So, we were sad this winter when it didn't snow (after Halloween that is...). We never got to put on our heavy coats and we didn't have a single solitary snow day home from school. We did get to play outside, but we missed out on the entire season of winter.
We didn't realize, however, that the mild winter was going to lead to a fantastic spring. Here at home I planted a tomato (as Brad protested) nearly a full month before the last average frost (and we did have to cover it a couple of times, but it never did freeze again...). Our garden is well beyond where it is in normal years. AND... if our garden is doing well then those who know agriculture and how to actually grow things are doing smashingly. The farmer's market is already full (in mid-June!) of all kinds of summer produce. Hooray for summer!
AND... since summer came very early this year, so did the strawberries. On May 5th we headed out to the fields to pick buckets of ripe berries.
We always seem to have a baby with us when we go picking. Time to get started for strawberry picking 2014? (I don't think so...)
Mister W is our fruitarian child. If he could only ever eat fruit he would be a happy boy. Strawberry picking is one of his best things!
Miss L was really old enough to be a help this year picking the berries. I love sharing this with her.
We picked two big buckets of berries and made nine jars of jam, two jars of strawberry butter and two jars of syrup (that cooked too long and gelled and is no longer syrup but jelly). We didn't eat any of the ones we brought home thinking we'd go back for more. Of course, our lives sort of took over a bit and we never did get back to the farm for more berries. Ugh! We'll look forward to next year for sure. (and hope that next winter doesn't make up for this one...)
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