Blueberry Fields

In my family, I am the planner. When a hot summer week is stretching out before us, I kick into gear strategizing what to do when and for how long. Upon hearing from a friend that blueberry crops were peaking, I set aside a morning to take the kids.

Berry picking is a favorite sport, so to speak, for our family. And yes, when you take four children, it is a sport. There are plans, training, equipment and uniforms involved, as well as the event itself, which ultimately will be a win or loss.

The Strategy

A win has to be timed carefully. This hot summer has ripened the fruit far more quickly than usual. So although we were too late for the strawberries, we hit the blueberries at their peak.

I started by finding out what time the fields opened. The week we visited, Jones Family Farm was closed on Monday but opened every other day at 9 a.m. Always call ahead to make sure when the berries are available.

Next, I looked at the weather. This summer has been a hot one, and the day we wanted to pick berries was no exception. My kids are naturally early risers, so I planned to be out of the house by 8:40 a.m. to avoid the midday heat and crowds.

One of the favorite parts of going to Jones is riding the Berry Fairy. This open-air ride stops near the parking lot, gathers its eager and enthusiastic customers, and ambles down the dirt paths to the picking fields. Along the way, there are fields of budding pumpkins, surging cornstalks and views of the vineyard on the distant hills.

The Equipment and Uniform

There were a few staples that we needed in our brief time in the field. We brought a small drawstring backpack stocked with a water bottle, sunscreen and my checkbook.

I never bring my cell phone. There is nothing more annoying than trying to enjoy a pastoral moment with my children and being interrupted by the noise of a cell phone.

Although not as demanding as strawberry picking, blueberries do require a bit of time in the sun. I brought a baseball hat and slathered on a thick layer of sunscreen. Also, we dressed in cool, comfortable clothing and sneakers.

Jones provided a large cardboard basket. However, if you brought your basket from a previous visit, you will receive a small credit. There were also smaller boxes the kids could borrow so that everyone could pick on their own, and then contribute to the larger basket.

The Result

In my experience, picking berries is either a complete success or an utter debacle.

For example, the year I was eight and a half months pregnant and took my daughters, then 2- and 3-years-old, strawberry picking was a less-than-happy event.

Then there was the time I invited a new friend to go pick berries, only to learn from her daughter on the way to the field she didn't particularly like strawberries but was too polite to tell me before.

But there have been many more times of joy, such as watching the wonder of my 2-year-old child as she picked her first blueberry, popped it into her mouth and realized with delight that she was surrounded with an endless supply of these tangy blue "candies." Or photographing my toddler son with a huge strawberry in each hand, furrowing his brow as he debated which berry to devour next.

So we will continue our summer trek to the picking fields, riding the Berry Ferry and filling our baskets with pounds of fruit. Some of our harvest we will enjoy immediately, and the rest we will freeze. And when we pull our bounty from the freezer later in the year, we remember those sweet days filled with the juicy fruit and sticky fingers of summer.

The Food

Lest anyone is fearful of picking too much fruit, don't forget the many recipes that call for blueberries. A favorite is the Blueberry Zucchini Bread.

For a quick snack, try topping some yogurt with a handful of berries and drizzling with honey for added natural sweetness.