Strawberry time

picking strawberries

This is the week that our local PYO farm puts its signs out along the country lanes. This is an eagerly awaited event in our household. The chance to visit the farm and pick strawberries. Finishing off with a iced lolly and a chance to throw a ball for the ever eager farm dogs.

strawberry picking

Over the years, I have trained my merry gang of strawberry pickers. They know the ones to leave and the ones to pick. They know not to eat the strawberries before they’re paid for, except one to check we like the variety. Visiting the PYO makes a welcome after-school break. Blowing away the cobwebs. Especially grateful for, as we approach the end of the school year and fatigue sets in.

field

Between picking strawberries, it’s impossible not to admire the setting. There are strawberries on table tops for easy picking. Also traditional rows and rows of strawberries on the ground surrounded by straw, for mulching. The surrounding fields are full of crops.

caterpillars in nettles

Snuggled between these cultivated fields are rough areas. Left. Inevitably encouraging wildlife to make its home there. On the way back to pay, we spotted butterflies and beetles a plenty. And the odd group of caterpillars.

A good place to linger. Maybe I could bring a picnic next time.

Joining in with the ever inspiring Fiona’s #CountryKid linky. Hope you’ve all had a chance to explore the big outside, this week.

24 comments

  1. There is something very satisfying about picking your own. Good on you for training them up to pick the good ones! Look like a good pick! x

    1. The caterpillars were a sight. You’d think they’d spread out more to secure more food, but I guess staying as a group is more protection. Enjoy your strawberry picking.

  2. Every year I look for PYO strawberries and don’t find any. We have raspberries and gooseberries locally but not strawberries. I’m going to look further afield, your post makes it look like such a relaxing afternoon and we all adore strawberries. Thank you for sharing me me on Country Kids

    1. Hope you find a strawberry PYO. I know we are lucky to have one so close. There is another but I’ve not seen its sign out yet. It is relaxing. So nice to leave the rest of the day behind sometimes.

  3. Ooh I’m looking forward to my two being old enough to do this (well four year old would be ok but not 23 month old he would probably stuff himself!) We get freshly picked strawberries from my dad’s allotment at the moment. #countrykids

    1. Absolutely. Nothing like picking fruit straight from the plant. My children have no doubt where food comes from and what it takes to grow it.

  4. Our strawberry plants are doing very well for us this year, and my daughter loves going out there to pick them. Looks like you had fun, and yes, a picnic would be perfect!

    1. Hey! Good for you. You’re garden is really coming on. We have alpine strawberries all over the garden, which the children love to pick. I couldn’t grow enough strawberries and what with so many strawberry outlets locally, the effort/ reward just didn’t work out. Maybe I’ll try again one day.

  5. 🙂 I love picking strawberries. We haven’t done it though this year. Must put that on the list of things-to-do before summer is over 🙂 #CountryKids.

  6. We’re PYO addicts too, will be going today. We’ve picked strawberries at the same farm for at least the last 12 years so it’s something I hope the kids remember from their childhood. We’re lucky that our local farm also has cherry trees so I cannot wait for them to be ripe!! (Although I spend far too much money on them). #countrykids

    1. I like the idea of being a PYO addict. The local PYO has other fruit and veg. Planning to take the children to explore different rows of produce next time. I don’t think they grow cherries. Must see if I can find a cherry PYO. Nice idea.

  7. How wonderful! We meant to go strawberry picking last year and never found the time. We are definitely going to try harder this year, especially as weve had the princely total of eleven strawberries from our garden so far.

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