Sweet Berry Farm may be closed for the winter, but behind the scenes owners Jan and Michelle Eckhart remain very busy still running a business.

When asked what they do in this off-season, Jan Eckhart responded, "All the paperwork!"

The Eckharts take few, if any, days off between April and December and they typically work 12- to 14-hour days, said Jan Eckhart. While they will get a little vacation time in this time of year, there’s a lot of work that needs to be done long before they’re able to reopen in April, he explained. 

"We have all the farm machinery to service, cleanup, planning and ordering the seeds and plants,” said Eckhart. “All the stuff we need to prepare for the next season."

Sweet Berry Farm closed its doors for the season on Friday, Dec. 31.

Overall, the Eckharts are happy with the 2010 season, said Jan Eckhart. "We had a good season,” he said. “We were up from last year ,which we were hoping would happen, because (2009) was not a great year, because of the weather and economy. So we were pleased about that."

The other highlight for Sweet Berry Farm in 2010 was the addition of the farm's new building, which is attached to the greenhouse café.

The building features a new fireplace, exposed beams, and wide plank flooring. It was also designed to serve as additional seating space and as a multi-function space. Most importantly, it also includes indoor plumbing, whereas port-o-potty accommodations were the only options in seasons past.

Last summer, the farm also served as a host site to a wide array of cultural events from movie screenings to lectures and outdoor concerts, while its core offerings of pick-your-own seasonal fruits, pumpkins and Christmas trees, store items, cafe beverages and meals, as well as holiday prepared meals and pies kept its loyal customer following.

When Sweet Berry Farm closed its doors for the season on Friday, Dec. 31, a steady stream of customers took advantage of year-end sales and stocked up on favorite items before the farm stand closed.

Other die-hard fans of the place were savoring their moments there, saddened to have to bid farewell for a few months.

Kate Bradford, of Chappaqua, NY said she stops in whenever she visits her mother in Newport. Bradford was picking up her mother's favorite Susanna's Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and was hoping to get her daughter's favorite four-cheese pasta. However, the farm had already sold out.

Diners Carl Barchi of Jamestown and Dianne Pritchard of Newport lingered in the dining room on closing day. The two are regulars and described themselves as big fans of the farm. Barchi said they started coming to the summer music series a few years back and often bring guests from out of town. On this particular day they came to Sweet Berry Farm because they were looking for the perfect spot to enjoy a nice lunch and read a poem that Pritchard, an artist and writer, had written about a crow.

The crow is part of Sweet Berry Farm's logo. "We're here because of the moment," said Barchi.

They said the menu selection draws them to the farm, as well as the stone floors, bamboo blinds, and rainbow checkered tablecloths that makes up the coziness of the entire space, along with all the additional products the farm has to offer, such as home decor, art, and hats.

"If I want to really enjoy myself I can sit around here, I can see all the wonderful art, see what's new coming in, and now they've got this big room here," says Barchi of the new addition.

Pritchard said she appreciates the "crunchy culture" of the café, which she finds difficult to find elsewhere these days.

"I was counter culture in a serious way for many years—and I don't mean rebellious, I mean more of a family person and all that—so I really appreciate that I sense those old values, those earthy, crunchy values here," said Pritchard. "And then there's the art so there's a lot of stuff that makes people like me feel at home."

"If I can come here with the sun setting in the west, to me it's like a secular spiritual experience," said Barchi. He added, "I'm still in love with the place. It's never lost its excitement to me."

As to whether they'll be at the farm when it re-opens in April, Pritchard said, "Can't wait! What are we going to do?"

Sweet Berry Farm will re-open for the 2011 season in mid-April. Check back for announcements at the Sweet Berry Farm website.