Tired of the local playground? Families looking to entertain little ones in hands-on activities where they can get their wiggles out, look no further! Pick-Your-Own events are special days on small farms where you can head out into the fields and pick your own produce. Often, farms will provide photo-ops, food trucks, beer gardens, and even opportunities for little ones to feed, pet, or simply observe farm animals like chickens, goats, and even llamas! These events provide much-needed revenue for small farmers, you get to take home delicious, fresh produce, and the whole family gets out of the house and into the sunshine. It’s a win-win-win! Here are some types of events to seek out:
Spring: Berry Festivals, Tulips, Daffodils, Foraging
In April, May, and early June, strawberry fields and early-blooming flowers like tulips and daffodils come to life! Small farms often hold festivals to kickoff the harvest or growing season, which can include fun extras like live music, food vendors, and beer gardens. Some farms even sell live plants, so you can take a piece of the farm home with you! Depending on your location, spring is the start of the foraging season as well. Get the whole family together for gorgeous photo ops in fields of flowers at locations like Holland Ridge Farms in Cream Ridge, NJ.
Have a look on Facebook and your community board to check out Morel-hunting events (Morels are an easily identifiable mushroom, a great way for beginners to get into identifying and harvesting wild mushrooms), as well as collecting Ramps (a delicious cousin of garlic) and fiddle-head ferns (these fronds are harvested just before they stretch out of their tight spiral, and taste like asparagus). Be sure to ask what supplies you should bring, such as your own shears to cut flowers, or your own containers for picked produce.
Summer: Berries, Veggies, Stone Fruit, and Dahlias
Early summer is when blueberry season kicks off in the mid-Atlantic, and events such as Hammonton, NJ’s Blueberry Festival are a great way to get up close and personal with the way the food we eat is produced. Take a tour of a blueberry farm, head into the fields to pick your own, or enjoy the festival and buy cheap berries by the crate or flat! Deeper into July and August, you’ll find farms offering pick-your-own zucchini, tomatoes, cucumbers, and other high-summer veggies. Stone fruit, such as peaches, apricots, and nectarines are also in season at this time. Small farms often offer heirloom varietals that are packed with flavor, but often don’t travel well and so are not found in chain groceries.
PYO flowers popular in August are dahlias, lilies, and in some locations early sunflowers. If you are lucky enough to know someone with a PawPaw tree, ask if you can indulge in this delicious, tropical-flavored fruit native to North America. This fruit doesn’t travel well, and is not sold in stores anywhere. It can be found in USDA plant zones 5 through 8.
Autumn: Apples, Pumpkins, Sunflowers
Apple picking is a classic, family-friendly Fall activity. Farms like Fishkill Farms in Fishkill, NY offer rare varietals of organic apples that you won’t find in any grocery store! Take a hayride to the pumpkin patch, and round off the afternoon with a flight of hard cider for the grownups and a half-dozen apple cider doughnuts fresh from the fryer.
Pick-Your-Own events and farm festivals are wonderful ways to spend time outdoors, teach kids about where their food comes from, and have some good, old-fashioned fun.
