It was just a blueberry pickin’ kind of day, so we headed up the McKenzie River to one of our favorite farms, the McKenzie River Organic Farm. We have been picking here since my kids were little, and every year we look forward to visiting the enchanted looking cobb farmstand, petting the cows and pigs, saying hello to the chickens, picking giant juicy berries from bushes that would be more fittingly referred to as small trees, and getting a tasty homemade blueberry popsicle for the road. As farm experiences go, this one never leaves us disappointed. So, I made a couple of quiches for a picnic lunch, grabbed some friends, and we were off for adventure.
After a quick stop at the Leaburg Fish Hatchery to feed all the large trout and sturgeon and watch pools teeming with fry, we headed to the farm and got busy picking. They provide these great harnesses and buckets so you can use both hands to pull down those clusters of huge berries. Some of the old bushes are as tall as little trees, and you have to reach way up to get the biggest berries.
We took a break to visit the cows and pigs in the barn and the kids had a grand time getting slobbered on. Why this is entertaining for them, I will never know, but if getting slimed by a big pink cow tongue makes them happy, I say follow your bliss.
We had a full day of blueberry snacking.
And blueberry silliness.
And we picked buckets and buckets of berries to freeze for the winter. Normally I’ve had to make several trips to stock up each year, and this time I got all I needed in a few hours. The farmers said we came at just the right time. I love when it works out like that.
On our way home, we stopped for a dip in the river to cool off and enjoy the clear flowing waters of the McKenzie. The perfect ending to a day of summertime blues.
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