Outdoor Summer Activities: Blueberry Picking!
Romanticize your life and live a little slower by planning a time to go blueberry picking!
Whether or not you have a garden, I highly recommend taking some time in the warmer months to grow a few things, or visit some local farms to pick your own produce! While I am 100% a supporter of weekly visits to the farmers market, partaking in harvesting the food you eat is the perfect way to slow down and romanticize your life, be more present, and to be a more active participant in the food that nourishes your body.
In this post you will find a few personal notes, reasons why you should plan a blueberry picking day, and some recipe ideas!
While it’s perfectly fine to do this alone so you can get a little lost in your thoughts, I think it’s much more fun to go blueberry picking with people you love! It’s an easy activity that get’s you out of the house, and you can catch up and enjoy conversation as you fill your baskets. Even better, pack a picnic and some drinks for when you want to take a break!
Alice picking blueberries in Franklin, Tennessee.
In case you need a little convincing, or if you just need some ideas for planning your own blueberry picking day:
Fresh air and vitamin D - Our bodies could all use more of this
A break from screens - Your mental health with thank me later
It’s often cheaper - Buying organic fresh fruit at the store is typically more expensive because you’re paying for the picking, the packaging, and the shipping
You can freeze them - Even if you don’t have the ability or time to eat them all fresh or bake with them, you can always portion them out and stick them in your freezer for later use
This would be a SUPER cute birthday or other celebratory event
Bring a camera and take photos! It’s a beautiful little spot for photos of each other and together
If you’re going solo, bring a book or journal and camp out on a blanket for a bit while enjoying the berries your picked
Bring plenty of water - it gets hot this time of year
Some blueberry recipe ideas to Google:
Blueberry lemon scones
Blueberry peach pie
Blueberry muffins
Blueberry cobbler
Blueberry jam or compote
Blueberry lemonade
Blueberry pancakes
Blueberry pop tarts
Blueberry sugar cookies
Blueberry lavender cookies
A sweet blueberry loaf
Salads including blueberries
Baked oatmeal with blueberries
Cocktails containing blueberries
Lemon bars with blueberries
As someone who grew up part-time on farms, I’ve been well aware for most of my life how much better fresh food tastes… especially when it’s been well-cared for and grown up in nutrient dense soil, avoiding the use of pesticides and fungicides. This was my first time going blueberry picking since I was a child. I can say with fully confidence that these are some of the best blueberries I’ve had in my whole life. I highly recommend planning your own blueberry picking day!