Berger Family
Boreal Bounty Farm began in June 2017 when Steve and Pat Berger settled down just seven miles northwest of Two Harbors. The land had once been home to cattle, evident by the barbed wire fencing and layout of the barn, but Pat and Steve had a different vision in mind. They spent their first summer there hauling out old junk, fixing up the barn and carving out the first three 50-by-50-foot garden plots. With help from soil tests and a whole lot of compost, the growing began.
Pat, who grew up in Two Harbors, knew the local soil and climate well. With every farm they visited on their search, she brought a shovel to check the dirt. Finding sandy loam sealed the deal. By 2018, they were selling vegetables at the local farmers market, and the high tunnels went up the following spring to extend their growing season.
Today, Boreal Bounty Farm grows over 30 types of vegetables using no-till, chemical-free methods. They also produce apples, jams, pickles and seasoning blends, as well as selling seedlings in the spring. Pat and Steve run the farm full-time, with Pat’s sister Mary pitching in part-time.
Beyond the farm, Pat is a Lake County Master Gardener, active in community education, local gardens and events like the Clover Valley Farm Fest. They sell their produce through multiple local outlets and are proud members of Minnesota Grown and the Lake Superior Sustainable Farming Association. They are also involved in the Knife River Lutheran Church and the Two Harbors Curling Club. After living in several states, Pat and Steve have found their home and purpose growing food in northern Minnesota.