Oh, it’s a blue Sunday, Rural Sprout Readers!
I’m going to keep this newsletter short and sweet. I’ve been out to my local berry farm picking blueberries several times this week. I’ve got 12 quarts of blueberries that need to be frozen, jammed, made into a shrub, eaten straight from the bucket, made into mead and whatever other blueberry treats I can think of.
I think Sundays are a great day for blueberry waffles, don’t you?
My friends and I were out yesterday, picking until our fingers were stained purple. And I easily cleared three quarts for every one of theirs. My one friend said, “How do you pick so fast?” I don’t know. It’s just how I’ve always picked.
And then it occurred to me.
Yes, that’s correct; it’s how I’ve always picked. Because ever since I was a small girl, I would go berry picking with my grandmother each summer. Boy, you better believe she was good at keeping small grandchildren on task. She was a retired 4th-grade teacher.
She meant business when we went into the strawberry field or the blueberry bushes at the local pick-your-own place. We were there to fill our baskets, not our stomachs. We were there to fill our baskets and get back home so we could make jam. You didn’t dare sneak a berry or two under her watchful eye.
She was stern, no-nonsense kind of woman who worked hard to take care of her family and community.
My dad is always fond of telling the story of the time he ran away from home. He spent the night in the woods and came back the next morning, belly grumbling. He was sure my grandma would be worried sick about him and sorry for punishing him for whatever mischief he’d gotten up to in the first place.
He stepped hopefully into the kitchen and was met with, “Where’ve you been? The pigs didn’t get fed last night!”
This matriarch of our family passed on her industrious nature to all of her grandchildren. So, when it comes to berry picking (and plenty of other things), I’m there to fill my basket and get home. I’ve got work to do!
Keep your eyes peeled on the website, I’ll have some fun and interesting blueberry recipes coming your way. And since we’re on the subject of berries…
10 Fantastic and Unusual Strawberry Recipes that go Beyond Jam
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Everyone loves strawberry jam, but after about eight jars, you kind of start wishing for something else. I’ve wrangled ten great strawberry recipes to make when you just can’t stomach another bowl of shortcake.
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How to Stop Your Herbs & Vegetables from Bolting
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It’s that time of year again, things are heating up, and some veggies in your garden are starting to look pretty leggy. Are those flowers I see? Lindsay has some great tips on how to keep your vegetables from bolting too soon.
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Is it Ready Yet? 30 Common Vegetables & When to Harvest Them
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And as the season progresses, it’s time to start harvesting! I think. Maybe. Are those beans ready yet? When can I pick that eggplant? The carrots are underground? How can I tell when they’re ready? This is your ultimate guide on when to pick 30 different vegetables.
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That's all for this week, Rural Sprout Readers.
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