A Bounty

Wednesday was a hot, hot day but I was sooo happy to get off the farm and get out into the berry patch. Yep! That's what I did with my day off the farm. Went berry picking! Oh what fun! OK, kinda sorta fun. The heat was pretty unbearable and since I burn like crazy I had to cover up completely. Nothing like sweltering in the sun all day! In all reality it isn't the picking I enjoy so much as the end results. These results were worth every minute!

These are fabulously delicious Saskatoon berries. They supposedly grow wild all the way from Alaska to Mexico but sadly I can never find any in our area so ended up going to a U-pick. Here's were the fun comes in. I don't like to pay for berries. I will go out of my way to find free or almost free items (I'm always surprised at the many people out there who grow fruit and then don't want it). If that doesn't work I will "work" for it. The lady at the U-pick was having trouble getting pickers this year. She pays $9 for every bucket you pick for her. I had no intention becoming one of her regular pickers as I can't stay out in the sun that long and I have way too much to do here on the farm. So, I asked her if I could pick enough berries for her to pay for what I wanted. She was more than happy to accommodate me so it worked out great for both of us. I can't wait to make Saskatoon pie and jam! If you've never had a Saskatoon pie you are truly missing out. Mountain Man can't get enough of it.

It  may not look like it but there are enough berries there to make 8 pies and 16 1/2 pint jars of jam. YUM! Can't you guess what I am doing today??

Now I'm wondering if maybe the Raspberries are ready! I know just the spot! Nothing seems to make me happier these days then preserving. I would love to hear about your plans for "putting up" the harvest.