Blueberries - Eat Your Fill

Emerald and Jewel varieties mixed

Wednesday, April 17th, found me picking blueberries in the fields of  Lake Catherine Blueberries (a conventional farm that uses no chemicals or pesticides on the plants from blossom to fruit stages, located in Groveleland).   Their season officially opened on Monday so let's just say it was blueberry picking abbondanza!

Normally, I don't remember to go picking until the season is darn near over, and the heat has descended, so this year I am ahead of the curve.  Yes.  I Love it.

I was lucky enough to run into the folks from L.C.B at the Lakeside Inn Streetpalooza last Sunday where they had a booth set up.  They participate in approximately 10 farmer's markets around Central Florida including the Sunday Market in Mount Dora. And the Audubon Park Community Market in Orlando, right next to Stardust, which has been on my list of markets to get to for a while now.  Monday night 6-10 people, let's go! Hey, did you know...they do a farm visit for all of their farmers?  Everyone who sells at Audubon is actually and certifiably a local farmer.  Amazing attention to detail, folks, all for our benefit.  Go. Support.  

On Wednesday the weather was very warm (hi 90), but I got there in the morning by 10 a.m.  There was a light breeze, the sun was shining (so hat and sunscreen were definitely required), the birds were singing and I had my whole row of picking to myself.  I went out about 10 rows or so away from the main shop area, tucked my ipod headphones into one ear, and started picking.  I always bring a rope to hang the bucket across my chest, leaving both of my hands free, so I was ready for some serious picking.

hello, little friend

Ok, seriously.  Serious picking?  Who am I trying to kid, here?  The blueberries were so abundant and lovely, wonderful, and inspiring that mostly what I did was stroll the row, chatting with bumble bees, trying to take pictures of the occasional anole, taking pictures of (and eating my fill of) blueberries.  Oh, yes, and picking. My Ipod was playing Ray LaMontagne and The Avett Brothers, Todd Snyder, a little bit of The Duhks, and a bunch of others and the whole day started to feel like a folk festival.  I was getting that feeling, that festival feeling, just stirring in my bones.  Outdoor music, being outside, peaceful times, there's nothing like it.

take this bucket and fill it up to
the top and you will have
5 1/3 pounds of
blueberries.
Happy happy happy

I ended up picking 5 1/3 pounds of blueberries that day, and right now...just 4 days later, I have a bowl the size of a teacup on my counter that is filled with what remains from that day of picking.  It's been blueberries for breakfast, after lunch, after dinner, snacking in between, sharing with friends (ok, seriously, not much...let's not think that's the cause of the disappearing blueberries).  There is such freedom picking this early....knowing I can just eat my fill and go again!  I never even put the bowl of blueberries in the fridge, just left it on the counter and filled a bowl to eat them whenever I wanted to.  I will say this... little comment... not dwelling... but it's a great time of year for a natural cleanse. There. All done.

I planned on writing a bunch of interesting facts about Lake Catherine Blueberries but I found a blog that hits all the pertinent information (varieties, details, growing info, what else they make and sell, etc) in a lovely way.  So, I'll refer you to Terri Truscello's blog, Love and Confections.  Terri's wonderful blog is dated for the day that I was there, serendipitous timing in my mind. Go on now, go check it out.

oh, the soft, lovely colors

One surprise for me was how absolutely beautiful these blueberries are.  I was wishing I had brought my watercolors.  The range of colors I saw Wednesday was so lovely, from a soft white-ish green, to yellow the color of soft papaya, to a mango rose.  Not to mention the blues.

 It was really a very wonderful, inspiring experience to be there.

I loved picking at Lake Catherine Blueberries, they have obviously worked very hard, and still do, to make the blueberry picking experience a really good one.  From the playground, to the clear wide rows of blueberries, and the extra items for purchase (can you say blueberry honey, yum) it's a great place to go.

Now if I could just find a good festival.....