Decades old blueberry bushes reach seven feet tall at the Hylebos Blueberry Farm Park, now in its seventh year of being restored to produce the fruit.

When it began, the park was an active blueberry farm and took up 5 acres. It is now a public park located at 630 S. 356th St. in Federal Way. It is owned by the city, and community members are invited to harvest the fruit for free at their leisure.

It has taken thousands of volunteer hours and collaboration to clear the thick covering of blackberry bushes, and new berry plants are being added each year to expand the leafy rows.

Shelley Pauls of We Love Our City Federal Way shared that this effort to restore the area is not first the attempt — it is just the only one that has stuck.

Pauls said other groups have attempted to restore the property in the past, including one project to turn it into a food forest. Remnants of that can be seen in at least one hazelnut tree rising out of the thick blackberry bushes that still line the property.

One day a former coworker reached out who had worked on the property with the Peace Corps in the past, Pauls said, adding that the coworker had expressed that he was sad to see it all overgrown again. Pauls connected with Master Gardeners Jim and Donna Cox, who also started the Light of Christ Church Community Garden that generates thousands of pounds of produce for donation to the Federal Way Senior Center every year.

“We stood at the edge of the blueberry farm, looking at the just mass of blackberry bushes, we really asked ourselves ‘is this possible?’” she said.

As previously reported in The Mirror, details of the farm’s original owner are difficult to track down, but some volunteers have corroborated that the farm was planted by Air Force retiree Brian Allen in the 1960s.

Pauls said that volunteering at the blueberry farm is a draw for community members for many different reasons.

“When you hear about the old barn building times back in the day, the community came, they worked hard, they ate together. They went home feeling good. Serving community, being hands on … it lifts your spirits. It’s so healthy being it’s such a win on every level. And that’s what I love,” she said.

The Marine Hills Garden Club also contributes to the restored blueberry farm. This year they donated a tree on Arbor Day. On Wednesday, several members walked the park with Pauls, discussing possible projects of flower gardens and art installations.

The Marine Hills Garden Club started 60 years ago and was one of several in the community that is now Federal Way. It is the only one left standing and members say the focus has shifted over the years.

“It started as more of a social club I think,” Debbie Angel said. “Now we focus more on community service. Mostly related to gardening, plants and environmental projects, but we also donate books to schools and other things that are not specifically connected to gardening.”

A wide variety of blueberry types mean that harvesting them can sometimes be a bit of a “treasure hunt,” according to Shelley Pauls. The different varieties ripen at different times and the decades old plants produce berries that are sometimes smaller and more sparse than newer varieties, but all are delicious and free for all to gather.

Mason bee homes are installed among the blueberry bushes, providing more habitat for pollinators and support for the blueberry production.