One of the fun things about being retired is once again having the time to pick fresh fruit. This is a luxury that I seldom experienced while working.
While I missed the strawberry season, we have been able to cash in on both the raspberries and now the blueberries.
In Madoc, Vander Ploeg’s have sold their berry fields. On Pigden Road the fields are now called The Patch. A lovely lady directed us, explaining that they had four different types of raspberries. I started out with the large dark blue ones, but after picking three quarts and tasting one of the berries, I realized that the flavour wasn’t “raspberry” enough for me. I switched over to the red ones which were harder to pick but definitely more to our liking. Everyone picking was quite chatty and sociable. I was amazed to learn that even ninety year olds return every year to pick! The idea of harvestiing appeals to us all, I guess.
Two days ago we went to Bramble Berry Farm, on the Frankford-Stockdale Road to pick Blueberries.
What a crop they have this year! The berries were dark blue and weighed down the branches of these high bush domestics. They hung like grapes. It was so easy to just pull them off and into my basket because the clusters were 99% ripe. I timed myself: I was able to fill a quart basket in five minutes! While I generally do not snack while picking these berries were so deliciously sweet, I found myself shamelessly popping them into my mouth.
Then because this had been my only past-time of the day, I had the energy to come home, sort, clean and freeze enough berries for six eight-cup pies. We sure are going to enjoy those raspberries and blueberry pies in the winter. It will be like a bite of summer.
The Retirement Game 