

Join us in Spring Green, Wisconsin at our research farm to learn about elderberries, pick berries, give feedback, and leave with all the berries you’d like. Bring your own containers, and we’ll have spare buckets for suggested donation. All ages welcome!

Limited spots are available depending on the harvest. If we reach our cap, we will start a waiting list.

In case of thunder and lightning, the event will be rescheduled. Registrants will be informed by 8am day-of if the event needs to be moved.

1:15 pm: Elderberry harvest how-to’s
1:30pm – 3pm: Self-directed harvest

Limited space available. Please register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/free-elderberry-u-pick-event-for-science-tickets-1997982537554?aff=oddtdtcreator

08/27/2026

The first ripe pawpaws are off the trees in southeast Iowa at Red Fern Farm. The persimmons are turning color, but the chestnuts still need more time. People have been scheduling harvest dates and you can too. Call 319-729-5905 or email [email protected].

08/16/2026

The chestnuts are gaining size fast. It looks like the season will begin the first week of September at Red Fern Farm in southeast Iowa. Call 319-729-5905 to schedule your harvest for chestnuts, pawpaws and/or American persimmons. You can also email [email protected]

08/10/2026

The Cornelian cherry harvest is wrapping up. Nadya and her husband collected 16 pounds of around 25 pounds that were harvested this past weekend.

08/07/2026

Chestnuts and pawpaws continue to size up at Red Fern Farm. Cornelian cherries are at their peak. We will be taking reservations for harvest dates for chestnut and pawpaws starting August 15 with NO deposit required due to the ealier harvest season. We are getting the farm ready!!

07/20/2026

Things are ripening 2 weeks earlier than usual this year.

06/24/2026

The chestnut trees started blooming about the first week of June. I think it is a lovely fragrance in the air. - Kathy

05/21/2026

Today we did the Great Lamb Roundup at Red Fern Farm. James caught the lambs, I held them and Tom managed the gate.