WATERVILLE — After both losing their jobs through no fault of theirs, both Teri and Jim Bersée have made
their love of gardening work for them.
Teri Bersée recently gave a presentation at the 577 Foundation in Perrysburg about how to make gardening
an asset for income. The couple operate the Bersée & Utz Heirloom Farm at 9220 Noward Road, near
Neowash Road.
After several years of offering their garden vegetables through shares in a Community Supported
Agriculture program, this year the Bersées will focus their efforts on their own market at the farm with
no CSA offerings.
Their produce is grown organically using fields and high-tunnel greenhouses.
“The tunnels are low technology and seriously extend the growing season,” Teri Bersée said.
Using the high tunnels also provides a more controlled atmosphere for the plants, which was the focus of
her presentation at the 577 Foundation.
“I wanted to provide people with some options to expand their backyard gardens, give them some
methodology and economics,” she said.
She said that small family gardeners can also benefit from using high tunnels. “A small high tunnel can
be built for less than $1,500, and we certainly refurbished our small seedling tunnel for way less than
that.” The Berseés’ seedling tunnel measures 12 feet by 30 feet.
To be fair, she also noted some of the larger tunnels are priced at $5,000 or more, but are better suited
for commercial operations or larger farmers. They can be built using conduit or installed on wood
frames.
She also said they have tried various methods on their farm and described some of the various
permaculture (permanent agriculture) models that can be used. Permaculture models are intended to be
sustainable and self-sufficient.
The Berseés use drip irrigation in their tunnels and on some of their fields.
Because of their use of the tunnels, they will have both strawberries and asparagus very early in the
season, perhaps as soon as early May.
Although the Bersées  use organic methods, they choose not to apply to be “certified” organic due to what
they say is the cumbersome paperwork required to achieve and maintain the certification.
“You learn by trying different things and see what works for you and your situations. To learn about
gardening you experiment and keep doing what works,” Teri Berseé said. “You grow by using what you can.
You have to be creative, adaptable and versatile. It’s wild and wonderful.”
Once the market opens hours will be Wednesday through Fridays from 2-6 p.m. and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays.