Area farmers are getting their fields ready to plant their crops. Bryk Farms is one such farm in the area.
The farm is located at 2177 Port Royal Road in Newton.
The farm was established in 2016 by founder and owner/operator the late Donald and Rebecca Bryk. Donald Bryk passed away in 2019 and then his son Nick Nocella took over as farm operator. You can often find him in one of the fields atop a tractor or using other equipment such as tillage and hay equipment.
He also works for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
“I always had an interest in farming, but when my life situation changed, I had two options, either give up or carry on the farming. I decided to carry the farming on. It was very difficult during that time to do so, but I ended up making it and expanded to do other fields. I tried doing different things and trying to see what we could be successful with and what works which is a very difficult thing to try, especially starting out. I enjoy the freedom of being my own boss, the freedom to make choices and watch something develop that puts smiles on the customers faces,” said Nocella.
His mom, Rebecca Bryk, helps with planting, picking produce and selling the products. She enjoys carrying on the farm after her husband passed away and continuing what they were going to do and build the business where it is today.
The farm has roughly 17 acres of crops and 20 acres of hay. Corn, pumpkins, tomatoes, sunflowers, gourds, blueberries, blueberry bushes, apples, beans, hay, and Timothy and Rye grasses are planted at the farm. Some years soybeans are planted. New this year, grapevines and raspberry plants were installed.
The tomatoes are started in a green house and then transplanted outside. The greenhouse was destroyed by wind last spring and a new one will be built.
“The bare roots are when the blueberry bushes are in the development stage so the very first stage would be propagation. Then a special root formula is used on the non-rooted piece of clipping. The clipping is mixed with a special dirt formula with different ratios of sand, peat moss and natural fertilizer. After a month or two, the clippings will develop roots. We then put the clippings in pots or put them in the ground. We continue to care and give them nutrients throughout the year. Once the bush gets about 1 to 2 feet tall, they are potted and go out for sale. Bryk Farms deals with other farmers that have the same growing methods, the same identical product, same values and farming methods. They do this when they are low on inventory of what they normally grow and can’t meet the supply demand so we can insure we have a product for the people,” said Nocella.
For the 2023 season, the blueberry bushes were 3-year-old plants that were fruit bearing this year and ready to be planted. The farm also offered a new product, a thornless and seedless Wichita black berry. The plants sell for $25 in the spring.
Like other farms, deer, turkey’s, crows and other wildlife are a constant problem.
“Each year, farmers are losing more and more land due to residential development as well as throughout the country. Unfortunately, fuel prices hit an all-time high, commodity prices are low, fertilizer prices are up, milk prices are low and eggs are low. Most farmers I know have second jobs. Problems include changes in weather, lack of rain, changes in temperatures and more regulations with the state. It’s unfortunate, but the farmers have to up their prices to stay ahead and to break even most of the time,” said Nocella.
Future plans for Bryk Farms include obtaining beef cows and egg-laying chicks.
“My advice for farmers just starting out is to stick it out. Sometimes it will be tough, but you’ll have to just get through it. I’d advise them to start out small. You might not have financial returns for a couple of years. Do not get over your head because it will sink you very quickly to the point where you are going to go into debt and your operation collapse,” Nocella said.
Farm produce when ready in season can be purchased at Bryk Farms, at Nocella home on Milwaukee Road in Newton and on McAlpine St. in Avoca on weekends.
Visit the Bryk Farm Facebook page to see when the produce and blueberry bushes are ready to be sold.
