Week Concluding on 25th of July: Blueberries Galore and a Blooming Garden!
A Week of Blueberry Picking and Garden Work: Making the Most of the Season
The blueberry season is in full swing, and it's a busy time for those who love fresh produce and the farm experience. Here's a snapshot of a typical week in the life of a dedicated gardener.
Blueberry Picking in Rainy Weather
The blueberry eating contest took place amidst the rainy weather, adding a touch of excitement to the event. Every afternoon during the week, it rained, but that didn't deter the contestants or the speaker, who braved the elements to pick blueberries near their house.
Daily Visits to Blueberry Hill
The speaker visits Blueberry Hill daily to pick blueberries and garden produce. After dinner, they tend to the garden, dealing with garden pests like squash bugs and Japanese beetles. The speaker washes the harvested blueberries and packages them in gallon bags, weighing about 3-4 lbs.
Other Garden Produce and Activities
Beyond blueberries, the speaker's garden yields a variety of produce. This week, they harvested cucumbers, tomatoes, figs, squash, peppers, radishes, beets, beans, different colored bell peppers, purple lettuce, corn on the cob, and pumpkins and gourds. The speaker also feeds the chicks with blueberries, squash, and pumpkins.
Sharing the Harvest
Makenna arranged the harvested items for a colorful photo, and the speaker gave one of the eaten pumpkins to the chickens. The speaker is proud of the corn grown by a specific person, and that person cooked about 12 pieces of corn for lunch.
The Farm Experience
Farm activities are not just about harvesting. Maddie is seen working in her journal in the reading spot, while Tilly reads her new scriptures on her mattress on the floor in the reading spot. Thomas leaves for work every morning at 7am, but he got soaked during one of his late-night runs due to heavy rain.
Gratitude for the Season
The speaker expresses gratitude for the seeds, good weather, and children's efforts that contributed to the successful garden. They spend approximately 2 hours picking blueberries while listening to podcasts. This week also saw a friendly blueberry eating contest between Kait, Kenna, and Sam.
Tips for Blueberry Picking
- Farms often have specific days and hours for picking, which can be weather-dependent. Always check the farm's website or call ahead to confirm picking availability.
- Protective footwear and hats are recommended due to outdoor conditions.
- Some farms encourage sharing photos on social media and provide updates to keep pickers informed and connected.
By following these tips and embracing the farm experience, you can make the most of the blueberry season and enjoy the bounty of your labour.
The speaker incorporates blueberries into various aspects of their home-and-garden lifestyle, including cooking and gardening, such as feeding chicks with blueberries and squash. The speaker's busy week includes food-and-drink activities like a blueberry eating contest and shares recipes for using the harvested blueberries in their cooking. As part of the farm experience, they also engage in gardening activities like daily visits to Blueberry Hill to pick produce, tend to the garden, and combat garden pests. They take pride in the variety of produce their garden yields, which extends beyond blueberries to include items like cucumbers, tomatoes, figs, and pumpkins. In this season, the speaker practices gratitude for the seeds, weather, and children's efforts that contribute to their bountiful garden.
