It is early here and we have another cooler, overcast day. I have the baskets ready and we are soon heading out for an early morning berry-picking session. Forget that we live in a fast-paced modern world and my kids are physically attached to i-pods and computer games–we still enjoy the adventure of an hour or two of berry picking.
Where we live, we have a few berry picking seasons–strawberries and then blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Spending a few hours or an afternoon at the berry patch is a great way to spend time together as a family, build memories, get some exercise, and come home with something delicious to eat.
There’s something romantic and old-fashioned about berry picking, but there’s also something very practical and perfect for a family activity–regardless of the age of your children. The trick is to keep the activity limited–an entire day at the berry patch is just too much and will make it impossible to do a repeat performance. Kids shouldn’t be pressured to pick and there should be an element of pure fun–take along a picnic, let them eat as many as they want, chase each other down the rows of berries, etc. While you definitely want to come home with enough berries to make a pie or some jam, the goal is to have a fabulous and fun family activity and build some pleasant memories.
On the practical side–prepare for the weather and bring along hats, sunscreen, long sleeves and pants and practical shoes. Depending on the type of berries you’re picking there may be thorns so gloves might help too. Also, be prepared for bugs and bees. One of the main reasons I head out to pick berries in the early morning hours on an overcast day is to get out there and avoid the bees.
Looking for a summer activity the whole family can enjoy? Try berry picking!
See Also: Frugal Lessons From the Amish