Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Strawberry Season


Last year we were lucky enough to find a real gem – a chemical free pick your own berries farm. I can’t believe I hadn’t found this wonderful farm and farmer before. Last year we picked strawberries and raspberries and this year will be no different, except we will add blackberries to that list.


Last week as part of our summer solstice celebrations Reece and I hit the strawberry patch to pick, eat, pick and eat some more strawberries. We had a perfect weather day, sunshine, heat and a lovely breeze. I am not sure how many berries Reece picked actually went into the basket; every time I looked at him he was eating one. And let me tell you he really enjoyed them.





I am a huge fan of teaching our little ones where the food they are eating comes from and heading out to the farm, chatting with the farmer, picking our own berries and then coming home to eat them is one of the ways we can help Reece understand the amount of work, love, joy and passion that goes into the food we eat. 


I do wish I had a lovely strawberry recipe to share with you, but sadly, I don’t. Why? Simply because we like eating them straight up, as is. Why play with the perfection of Mother Nature? We did serve them up with a touch of vanilla cashew cream sauce and it paired just perfectly.


And before you ask, no, we did not eat all of those strawberries, most of them were washed, greens removed, frozen on cookie sheets and then transferred to freezer bags, ready for smoothies. Our stash from last year has just run out, here’s hoping this stash lasts as long.

17 comments:

  1. We're like you, we eat them straight up. I'll also throw them on my yogurt with some granola. That's probably my favorite breakfast.

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    1. It seems such a shame to do much else with them, they are just so sweet and delicious.

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  2. yay for finding that farm!!! i'm envious! i'm always surprised how few strawberry farms there are in ct, and none of them are chem free. but we do go every year to a local farm and pick, a summer tradition my own mama started when i was a wee one.

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    1. I know, I was so pleased. Going back next week for raspberries. I was also pleased to find an organic blueberry farm this year too, can't wait to check it out in the next few weeks.

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  3. Those looks so good Kim. Sadly our berry season has been gone for months, although we still have blueberries and the figs are starting to ripen. Enjoy!

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    1. They were Tracey :) It is so funny how the seasons are so different for all of us. We are just getting started up here, and it looks like it is going to be a great year for local food, yay!

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  4. We love getting around fruit right from the source too. Sofia adores going to farms. I find it so beautiful that they take the time to consider each fruit with care. They feel like they are helping with a chore. What I love more is that she, and I'm sure he, will love it as a tradition when they are older.

    Have a wonderful week my friend!

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    1. Yes KC, the yearly traditions we are creating will live on forever.

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  5. That is too bad, I am always a little sad when the season doesn't go well for a crop. It was that way last year with raspberries.

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  6. We went back today for another flat. I made jam with some, froze most, but the littles ate a huge amount straight out of the colander. I couldn't wash them fast enough! Last week, I think Noah ate more than he picked!

    Looks like you had a great time.

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    1. I wish we could go back for more, unfortunately we were there on the last day of picking. The good news though, raspberries are ready next week :)

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  7. That's so nice that you found a chemical free place. I've been looking around for one, but they're hard to find...

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    1. They are very hard to find, I know how lucky I am :)

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