Joe Culbreth was born and raised on a farm in North Carolina. Farming has always been in his heart, but he spent some time in military service and ended up working with computers. He worked for several companies that needed his expertise.

After he retired, he started helping anyone who needed help with computer programming, which has been one of his passions.  He also decided to get back to his roots and start a small farm, so he and his wife Sharon bought 10 acres near Rathdrum, Idaho.

“We ended up selling it, then in 2009 bought the piece of property where we live now,” said Sharon. “We built a house and Joe started his farming venture, growing an orchard and some nut trees.

“Hazelnuts are his main pride and joy,” she says.  He picks up the nuts from the ground, cures, cracks, roasts and bags them for sale.

He also grows blueberries, blackberries, Goji berries, heartnuts and several types of fruit trees — including apples, pears, and peaches.

“He sells the fruit here on our property when it gets ripe,” she said. “We have many local customers and tourists who stop by.  We are only 3 miles from town and near a busy road.  Highway 95 goes through here, about a mile from our place, so we are able to sell the fruit easily.”

People stopping at the farm can either pick their own fruit or buy some that’s already picked at the fruit stand.

Some people enjoy spending time out here with their families on a nice summer day to pick their own fruit.  “If they don’t want to do that, our fruit stand is enclosed and they can swing by and drop off their money and take their fruit and away they go,” Sharon Culbreth said.

Customers buy on the honor system, so no one has to be at the fruit stand to sell the fruit.  There’s never been a problem with anyone just taking fruit without paying for it.

Sometimes it’s handy for customers to come by and get what they want from the enclosed fruit stand if it’s a rainy or windy day and not very pleasant to be out picking fruit.

Tours of the farm are also available. Joe puts visitors on his Gator and shows them around the farm.  Sharon said families and kids often enjoy the tour.

Growing the trees takes patience.

“The hazelnuts took 5 years,” Joe said.  “The walnuts took 6, while the apples, pears and peaches only take about 3 years.  Blackberries take a year and the blueberries one to two years,” he said.

Some of the fruit comes on a bit earlier in the season.  The nuts aren’t ready until late September or October.

“Peaches are ready to pick in August and the apples get ripe in September through November, depending on the variety,” Joe said.

“I don’t help much on the farm,” Sharon said. ‘I’m just the farmer’s wife!  But Joe has some seasonal help—two part-time employees.”