Blueberry Heaven

There’s a hidden gem nestled in the white mountains of New Hampshire where the plumpest, sweetest blueberries grow.  The fields are off the beaten path, down a tree-lined dirt road, then meandering through a narrow, bumpy driveway, making you wonder if you are lost! At the end of the drive, the space opens and beckons cars to park and stay awhile.  Under an awning are a series of picnic tables lined up end to end, holding cartons, covers, and bins for measuring blueberries.  Hanging on tent poles are old milk jugs with their tops cut off and rope strung through each side, making a clever gathering tool.  A quick peek ahead invites visitors to enter blueberry heaven – rows and rows of blueberry bushes chock-full of the bluest, roundest, most perfect blueberries on this earth.

Now that you’ve safely arrived at NH’s best kept secret, you may be asking yourself how do you actually pick these blueberries?  My advice is to keep it simple!

First, be sure that you consider the time of day for your visit.  Early morning is a fine time as the sun is not too hot and the bugs aren’t quite up and energized yet.  If this time doesn’t work with your schedule, then plan accordingly.  You will want to wear a hat and sunscreen to stay cool and safe from the sun.  Also, be sure your feet are covered as snakes love berries!  Since the lake is only a short ride away, I recommend that you take a nice dip before coming!  Then, get your hanging milk jug, put it around your neck and follow the directions for where to pick.  I like to pick up high or in the center of the bushes, looking for berries that have a little pink ring around their stems, meaning that they will be perfect for eating in a day or two.

After picking, place the berries into the jug, (it’s OK if some of them make it into your mouth instead of the jug – but don’t overindulge!)  When you get tired of picking from one bush, continue down the path and select a new bush to start picking.  You will know that your blueberry picking is winding down when your jug starts to tug at your neck because it gets full!  The final step is to head back up to the picnic tables and settle the bill by measuring out how many pints you picked in the plastic bins, and pay about $3/pint on the honor system.

I challenge you to make it home without tasting a sample of the blueberries!  These beautiful blues will accompany salads, blend into pancake batter, take center stage in a rustic tart, layer into yogurt parfaits, and simply be eaten straight out of the carton!  I can hardly wait to see the signs go up for picking season!