Fruits of the Backyard Field Day

May 01, 2023


Homegrown blackberries and blueberries pair perfectly for summertime in Tennessee, and the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture would like to help bring them to your backyard. This year marks the 16th annual Fruits of the Backyard Field Day where attendees can receive valuable information, products and techniques that will help backyard fruits and other plants flourish.

“This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in growing food, in particular fruits, at home,” said Kevin Thompson, director at the UT Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center. “Not only will we have educational presentations and breakout sessions, but an opportunity to taste some of the blackberry varieties grown here at the research center.”

Natalie Bumgarner, UT Extension consumer horticulture specialist, and David Lockwood, UT Extension fruit and nut specialist, will lead special sessions focused on blackberry and blueberry care during the half-day event. Following the day’s presentations, a wagon ride will be provided to tour the berry research and demonstration trials.

Fruit production won’t be the only focus of the field day, which also offers insight into vegetable production, lawn maintenance, and pest control.

“The field day program has been developed to help you make your backyard a more productive and enjoyable place to spend time with family and friends,” said Thompson. “We look forward to hosting neighbors and friends alike.”

Fruits of the Backyard is June 13, 2023, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. CDT. Anyone, from a home grower to a commercial producer, is welcome to attend the free event, which will take place at the Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center located at 1000 Main Entrance Drive in Spring Hill. 

For more information on the field day, including directions, visit middletn.tennessee.edu or call 931-486-2129. For a full calendar of the 2023 Field Days, visit agresearch.tennessee.edu.

For more content like this, check out the latest issue of The Cooperator.
 
 

Read More News

Jun 09, 2025

The Tennessee Farmers Cooperative Foundation (TFCF) is proud to announce the ninth annual Co-op Auction Barn — which will take place virtually Nov. 17-30 — and the Co-op community is invited to donate items to list. 

Jun 02, 2025
The election of pork producer delegate candidates for the 2026 National Pork Producers (Pork Act) Delegate Body will take place at 1 p.m. (CST), Wednesday, July 9 in conjunction with an Executive Committee meeting of the Tennessee Pork Producers Association at the Rutherford County Ag Extension Office, located at 315 John R. Rice Boulevard in Murfreesboro. All Tennessee producers are invited to attend. The 2026 National Pork Forum is scheduled for Kansas City, MO, March 4-6.
May 23, 2025
Tennessee State Veterinarian Dr. Samantha Beaty is urging animal owners to be aware of New World Screwworm (NWS), an invasive pest that poses a serious threat to livestock and other warm-blooded animals, including pets.