PARKING AND ROADS
 Parking is a necessary part of the
facilities for any pick-your-own opera-
tion. In most situations it is illegal to
allow cars to park along public roads.
A parking area is necessary and should
be convenient to the picking area. If
harvest sites are scattered, a separate
parking area at each site may be the
most practical solution. This decentral-
izes the operation and results in less
control of traffic and more difficult
check-in and check-out procedures. A
central parking lot is easier to main-
tain, generally safer and easier to man-
age when several dozen or several hun-
dred cars arrive on a busy day.
 A sod or gravel surface on parking
lots is usually preferred. If a lot has
high usage over a long season, asphalt
surfacing is advisable. In any case,
good drainage is a must. It prevents
muddy feet, stuck cars and other prob-
lems. Customers will not return if park-
ing is difficult, dangerous or inconven-
ient. A parking lot attendant at busy
times is good business. This person can
maintain orderly parking and prevent
cars from blocking driveways or taking
more space than needed. It is good if
cars can leave the parking area by driv-
ing forward rather than backing out of
parking spaces. If parking spaces are
marked off, a width of 10 feet is need-
ed. Parking spaces need a 20 foot
length. The driveway width between
rows of cars should be at least 25 feet.
These measurements can help you cal-
culate the parking capacity of any
given area. Crowding more cars into
an area than is convenient or safe is a
common mistake. You can avoid it by
good planning.

MAINTENANCE
 Roadways must be maintained in
smooth and reasonably dust-free con-
dition. A speed limit of 10 to 15 miles
per hour will help avoid excessive road
wear. A prominent speed limit sign at
the entrance and another at parking
areas will usually be enough. The park-
ing lot attendant should not hesitate to
remind speeders of the posted limit.
 Roads that have more than occasion-
al usage should be graveled. Culverts
over drainage ways are justified to pre-
vent water holes and muddy places
from developing. The roadway will


need shaping with grading equipment
and an occasional going-over to fill
holes and smooth rough spots. Addi-
tional gravel will usually be needed on
roads with this surface every one or
two years. For heavily traveled road-
ways to and from a central parking
area, asphalt surfacing can often be
justified. The entrance, roadway and
parking area are the first impres-
sion pick-your-own customers get when
they arrive, so it is worth extra effort
to make this first impression favorable.

PICNIC AREA
 Rest and picnic areas create a more
relaxed atmosphere where older people
and children can wait while Mom and
Dad and older children pick the pro-
duce. Families sometimes bring picnic
lunches to make the trip a recreation
event as well as to buy farm fresh pro-
duce. You can sell pleasant surround-
ings and country atmosphere as well as
fresh produce. A picnic area may have
added attraction in areas near large
cities where industrial developments
make noise, and pollution-free parks
are a rarity.
 Wash-up facilities and clean toilets
are a must if you wish to promote a
convenient and comfortable atmos-
phere. Repeat business will be encour-
aged when the pick-your-own experi-
ence has been pleasant. Dirty or sticky
hands from harvesting fruit or vegeta-
bles do not create a pleasing memory.
Washing the face and hands helps
to cool off and refresh the picker
after working up a sweat harvesting
produce.


FENCING
 Fences can be both decorative and
functional. Woven wire fences four
feet or more in height will usually keep
people from wandering into other
places. A fence can separate the park-
ing lot from harvest areas. The fence
will also assure check-out of produce
before it is loaded into cars. During
busy times, a positive check of all pro-
duce may be difficult without some
directing of crowds by fencing or other
means. Wood slat snow fences can be
used as a temporary means of direct-
ing people or separating areas. Avoid
barbed wire or other material that can
easily injure children or other people.
Don't allow children to climb on fences.
Besides damaging the fence, they may
be injured. Fence off danger areas,
such as deep ponds, very steep banks
or vertical cliffs. Cattle, horses, hogs or
other livestock can be hazardous for
children or persons not accustomed to
livestock. Dogs can also be effectively
kept away from customers by good
fencing.

STRUCTURES
 Buildings that are used directly in
the pick-your-own business can vary
from a simple check-out stand to large
impressive structures. An existing barn
may provide shelter from sun and rain,
and space for picking containers, lad-
ders and other supplies. It can also be
an attractive check-in, check-out sta-
tion. Some remodeling and painting
will make most barns more attractive
and thus better serve the needs of this
business. A clean, neat check-out and


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