Running from the Law: Strawberry Picking Season

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Strawberry Picking Season

Yesterday was opening day of strawberry picking at our favorite local orchard, Eckert's Country Farm in Belleville. I had the day off work (yay for no work Wednesdays!), so we packed up the kids, invited a few friends to join us and hit the road for strawberries! This was my first time strawberry picking and I was a bit worried that it might be too hard for Mac or that they wouldn't be ripe enough, but I had nothing to worry about. Strawberry picking is perfect for toddlers and the strawberries were perfection! Eckert's is totally kid-friendly and it was so nice to be able to let them play and explore on their own.  The kids had the best time running down the rows of strawberries, finding good red ripe ones to fill their baskets and eating as many as they could.  The weather was perfect - sunny and cool - and since it was opening day (and the middle of the week), we had the place nearly all to ourselves. 

But the strawberries themselves were the main event.  They were huge, ripe and absolutely delicious! There were tons of strawberries and we had no problem filling our baskets (and bellies) within minutes.  They were easy to pick and super clean - you could eat them right off the vine.  I had no idea that freshly picked strawberries would taste SO much better than store-bought.  They're soft and sweet and so juicy! I filled two baskets myself with big red ones and Mac filled an entire basket with half-eaten ones.  We ended up with more strawberries than we will be able to eat in a year! Seriously, we brought home 16 pounds of fresh strawberries!  What the hell am I going to do with that many strawberries?!   (Pinterest to the rescue.)

Anyway, I took way too many photos and although I'm not in a single one, I promise I was there. 

16 comments:

  1. What fun!! Can't wait to go sometime this spring!

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  2. Oh my goodness, I'm in love! Will you come take pictures everywhere we go now? Thanks so much for inviting us, we had a blast!!!

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  3. Looks so fun!! I'm going to have to scout out a Strawberry place now.

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  4. We love to go strawberry picking! I think we will go in a few weeks (our season is a little later I guess). I think it's so perfect for toddlers... So much easier than apples in my experience! Noah loved it last year and we are dying to go again! It's so much fun and we all love strawberries!

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  5. How fun! We're going to Lakeview Farms when they open up for season next week! You had a gorgeous day for picking!

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  6. So. Much. Fun!!
    I desperately want to take Marcus to a real strawberry farm for just this kind of thing, but sadly there don't seem to really be any near us. Whomp whomp.
    I'm dying over Mac's strawberry stained chin. Sign of the most successful, and tummy-filling, day!!

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  7. What a perfect day! I really want to do this, but I'm not sure there is any strawberry picking close to me. How do your photos in bright direct sunlight still turn out so well?! Share your secrets!

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  8. This looks so fun!!! I actually think there might be a place to do this nearby and I never even thought to take Mason. But now I so want to! It seems easy enough for toddlers since I imagine they aren't very hard to pick off the bushes and so much fun. And bonus, Mason LOVES strawberries! Such a fun day! And you're right... no work Wednesdays are definitely the BEST!

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  9. What a fun thing to do with your kiddos! I would never have thought to do this. You got some amazing photos! Let us know if you find any great strawberry recipes!

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  10. That looks like so much fun and so yummy! We've got a strawberry farm near us and we need to get there for some strawberry picking. I need my moms strawberry jam recipe. :)

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  11. Gorgeous photos! I love that you took the SLR out there! We just went strawberry picking this past week, but only brought back one gallon. I can't imagine sixteen!!! Try freezing and making fresh made sorbet - it's amaze!

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  12. Great photos, mama! I've got a major hankering for some freshly picked strawberries now :)

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  13. I've got strawberry picking on our spring bucket list but our season has been going for weeks now! We keep not having time because it is only on saturday early in the morning, and it just hasn't happened yet. I sure hope we get to do it! I love strawberry picking and last time we went Aria wasn't even eating solids yet!! ps strawberry syrup for ice cream..just saying =)

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  14. A gorgeous day to pick strawberries! I love all of your pictures! Xo, Stephanie

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  15. Sara these pictures are so so great!!

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  16. Wow! Look at those baskets filled with nothing but fresh and ripe strawberries. I'm so glad everyone is entertained with all the activities such as strawberry picking. After all, it's difficult to spot a family who enjoys a good ol' strawberry farm nowadays. It makes me glad I stumbled upon your blog! Thanks for sharing and all the best to you and your beautiful family! :)

    Faith Thomas @ The Berry Farm

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