Head Out to the Farm!

One of my favorite activities, any time of year, is heading out to my favorite local farms. Most of you are familiar with blueberry picking in Michigan during the early Summer months and apple picking in the fall but did you know that many farms offer a "pick your own" option on almost anything you could want? Fruits, vegetables, eggs, gourds, berries, flowers, etc... I'm not saying that anytime you need green beans or lettuce to head there but for a fun outing with friends or family or even for a lovely day by yourself, the farm is a great option. You might be wondering where you can find pick-your-own farms and of course I have the answer. At www.pickyourown.org you can find a farm for just about anything. The site is organized by state which is then broken down by region and county. There is also an option to search by product, meaning if you want to head out to a beautiful dahlia farm for an afternoon date, you simply search "Dahlia." It's that easy. Users of the site will post updates, informing other's of specials, farms that have closed and changes to any information posted. I do encourage you to call before going to see how the crops are doing, if they are open the day you plan on going and any other information you may need (is it muddy? are children allowed/encouraged to come? what are the prices? etc...) I tend to go overboard, which to me is the best way to go. Less is never more. The produce is at the freshest and usually best you can find so in that mentality I pick more than I can eat and preserve the rest for use in the winter. If this sounds like something you'd like to do, the website also offers plenty of canning recipes and tips. Make sure to follow proper canning techniques so your work, time and money are not wasted. There is nothing more saddening than opening a can of blackberry jam in December to discover a moldy top. A pressure canner is the best way to go but there are many recipes that can be properly sterilized and sealed in a water bath. So explore www.pickyourown.org for local farms near you for an incomparable summer activity.