Other Eastern Washington acreages for sale

Rural lot with stunning view of Kittitas Valley and Cascade Mountains for sale by owner. Located on southern rim of the Kittitas Valley. Short (under 15 minute) drive to Ellensburg with shopping, schools, Central Washington University. Two hour drive from Seattle (international airport, city arts, eating, culture). Perfect country estate size - approximately 3 acres - for rural living. Protective covenants. Trees along property boundaries for privacy. Deep soil and irrigation water - ideal for the gardener or horse owner. (Click for more)

Hay Sales - Kittitas Valley is known for growing exceptionally high quality hay. It has a well established reputation as the premier timothy hay growing area in the nation... (Click for Hay Ordering Information)

As growers we watch the weather closely

So many of each day's activities are determined by the season and the weather. Knowledge of current weather conditions and a reliable forecast help us make decisions regarding daily operations. While there is good natural local frost protection due to later bloom times and well sloped orchards, there are times when wind machines and other forms of extra frost protection are needed.

The City of Ellensburg lies on the valley floor. The Kittitas Valley orchard district, where we are, is situated on the slopes of the southern hills. Our conditions are often remarkably different than Ellensburg's despite the close proximity. See the current conditions at Ellensburg's Bowers Field to find out what the wind, visibility, sky conditions, temperature, dew point look like today!

South-westerly flow moving over Vanderbilt Gap, Kittitas County, Washington June 10, 2000
(Click on the picture to link to the FruitFromWashington Weather Links Page and the Badger Pocket WebCam)

Spring frost watch can last from March to May

Tender apple buds in April

April 23, 2000
Checked the evening forecast for the Yakima Valley and Central Basin Districts at about 9:20 p.m. Saturday night using the Fruit Frost Forecast. Expecting mostly clear to patchy high clouds, minimum temperature 27°-32° F.

Click For Wind Machine Sound
Forecast was for cold temperatures but the wind actually kept up most of the night. Turned machines on at 2:30 a.m. Clouds moved through the area obstructing the moon and stars, then the sky cleared and temperatures dropped, followed by another band of clouds that came through to warm a few degrees. The wind quit about 4 a.m. The temperature warmed more as the sun came up and we shut down the wind machines.

Even when a lot is going on in our lives that takes our attention away from the orchards, and terribly sad things happen to the people we love, somethings end but somethings stay the same. We have a whole new set of blossoms to protect, to get them to be good quality fruit. --Urban

Changes in the Weather

Changes in the weather can let you get a good night's sleep or have you up at 2:00 a.m., five mornings in a row, to run wind machines that help minimize frost damage to newly formed buds. Weather is also a factor in deciding what and when different varieties are picked during harvest in the fall. For the health of the trees and the condition of the fruit, we do not dare ignore the weather at any time of the year.

Honey Bees and Blossom Pollination

During bloom time we rent hives from a commercial beekeeper to improve pollination. Hives are delivered to our orchard sites under cover of smoke and darkness by Miner & Miner Apiaries of Spokane, Washington. Bees go to work when the sun comes up and the day grows warm. The reciprocal wonder of this process is not only a better crop of pears and apples but also Miner & Miner Apiaries U.S. No. 1 Extra Light Amber Rambling Bee Pure Honey!

Climate Conditions Suited to Fruit Production

From the Manastash area orchard with view across Kittitas Valley to north side of Wenatchee Mountains

Temperature patterns vary considerably even within a given locality. Even today, the Ellensburg weather station, located on the valley floor, is sometimes subject to the effects of stagnant cold air inversions. Climatic conditions at the higher elevations, on the slopes of the hills around the valley, tend to be warmer due to the tendency for cold air to drain down into the Yakima River trough.

Historically, thirty weather stations were established in Kittitas County with assistance from the U.S. Weather Bureau during the springs of 1931 through 1935. Weather stations located along the Manastash Ridge above the Cascade Canal, in the approximate area where Eberhart Orchards are located today, were "most favorably located" for growing fruit and other crops susceptible to spring frost damage.

Records from these stations indicated that a microclimate suitable for commercial fruit production prevails along the northern flank of Manastash Ridge. Minimum temperature readings averaged 5-10 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than at the control site located on the Kittitas valley floor. Successful operation of commercial orchards in this area have verified these findings. For example, record setting cold temperatures in April and May 1985 caused severe losses of fruit in the Yakima Valley and elsewhere in the region. Despite the low temperatures in Kittitas County, some hillside apple orchards showed their heaviest crops of large, well-colored Red Delicious apples, a variety notoriously sensitive to cold. The excellent air drainage and late spring bloom account for the natural frost protection in this locality.

Wind Machines Stand at Ease during the Summer Months

By summer we can see the results of the springtime frost control efforts. Those early wake up calls to start up the windmachines back in March, April or even early May, that raised the orchard temperature a crucial few degrees, have made the difference between trees with little or no crop and those like these.