Sometimes the most delightful things occur when you least expect them. Running errands with my daughter and her 2 girlfriends the other day, we were about to drive by a local blueberry farm, that is surprisingly very close to Seattle. As I was telling these teens about this type of farm and the fact that one could go in and pick as many berries as one would like when they are……
there IT was….the sign…
U PICK BLUEBERRIES
OPEN
“Have any of you ever picked berries?” I changed my approach mid-sentence, “no” they responded unaware.
So I had to stop, didn’t I?
We had less than an hour to spare, and the teens were carefully coiffed and outfitted in their pretty pale dresses and sandals, more appropriately dressed for lunch in the city than plucking in the fields.
But they were up for the jaunt.
They took to the fields like faeries in flight, frocks and white buckets flowing, picking and eating the freshest blueberries in the land; and of course instagramming, tweeting and facebooking with gleeful abandon in this fresh rural setting.
The ancient lichen covered branches in the fields supported stems of
berries in many shades.
But when we grasped these diverse clumps and put on a little bit of pressure, just the softest, bluest, ripest berries dropped into the bucket waiting below.
A couple of pounds later, we were back on the road finishing our errands. They weren’t very concerned about the end product, but I think that spontaneous hour on the farm enhanced these savvy city dwellers with an extra level of appreciation for their morning smoothies, and so much more.
I love fresh blueberries and have since been indulging in this superfood from morning to night. In the morning I’ve been making my favorite breakfast.
Greek yogurt, a plethora of blueberries, raw almonds chopped and quickly toasted in a pan with a little olive oil and a drizzle of maple syrup.
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| Greek yogurt with blueberries, chopped toasted almonds and maple syrup |
In the evening, I love dropping a few berries in chilled white wine for color and texture, and later, a sweet, marinated treat.
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| Fresh blueberries in chilled white Bordeaux |
After this experience, I’m inspired to get out to the farms more often with children and friends or solo. It was such a treat to truly connect to the source.
Do you U Pick? I’d love to hear about your favorite outings.
Emily I haven't since a young girl at my aunts in the country. You have brought back great memories as well as making it so much fun for the girls!
xoxo
Karena
2013 Artists Series
Emily, as kids (maybe 13 yrs old) in Oregon we were the commercial pickers – our first summer jobs! Strawberries, blueberries and those dried seed pods that look like pumpkins on a stick (someone has to pick off all the leaves).
It was never a lot of money, but it was early morning and hard work to pick all the ripe berries each day. I wish kids could choose that work as an option today.
For fun like you had I look forward to the wild black berries along the county roads in Washington and Oregon in August usually. How are they ripening this year?
Your photos were wonderful – And that breakfast will be mine tomorrow! Cheers!
I have picked strawberries many times on school field trips with my daughter, but never blueberries. Don't you just love a day that just happens? Such a fun time with your daughter and her friend – picking one of my favorite foods – have it every morning in my smoothie!!
Beautiful! Hitting a local farm is one of my most favorite things to do…so I am right with you. Get there when you can as often as you can while the season lasts!
What a lovely treat you gave your daughter and her friends – they will always remember it!! The breakfast idea looks yummy – I must remember to add berries to my grocery list (no u pick around here)!
Take care…xoxo
Yum! I'm so glad you stopped, Emily. Blueberries are one of the best things about summer, I think! It's been years since I went berry picking. When I was growing up we did it every summer at our island home where the blackberries ran wild. A sun-soaked blackberry fresh from the vine tastes like childhood to me.
Happy Wednesday! XO
Linda, I grew up picking strawberries every summer in Oregon too. It was a fun and social way to earn money in those days. I think it is going to be a bumper year for blackberries up here. I was noticing the bushes we loaded with green berries when I was up on Orcas last week, still a ways off from being ripe.
EH- I'm with you. My blueberry supply is running low, I may to to get back over there!!
Emily-
I would have stayed all day, because I can eat blueberries only! They are grown in pairs, which I found funny.
Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Teresa
xoxo
indigo wishes to all of you!! Thank you for your summery comments! xo, ebh
Blueberry picking can be great fun for people of all ages! Fresh picked fruit always tastes best and there are so many delicious blueberry recipes to try.