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What's On: Berry Farms

ONGOING

Strawberries - A rose by another name?

All across southern Ontario, the heartier among us are breaking out the sunscreen, bug juice and floppy hats for what many consider the official start of summer: pick-your-own strawberry season.

Arguably the most fragrant of the summer berries, the strawberry is actually part of the rose family (along with apples and plums) and belongs to the genus Fragraria (Latin for fragrant). While they may smell as sweet, however, their situation on bushes that grow close to the ground in the full heat of the sun makes harvesting them a definite labour of love.

For those of you who've never done it, strawberry picking is not a walk in the park. Ask anyone who's spent a morning hunched over a berry bush with the sun beating down on their neck and they'll tell you. Spending a little more to buy them at the gate is certainly the easier and less arduous option. But devotees of this annual pastime swear that the rewards completely outweigh the effort.

Not only do you save money by harvesting the fruit yourself, but there's an ancient rhythm to be found in the systematic picking on hands and knees and a sense of bliss made up of the smell of the berries, the buzzing of the bees and the warmth of the sun. Above all, anyone who's ever picked a still-warm berry and popped it in their mouth agrees: there is no taste like it in the world. Like food you've cooked yourself over an open fire, berries you've picked yourself just taste better somehow.

So if you've never picked your own, why not give it a try this year? Don't know how? Take a look at "How to Pick Strawberries" for all the tricks of the trade. Don't know where to go? That's easy. Just keep reading for a list of pick-your-own berry farms found right here in the Kawarthas. Don't know when to go? That's always the tricky part. The best time for berry picking season depends on the weather and crop conditions vary year to year. To avoid disappointment, make sure you call the farm first to confirm hours as well as crop availability and conditions. Happy picking!

Ongoing Events

Ongoing

Berry Picking: Pre-picked and pick-your own strawberries and raspberries at Buckhorn Berry Farm (3055 Berrie Road, Lakefield, K0L 2H0). Buckhorn Berry Farm is the new name of Caza Berry Farm and under new ownership. Ben, Sam, Erin and Jane McLean and Jenny Riley are the proud new owners of the Farm. They plan to carry on the great tradition of Caza Berry Farm including the Pumpkin Festival. Enjoy strawberries, raspberries, beans, currants, tomatoes and more. Pick-your-own hours are weekdays from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Call (705) 657-8888 for conditions, starting June 21.