As Melodie and Ross the Inn Keepers say: Welcome to Lit Et Cheval Farm (Bed and Horse), A private gentlemen's country farm, adjacent to the 6000 acre Great Cypress swamp. As Innkeepers we are likely to start our day on the back porch listening to the chimes of Bull frogs and song birds and enjoying the serenity of the lush green and flowered grounds over looking the pond. During the day we are busy tending the 52 acre farm, mowing, weeding and planting then preparing for our guest. In the evening, the front porch is the place to be, relaxing in the rocking chairs watching the sun set over the blueberry fields and horse pasture. We welcome you to come and experience first hand our little bit of heaven in Delaware and see why "everyone loves the farm".

Ryan's Berry Farm is comprised of 16 delicious varieties of blueberries on 108 acres We have broken the property into the two most reasonable parcels for pricing, but the owner will consider any other offers presented to divide and purchase the property. The asking price for the parcel with the home and 42 acres is $389,000. The asking price for the parcel with the 66 acres of blueberry crops and market is $389,000.

There is a luxurious 4100 square foot, 6 bedroom home (presently 5 but an upstairs living room could easily become another bedroom) which could easily become a complimentary Bed and Breakfast business. There are several farm buildings; a 40' by 60' modern roadside market with space and equipment for a bakery, jam factory and there is cold storage. Another viable option for the parcel including the house with 42 acres, including 7 cleared would be to operate it as a horse farm. There is ample space for several horses, and also the possibility of the usage of nearby state owned land for horse trails.

There are several homesite locations that could be easily developed for family members or even resale. There are 35 acres of woodland joining the home and a large woods and pond off the back patio deck.

There are extensive trickle irrigation lines of various types plus a large diameter underground water main; various pieces of farm equipment comprised of numerous tractors, bulldozers, irrigation pumps, backhoe, golf carts, sprayers, trailers, bushhogs, spreaders, a grader, a pickup and a large assortment of miscellaneous vineyard, nursery, farm and roadside market equipment.

The MOST valuable asset of the property is that the income of the farm is currently derived mostly from over 50,000 visitors a year who pick their own berries and buy a few other things in the large, modern roadside market. The best and easiest way to increase the income is by multiplying the average sale per customer by adding more jams, pies, breads, puddings, tarts, hats, shirts, produce, cook books, flowers, blueberry seedlings, frozen produce, juices, gift baskets, Christmas trees and wreaths, year round agricultural decorations and knickknacks, and sales of a small library of assorted how to books including books on growing your own berries.

It should be noted that on a farm, many expenses that would normally be non-deductible, personal costs, can legitimately be listed as business expenses. Also the value of the trees and bushes used to produce this income can be depreciated and thus provide a significant tax shelter. In addition we hope that a family or an aligned and affiliated group will purchase this so as to enjoy the wonderful rural lifestyle as a business and no price or value can be easily put on that!!!

With 50,000 people visiting the farm now and up to $200,000 income; it is easy to see that if even a modest percentage of those folks were to buy another $10 in additional items from the market that the net income would approach up to $200,000 instantly, with no further real expansion of the farming operation. There is almost no advertising done now in the resort area during the season. Even a small amount of print, radio and TV ads aimed at the resort population has proven to result in overwhelming additional traffic. The problem has been getting enough reliable, hard working farm labor and enough responsible people to run the cash registers, park the cars, and stock the market... etc. It takes about 4-6 people year round to properly care for the operation and another 15 to 20 during the season. If you have a family with 5 or six people you can rely on, and a source of reliable labor you, will reap extensive rewards and be able easily to pay yourself handsomely and reward well those who work with you!!!

With the Internet now a proven marketing factor, each customer could be given the web site address when they shop at the market, with the address being added to all labels, bags, etc. The customers would then be encouraged to shop year-round for any of the shipable items -- creating a mail-order business in addition to the pick-your-own and retail/wholesale business already flourishing. An internet catalog of items for sale could result in multiplied sales the very first year. And the only form of advertising needed for the Web site would be giving the address to the 50,000 or more annual buyers at the market.

DETAILED PRODUCTION INFORMATION

BLUEBERRIES - - Planted in the 1950's by Harrington and Miles Messick, when blueberries were considered a significant crop on the Delmarva peninsula, the blueberry field was expanded gradually, until the last 3 acres were planted in about 1964. This brought the total original berry field to approximately 50 acres. Since being purchased in 1977, 2.5 acres of a new, highly productive variety, known as Patriot, were planted on newly cleared ground. Following this, 2 acres of another highly productive variety, Blueray, were planted on additional land purchased in 1983. Additional varieties have now been planted, including Reka, Sierra, Nelson, Blue Gold, Brigitta, Toro and Puru. The 16 varieties currently grown are on a 66 acre section of the farm.

Approximately 80% of blueberries harvested each season are sold directly to pick-your-own customers. The remainder is sold retail or wholesale, as already picked fruit, or is used in jam production. Gross profit from the blueberry field is expected to increase substantially as new plantings mature.