Strawberry Fields Forever

Let me take you down 'cos I'm going to Strawberry Fields................

Our resident frog MrRibbit. A big queue in the middle of a field.

The pickers.

......and that is just what we did this morning. We took a drive to a farm that did Pick Your Own. Now this is the first time we have done this in Canada so imagine our surprise when at first we had to pay $3.50 for a collecting bucket and then be ushered into a queue on a huge field of strawberry plants with what looked like the rest of the World.

After queuing with everyone else, we were assigned a row (Huffle and Smallest got one row and Small, Moo and I another row). At first this seemed ludicrous but after a while it made perfect sense). Each family had a couple of rows to themselves, no vying for the best and juiciest strawbs. There were plenty. And they were beautiful. The sign as we arrived asked us NOT to eat the fruit but how can you not? Ripe, juicy sun warmed strawberries! Ummmmmmmmm, apart from the ones we grew in our garden the Summer before we left England, these were the best I have ever tasted, and believe me, we tasted a lot here this morning!

The amount of people there was incredible but the fields just went on and on and on. There were also beans, potatoes, raspberries and much more not yet harvestable. It was a great place. We managed to pick $7 worth and then made our way to the raspberry fields.

This time there were no queues and no hordes of people and although we were supposed to go to a particular row, it didn't really matter. The raspberries here were definitely the best I have ever eaten. And when we had exhausted one row, we found an even better one. The sweetest raspberries ever (and I don't really like them!). Here, Huffle, Smallest and Small certainly ate more than they picked ending the harvesting in an eight raspberry challenge. Again we picked about $7 worth. While we were picking the raspberries, Small turned to me and asked "have I eaten my fruit quota for today?" NO KEEP EATING I said and the lady picking next to me laughed.

After leaving the farm we went and picked up some preserving sugar (normal sugar and then some pectin to add to it) and some whipping cream (bet you can't guess what that is for?).

Moo found a new friend or two.

The boys made Moo into a Dude!

Eventually after we arrived home, we made Strawberry Jam and Strawberry Muffins and Raspberry Jam and Raspberry Muffins. Then we all had lunch and went up to the pool.

Swimming, jumping, getting wet and a long game of scrabble that lasted the entire afternoon with a small break for a Muffin and a cup of tea.

An evening of BBQ and homemade scones with homemade jams and cream ummmmmmmmmm. We have certainly eaten plenty of fruit today in one form or another.

The jams were incredible too and so easy to make.

 

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