Blueberries are a pretty universal fruit, meaning they can be grown just about anywhere. And they grow very well here in Middle America. The temperature, the soil, the amount of rain and sunshine came together this week to make the beautiful little fruits ripen to their unique color and taste. So I am headed out to the blueberry fields to pick some of that deliciousness. I will go early to avoid as much of the heat as possible. And, as I work, I will listen to the birds as they sing their individual songs and watch the bees and butterflies as they flit from flower to flower.
I have several friends that are commercial growers. That is, they open their fields up to the local customers who want the whole experience of getting fresh food right from the source. Like me, many of them do not have space to grow their own orchards and berry patches and vegetable gardens. We are thankful that others do. And that they allow us to come harvest their crops.
I realize there are people who have no desire to actually gather their food from the source but still want to get fresh produce. In my area, produce stands abound where you can choose what foods you would like with the knowledge that it is locally raised and harvested. Farmers’ markets are another option for getting the freshest, straight from the farm produce. We have some wonderful ones within easy driving distance. Sometimes, if you are lucky, you might run across a gardener who simply has too much produce for his own use and has set up a little stand in the front yard of his house. Or has tossed the extra in the back of the pickup and set up shop on the local convenience store parking lot. With a few simple exchanges, you can soon discover if he grows organically or not. Most farmers are eager to talk about what they do, if you ask nicely. He might even be able to tell you where to find other foods you are looking for. Gardeners and farmers know things…
Blueberries ripen at one of the hottest, most humid times of the year here in zone 7B of the Ozarks. And this year, it is particularly hot and humid. But I will not be wearing shorts and a sleeveless top to the fields! I am prone to sunburn so I’ll have on long sleeves with button cuffs, as well as long pants with knee socks and boots. That last bit (the knee socks and boots) will be to help ward off the bloodsucking insects prevalent this time of year. I am particularly susceptible to them too. They seem to spread the word when they see me coming and all converge to greet me. Ticks, chiggers, mosquitos. Besides my clothing, I will cover myself with bug repellent and reapply many times while I’m out. I’ll don my hat and slip on my dark sunglasses to protect my old eyes. There will be no makeup on this morning! There will be no need. I am not here to impress! In fact, on these excursions, I always hope I can stay incognito!
As soon as I get home, the first thing I do is strip off all those clothes and drop them into the washer. Then it’s into the shower for me. Hopefully, I will avoid any close encounters with the little creatures that seem to love me so much.
Cleaning and preparing any produce can be time-consuming. If you are canning, making jellies or sauces, or pickling be prepared to put in a lot of time and effort. But blueberries are a breeze. I simply wash, measure out a cup’s worth of berries into good-quality freezer bags, and plop them into the freezer. Done.
You may be wondering why I put myself through such an ordeal when I could easily go to the supermarket and just buy food already processed. Simple. I’m a farm girl. I like to know where my food comes from. And, this winter, as I’m sipping a blueberry smoothy or eating blueberry waffles or munching on them straight from the freezer, I guarantee they will taste better because of the time and effort I put into picking, storing, and preparing them myself!
Not everything in life is easy. Some things take work, time, and effort. But, in the end, it’s worth it! So, if you get the chance, get out there in the blueberry patch and gather some sweetness. Get back to nature for a few minutes. Listen to the birds sing. Watch the bees and butterflies as they go about their business. It will be time well spent.
Earlier, I wrote about another berry-picking experience. You can read about it here. https://bgibsonbooks.com/berrypicking-time/
