The Bovine Bugle

It's blueberry-picking time in northern Vermont!

We were coming home from church in nearby Enosburg when we noticed a sign for blueberries at the local orchard in Franklin. Vallaincourt's Orchard is mainly in the apple business, but for several years now they have had pick-your-own blueberries. We stopped in to pick a few pounds and to see how the crop was shaping up. Chris said because of all the rain the crop was excellent, and after picking a gallon bucketful in no time at all, we had to agree.

Karen, Justin, Noah, and I headed back to the orchard a few days later to pick enough blueberries to freeze for use through the fall and winter. Karen likes to freeze blueberries on cookie sheets and store them in plastic tubs. This way she can easily take out just what she needs for whatever she needs them for (I root for blueberry pie). The picking was even better today. We picked almost 20 pounds of blueberries in the same amount of time it took us to pick 6 pounds the other day. Justin did a great job picking, and Noah, well, he picked for a little while and then took refuge in the shade of a large blueberry bush.

Picking blueberries was a fun break from the chores on the farm, and it's nice to do business with another local farmer in our town. I like to support local businesses whenever possible, hoping people in the area will do the same for me. I know people who drive across the border into Quebec to pick blueberries because it is cheaper, but I would rather support someone right in my hometown even if I have to spend a little more to do it.

--Jonathan, Howmars Farm
Franklin, Vermont

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Posted by Blogger Chris at August 4, 2004 11:28 AM