Samantha Eroche
Growing up in rural Louisiana, summers were for snacking-off-the-vine. I remember planting tomatoes, eggplant, green beans, bell peppers, and cucumbers in the small garden by the house. We always had fresh aromatics as well: mint, basil, thyme, and–at one point–a four-foot-tall rosemary bush that prevented us from closing the screen door. Behind our house we grew a variety of citrus: satsumas, lemons, navels, cumquats, grapefruit, Louisiana sweets. Even further back, in the pasture, wild edibles grew, too. The thistle–a wild celery–was as high as my elbow, and honeysuckle–a sweet nectar–wrapped its delicate tendrils around the trees in which it lived. Then there were the days of pulling on black rubber boots, buckets in hand, ready to hike our way through the thorny blackberry bushes.
Growing older and into a world more urban and convenient, it’s easy to forget that rare delight of picking food from the branch. This year, as the air warmed into its growing season, I ventured out to two pastures of bounty—pick-your-own farms where all are invited to partake in the fruits of summer.
Samantha Eroche
Mrs. Heather’s Strawberry Farm
Albany, Louisiana
I arrived at Mrs. Heather’s and was greeted by a sweet stray dog whose wagging tail seemed an indication that I would have a great day. Walking up to the farm, I noted the thistle and honeysuckle growing on the side of the road and along the fence. It was a busy weekend at the heart of the strawberry season. Adults watched on as their children took to rustic swings and slides and an inflatable trampoline; others were getting button-sized strawberries painted on their faces (I’m sorry I didn’t get one, too). Across the property, other adults tried to keep up behind their eager strawberry-picking youngsters through rows and rows of bright red fruit, lightly coated in the sand upon which they grew. For owner Heather Hughes, this is the most rewarding part of working on the farm. “[I love] just being outside interacting with the kids and stuff when they come over, [seeing] the little faces on the kids and the people when they pick their strawberries.”
Growing older and into a world more urban and convenient, it’s easy to forget that rare delight of picking food from the branch.
I met Hughes as I was walking the property, making my way to a small shed selling food items: flats of strawberries, buckets for pick-your-own, ice cream, shortcake, chocolate-covered strawberries (these were some of the best I’ve had), smoothies, jam.
As someone who “grew up being outside,” Hughes has easily stepped into her husband’s family legacy of strawberry farmers. When I asked her what her favorite way to use the family fruit is, she offered sage advice: “[Strawberries] just don’t last. The best thing to do is to just go home and eat them!”
[Read more about the strawberry's history with Hungarian immigrants in Louisiana here.]
In addition to growing strawberries in the spring, Mrs. Heather’s also hosts a pumpkin patch in the fall. Hughes recommends keeping your pumpkins as dry and cool as possible so as not to ruin the skin. “With pumpkins,” she said, “as long as you don’t carve them or cut them open, they last a long time.”
To first time pickers, Hughes advises a simple: “Dress comfortably, bring a picnic or some snacks, and just stay and enjoy yourself,” and: “Don’t feel rushed.”
Samantha Eroche
Ridemore Farm
Covington, Louisiana
Perched on land that has been farmed by the same family since the 1940s, Ridemore Farm was revived by current owners Danny and Linda Prats in 2005 after years of abandonment. After retiring from corporate jobs, they sought to take up the hobbies they had once enjoyed, such as bike riding, wood working, and simply being outdoors—and opened the farm as a horse-boarding and berry-picking experience. Years later, their daughter Katherine followed suit, becoming the Marketing and Operations Manager. “[We] all feel a deep connection with this family land,” said Katherine.
Long rows of blueberries and blackberries grow here. It is quiet and picturesque, like a painting. In addition to their blueberries, the farm plants pick-able vegetables, varying from season to season. “Oh, and the vegetables will not look perfect since we don’t spray,” said Katherine. “That means that birds and insects can eat them, too. But they will taste better than what you can get at the supermarket.”
The farm is encircled by dozens of large trees and is home to a number of animals, such as horses, goats, chickens, cats, and dogs. “You can feed the horses and pet the goats,” Katherine said. “I’ve seen kids chasing chickens, but I don’t recommend trying to pet them,” she laughed. At Ridemore, gardeners without access to their own land can also take advantage of the farm’s garden rental service—which allows “tenants” to grow their own vegetables on the property.
It is quiet and picturesque, like a painting. In addition to their blueberries, the farm plants pick-able vegetables, varying from season to season.
When it comes to the blueberries, Katherine offered a few “care tips”: “Don’t wash them and subsequently freeze them [because] they’ll turn to rubber,” she said. “But if they are dry, freeze them for as long as you need them.”
Katherine said that she finds a great deal of joy in what she does on the farm with her parents. “We like the people we meet and being able to share the experience of farming with them,” she smiled. “The most rewarding and fun part of what we do is seeing people light up–especially their kids–when they realize where the blueberries and other produce come from.”
According to Katherine, first-time visitors should book a berry-picking reservation, arrive early, and take their time. “It’s important to get here between 7:30 and 8 am to get the best selection. Really, people come from all over to be here early and when the alarm rings, some actually run out to the field!”
