Blueberry Picking

Today we went blueberry picking. Our excursion helped enhance our literature reading of Blueberries For Sal by Robert McCloskey. Yes school is technically over but learning never ceases here at Random Uttering.

In preparation for our trip we reread the book the night prior.  I won’t spoil the book for you. But, I asked the boys if they thought we’d see bears on our outing.  Christopher quickly replied “I sure hope not.” This was the perfect time to remind the boys we should stay together and not wander away from the group.  We lost Joshua for a few minutes but found him happily eating crackers in the farm store. Whew!

The boys were hoping to hear the kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk sound of berries hitting the bottom of our basket.  Unfortunately our baskets were wicker but we rejoiced hearing the berries fall into our basket either way.  Christopher declared, “I know why we aren’t hearing the kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk sound, its because our baskets aren’t metal.  Great observation!

Emmanuel ate every berry he picked. His berries never made it into his basket.  They were picked right off the vine and put directly into his mouth. 

We had a great time but the Texas heat quickly got the better of my younger two.  Joshua laid down in the dirt and would not get up no matter how I pleaded. 

Emmanuel had a hard time as well but was a better trooper than Joshua.  If we ever go berry picking again we will go early in the morning, before the heat of the day.

Berry picking is not hard but I will never look at a blueberry the same.  The next time I see a package of blueberries I’ll remember the hard work and sweat that we put in for our bucket of berries.  I can only imagine what the slaves went through carrying small children on their backs while picking the crop in the hot heat.  My mind also thought of the migrant farmers that travel around picking crops so that I can have produce at my local grocery store.  My hats off to you.

Now, I’m off to find blueberry recipes.