Carol Wagner planted six long rows of blueberries on a half acre of land outside her home in Lowell, OH sometime in the 1980’s. Since then, the bushes have thrived and provided more than a family’s fair share of fruit. For years Carol opened her blueberry patch for others to come and pick by the pound. After her passing in 2014 her son Keith and his wife Sandy purchased the farmland. Last year, the couple decided to revive Carol’s practice of encouraging the public to come pick berries. When asked, Sandy revealed her pragmatic and family-oriented motivation for tending the patch. “I’ll be retiring soon,” she said, ”It’s a productive way to spend my time while also teaching my grandkids a strong work ethic as they grow and start helping out.”

Just off Route 60 in Lowell you’ll find a sign for Carol’s Blueberry Patch. From there, rows of blueberries surrounded by protective netting await you atop a small hill. After you park, you’ll be greeted by a member or two of the Wagner family. Be sure to bring a container for transporting your berries home that you don’t mind being written on (they must weigh and mark it prior to picking). From there, it’s as simple as raising the net and picking your berries! Harvest directly into the container you brought or ask for one of the farm’s nifty picking belts! Blueberries can be purchased at $2.75 per pound with cash, check, and PayPal. Ask about the scannable QR code for PayPal payments. While supplies last, various other vegetables will also be available for purchase.

The patch is maintained by Keith and Sandy with help from their daughter Ashley and son Andy along with his wife Catie. The family works tirelessly to make sure the Mid-Ohio Valley has fresh, locally grown produce. To ensure the best harvest, the grass must remain mowed, the weeds pulled, and the overhead netting secured to prevent unwanted bird visitors. Keith’s brother constructed a few beehives among the blueberry bushes to help with pollination. Sandy also assured me that minimal pesticides are used when tending to the crops. Whether it’s the around-the-clock care or some magic in the soil, Carol’s blueberries annually start ripening about two weeks earlier than other local farms. That’s an extra two weeks of opportunity to get out there and start picking!

The knowledge of exactly what varieties of blueberries grow in the patch has been forgotten or rests with its previous tenders, but a walk through the bushes reveals a diverse crop of berries. Some ripen to be smaller and blue, while others get large and plump with hints of purple.

“I like the big, juicy, sweet ones the best,” Sandy mused when asked about her favorite variety. Ashley added, “My favorite blueberry to pick has a hint of purple and green, so I know it will be tart with a little crunch.” If you have any questions about the berries as you pick, the Wagners will be more than happy to offer assistance.

Keith and Sandy decided to name the patch Carol’s Blueberry Patch after Keith’s late mother. A simple nod to the legacy of a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother feels sweet and sentimental from the outside looking in, but to this family, her memory means so much more.

“My grandma Carol was an extremely kind, hardworking woman. She spent her years raising a large family and working on the farm she and her husband, my grandpa Bernard, owned. She worked alongside them [her family], and made sure they were all fed. She also helped her sons with their own farming. I think she raised these blueberries for her,” said Ashely Wagner.

“I spent a lot of time at grandma’s house growing up, and I got to see her welcome people to the blueberry patch,” she said. “She really enjoyed talking to the customers, some of who became friends and regulars. After she passed away, customers would share fond memories of her when they came to pick. When we decided to keep opening the patch to the public we wanted to honor her memory. I started coming up with ideas on what to name it, and when I asked my dad what he thought of ‘Carol’s Blueberry Patch,’ he liked it!”

Blueberries, as well as being delicious, also provide a plethora of health benefits. They possess a type of flavonoid called anthocyanin that contributes to its blue color and healthy qualities. According to Medical News Today, blueberries can aid in heart health, blood pressure, cancer prevention, weight loss, and even your mental health. One cup of blueberries provides 24% of a person’s daily recommended vitamin C intake. Sandy jokes that Carol probably made it to the ripe age of 99 thanks to all the blueberries she had eaten in her life.

If you’re looking for a fun family activity this summer, look no further than Carol’s Blueberry Patch. Opening weekend is Friday, June 18th and Saturday the 19th from 8:00 am until noon. You can find the remaining dates through the 4th of July on their Facebook page, Carol’s Blueberry Patch. Carol Wagner found great joy in bringing fresh produce to the locals and creating connections with the people whose lives she touched. That same desire is evident as her family continues to take excellent care of her legacy. Ashley says, “We hope you come and enjoy this place as much as she did, and we do; and we hope you keep coming back every year.”

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It’s no surprise that the complaint we hear most often is that there is nothing to do in town. With so many larger cities within a couple of hours of the Mid-Ohio Valley, it’s easy to get a perspective of our small town that leaves more to be desired. There are those who call this valley home that wish to change that. We were given the honor of sitting down with an owner of one of our local business that wants to give the area the lift in entertainment the people have been asking for.

Eric and Alisha Wright are a husband and wife duo that saw a need for change in the MOV. They purchased the first portion of what was known as The Wine Basket then, four years ago. After the birth of their son, they renamed the business. Their main focus was wine, but they gravitated to craft beer as well. Eric said that a major motivation for the business was to shed some light on the stigma surrounding wine and the people that drink it. “With wine, there is a sense of pretentiousness and it could be harder to get into…we want to introduce people to wine.”

The Wine Guys purchased a second side to their wine and beer shop for gatherings, tastings, and events. The goal is to provide a laid-back community atmosphere while also allowing people to educated themselves about and taste wine. Eric described it as “a wine bar without the stuffiness.” On Friday nights they offer $2 off of their wine flights. For those that don’t know, a flight is a lineup of smaller wine portions so that you can sample more without getting full glasses of each. As if wine tasting wasn’t desirable enough, they also offer a meat and cheese tray to snack on while you sip your wine or beer. That sounds like a terrific date night to me!

Their space is a great environment for people who love to create, support local music, build community AND have a bit of wine.

Michelle Waters

Something new that The Wine Guys are trying to start is a themed Creative’s Night for all local artists. This isn’t just for those that paint or draw. The point of the theme is to see how many different artistic mediums can be used to support the theme. This could mean writing a poem, writing music, or even acting. Eric and Alisha hope to use these nights to bring artistic members of the community together to workshop and meet others that have the same talents. When speaking about the art community in the MOV, Eric said, “This can be a lonely place for an artist.” The Wine Guys simply want to give creative people a relaxed space where they can show off their talents, network, and be introduced to delicious wines.

“I love what Eric and Alisha Wright are offering to our community through The Wine Basket – it goes so far outside of their excellent knowledge of wine and beer,” said local artist and photographer, Michelle Waters. “Their space is a great environment for people who love to create, support local music, build community AND have a bit of wine. From 90s Hip-Hop nights to creatives meet-ups, Mom’s night out, tastings and classes, The Wine Basket has something fun, wonderful and heart-ful for everyone.”

The next Creative’s Night is being held April 24^th at The Wine Guys, located at 1509 Grand Central Avenue #11 (behind the building) Vienna, WV 26105. The theme is “A Table for Two.” If you wish to share some of your work, simply use that theme and go with whatever comes to your mind. You do not have to participate in the artwork, but you can still come and admire the work of others and enjoy some wine and cheese. Come as you are and bring your friends! For more information and updates on all the fun and exciting things happening at The Wine Guys, like them on Facebook.

Portrait Photography by Michelle Waters

The Wine Basket Photography by Cassidy Ruppenthal

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You may have noticed some foliage around town that isn’t native to the area; and I’m not talking about plants. It seems as if overnight, the city of Parkersburg erupted into a colorful yarn-inspired work of art. In every corner of the city, from the north to the south, you can find unique creations made of yarn that would certainly catch your eye.

The masterminds behind it all call themselves the Parkersburg Community Yarn Bombers. Two women by the names of Rina Goins and Kim vanRijn founded “PCYB” in order to create a community art project “that would connect with our community while celebrating our diversity” (Goins). They wanted to host an event that everyone could participate in and join the fun. The PCYB came up with a way that members of the community normally divided could come together and celebrate our town’s history and diversity.

The group felt that yarn was a “nostalgic” choice that could be easily transformed into individual works of art. This is the group’s second year since its founding and its third yarn bombing event. All yarn donated and used is kept and reused for the years to come. The city-wide art gallery isn’t simply fun patterns; the yarn creations also tell a story. Perched on a neighborhood fence is this hungry little caterpillar.

You can also find a hamburger in front of our local North End Tavern! Outside of some establishments you may notice a deeper message: Acceptance. Love, equality, and acceptance drape the lawns of many buildings around town. These pieces call for the community to come together and recognize one another as human beings, rather than political affiliations or sexuality.

PCYB has yarn projects in over 50 different locations. Some of these consist of churches, local businesses, homes, telephone poles, and organizations. With the gracious permission of Mayor Joyce, the PCYB was able to decorate several spots downtown, including the trees outside of the municipal building. Obermeyer’s Florist also has their own yarn bomb for the second year in a row in solidarity with the event! You can also participate in the spirit of yarn bombing! The PCYB would like to mention that anyone is welcome to join the event, but only on your own property or on the property of a willing participant. Let’s keep it fun!

It’s important to mention that many of the items donated to be used in the yarn bombing projects hold sentimental value to the ones that donate. PCYB is so grateful that they can create a beautiful work of art from the special pieces made in order to spread a message or express the individuality of the donor.

The businesses that offered to have PCYB utilize their grounds were told that they were not to pick what yarn creations were placed there. The group wanted to reserve the right to decide which locations were best for the individual works of art. They wanted to honor their donors by making sure their pieces were seen, big or small. (

While some days the group decorates the town together, others they simply tackle the city in pairs. No matter how many of them participate they always have fun! (Volunteers change from day to day. If you’re interested in being a part of the fun, you can message them on Facebook and get more details. It’s the group’s intention to change the dynamic of their event annually. Rina said to me in a message that they want to be sure their yarn donors know that they appreciate their hard work. She hopes that each piece has been displayed honorably. Next year’s yarn event will be different in some ways, but just as satisfying and fun!

I don’t know about you, but I think I’ll start brushing up my crocheting skills for next year’s yarn bombing event! If you don’t have the patience for the craft, don’t forget you can always donate yarn for other creations. Everyone is encouraged to seek out these wonderful creations and witness the sentimental labors of their fellow community members. Beautiful movements such as this can only help improve and rejuvenate the love we have for our hometown. Bringing the community together is one of many positive impacts the Parkersburg Community Yarn Bombers has had on a city that stands stronger united.

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