What to Do This Weekend: Save a Farmer, Pick a Berry

If you must buy fireworks, you will have to drive out of the city limits to score. So, I say you go south on 175 towards Athens where they are zillions of stands and, after you’ve wasted some money on some silly things that go pop in the night and scare the beejezus out of my sweet doggies, head east to Echo Springs Blueberry Farm in Murchison, Texas. It’s a great place for the whole family to pick your own Britewells and Texas Big Blues. Sunday, I picked a whole bucket ($12!) in less than an hour–the bushes are thick with ripe berries. Inside the store, they have fresh blueberry pies, jams, jellies, and all kinds of kitschy stuff for sale. This weekend they’re having a sale on rose bushes (yes, they have gorgeous Jackson & Perkins plants at less than wholesale). Here are a few helpful hints:

Wear socks or something other than sandals. Ants like blueberry plants.

Go early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Full sun will make your kids crabby.

Pick the middle to the top of the bush.

Go to a row and go all the way to the end and pick your way back to the farm house. I learned this lesson the hard way.

If you don’t go this weekend, go before the end of July. My freezer is full of berries. And that makes me happy. (Photography by Dick’s Pics)