Farm Fresh Goodness

It' time t visit the farms as late June melts into early July Summer is the season for all things fresh and handpicked. What better than harvesting them yourself at the local farms in your area. It's also a fun way of getting the kids away from their Play Stations . You can start with strawberry season which is right now and work your way though the second raspberry season in mid September.

One of the first things you can do is Google what farms are in your area.I've mentioned this in one of last summer's posts. Mostly every state has some kind of farm with some kind of festival too.How you pick depends on the farms. Most give you pails or baskets and you pay by them. Some have an entry fee which is minimal. Others such as our great Delicious Orchards here in New Jersey come with a store where you can by other food stuffs such as fresh baked goods, cheeses and even meats. Their produce is usually from the gardens and orchards around it.

If you do decide to go any kind of fruit o veggie picking make sure you're prepared. Wear a protective straw hat to keep out the sun's strong rays. Also bring along plenty of sunblock an lip balm as well. Wear a comfy old shorts and a tee and make sure you have comfortable sneakers . I wouldn't recommend flip flops because your heels and ankles may get cut up by thorns or rocks. Bring plenty of water too. Picking is thirsty work and you want to keep hydrated.Also bring a rain poncho if the weather is looking cloudy or there are storms predicted.

This is the time to get out to your farms and enjoy their bounty. You can literally enjoy the cream of the crop. It makes for both healthy and delicious eating!!