One of life's simplest pleasures is to prepare a meal with the food you have harvested from the earth yourself. Although most of us do not own farms where we can do this, there are pick your own farms throughout the United States. An annual tradition in our family is to drive to one such farm, Miller Farms in Platteville, Colorado, for their Fall Harvest Festival. We started when the kids were preschoolers as more of an educational lesson, and even though they are now teenagers, they still enjoy the experience. It is a yearly reminder for the kids (and us) to see that the food at the local grocery store comes from the ground and not semis.
At the farm we visit, customers load up on long trailers pulled by tractors that carry them around a 180-acre farm to gather produce from a wide variety of crops. The entire route takes a a couple hours. The time out varies depending upon the length of time customers stay out on the fields.
At the farm we visit, customers load up on long trailers pulled by tractors that carry them around a 180-acre farm to gather produce from a wide variety of crops. The entire route takes a a couple hours. The time out varies depending upon the length of time customers stay out on the fields.
At each stop, everyone piles off with plastic bags supplied by the farm and loads up on the vegetables at that location. There are usually two to three different types of vegetables at each stop, including potatoes, carrots, onions, corn, tomatoes, squash, peppers, basil, and pumpkins. We have been doing for this more than ten years, and the produce we get each year is determined by the date we go. Sometimes we hit a certain vegetable at the perfect timing, while the next year those vegetables may be past their prime. It all depends on the time of the year and how well the crop has fared that year.
There are plenty of vegetables for everyone, and by the end of the route, sitting room on the trailers starts to overflow with produce.
When the ride is over, the farm provides wagons for customers to transport their bounties back to their cars.
If you are thinking of trying out a pick your own farm in your area, here are some tips.
Prep as much of the produce along the way, such as shucking the corn while waiting for others to return to the trailer or while moving between crops. This is an all day activity with driving to the farm, harvesting the food, and prepping the food when you return home. The more you can do before you get home, the happier you will be in the evening.
Prep as much of the produce along the way, such as shucking the corn while waiting for others to return to the trailer or while moving between crops. This is an all day activity with driving to the farm, harvesting the food, and prepping the food when you return home. The more you can do before you get home, the happier you will be in the evening.
You will get hungry. Bring snacks along for the ride, and if there is a picnic area available, bring a lunch to enjoy after the harvest. Have plenty of water on hand. Be aware you will get hot while working directly in the sun. We have done this for more than a decade, and each time those who were jeans were uncomfortable from the heat. If you are unsure, dress in layers. Also bring gardening gloves, a small gardening spade, and sunscreen.
Each farm charges different amounts. The farm we go to charges $20 a person (for those above 13) for the tractor ride, or $65 for a family of four. We always try to organize a group as the price for groups of ten or more is $15/person. We have gone with a wide array of people from preschool clubs and the Cub Scouts to groups of older neighbors. This is for all ages and a worthwhile experience for all.
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