Our frozen blueberry stash was not replenished this July as in years past. To remedy this situation I have been hunting for an opportunity and location to pick berries.
The timing worked out this past weekend when we were visiting family in the near-Dayton area. Searching through PickYourOwn.org revealed Berryhill Farm south of Xenia Ohio. We made plans to stop there before lunch at The Winds in Yellow Springs and dinner with relatives.
Picking at a new farm is always a bit of a risk. Will the fruit be tasty and low chemical? People friendly? Prices reasonable?
Berryhill delightfully exceeded expectations. Blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries were all abundant, ripe, and extraordinarily tasty. Signs labeled the bushes pesticide free, which I have to believe based on the diversity of plant and insect life in the field.
The fields were very well maintained with wide rows for easy picking. Blackberries and raspberries were trellised up off the ground. There were only two other parties picking last Saturday morning. Even with many families the spacious farm would not seem crowded.
The Elliot blueberry variety planted at Berryhill is relatively small in form, yet easy enough to pick with a little stooping. It actually is the perfect variety to tag-team as a parent-child group where the child sits on the ground below picking the low fruit and an adult can stand over gathering berries from above.
In less than an hour's time we picked eight pounds of blueberries and three pints of raspberries for a total of around $20. Cash and checks are accepted. Pre-picked berries and a small variety of other fruits are also available as are raw honey and ice cold water.
Berryhill has abundant parking and a friendly staff. They are lacking public restrooms. If you are traveling a distance in the heat of summer it's a good idea to bring a cooler with ice to keep your berries fresh on the way home. From our home in Clintonville, we arrived at Berryhill in just under and hour. They are just 20 minutes from Dayton or Yellow Springs.
Raspberries and blackberries should be in season for another three weeks or more. Blueberries are likely to only last through the next week.
Lillian, our almost five year old, summarized the trip well: "The blueberries are very yummy there."
This post was added to Two for Tuesdays.