Summer is officially in its hey-day for me once I’ve had the chance to visit a farm and pick my own berries. I’ve been known to drag my kids to a U-Pick farm every weekend through August and September, and here are two of our favorite spots so far:
Stillpoint Farms
86915 Territorial Hwy, Veneta
Monday-Saturday, 10am-5am – open seasonally
Zac and Katie recently took over this farm (formerly known as Helping Hands) and I did sense the excitement of transition and new vision when we went to visit late in July. The set-up is super casual, yet very intentional.
There was something novel about meeting the young farmers right at our arrival and having them personally give us the rundown of the farm, what they’re growing, what’s currently best for picking, and what we ought to return for in future weeks. Their outdoor wooden farm stand, which boasts a few flats of picked berries, farm fresh eggs, homemade soap and local honey, is right at the entrance to the berry fields. Zac handed us each a bucket with ropes attached so we could enjoy the freedom of two-handed picking.
While we were hoping for raspberries, they were out for the day. So we harvested three pounds of blueberries instead. Berry bushes that are prime for picking are marked with reflective ribbon or CD’s each morning.
They are starting to grow all kinds of produce in their greenhouse (ask them about it) but for U-Pick berries, it starts with strawberries in May, then blueberries and raspberries in July, with all three berries being available in August and September. Blackberries are now ready too. Prices are very reasonable.
And yes, all their produce is Certified Naturally Grown – which is an “organic” certification that small, local farmers earn through a co-op of farmers across the U.S. In other words, no pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers ever used.
Detering Orchards
30946 Wyatt Drive, Harrisburg
Check website for events and seasonal hours
I had no idea one could pick fresh peaches in Oregon. But, I got to do this at Peach Daze (August 1-3, 2014) at Detering Orchards, and it was a quintessential orchard experience.
While we were there primarily to harvest the peaches (only $1.25/lb), there was also a Vintage Festival with vendors selling all sorts of Pinterest-y treasures. We also sampled the farm’s fresh pressed cold apple cider and perused their farm stand store for locally made snacks and goods as well as all kinds of produce that they grow on their farm. One farmer took us on a 30-minute hay ride and in that time we only covered small portion of their vast farmland. He plucked a couple of ripe peaches for us from the trees as we tractor-ed on through the orchard rows.
I will be returning for Apple Daze which occurs every weekend in October. So much goes on and grows at Detering Orchards, so visit their website to figure out when you’d like to visit.
I know we all have our own U-Pick farm near and dear to our hearts, so please comment and share your favorite place in Lane County...especially if any farm is still doing raspberries!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christy Rice is a mom to two great boys. They love to explore all that Lane County has to offer & share their adventures with GoMomGo.
Stillpoint Farms
86915 Territorial Hwy, Veneta
Monday-Saturday, 10am-5am – open seasonally
Zac and Katie recently took over this farm (formerly known as Helping Hands) and I did sense the excitement of transition and new vision when we went to visit late in July. The set-up is super casual, yet very intentional.
There was something novel about meeting the young farmers right at our arrival and having them personally give us the rundown of the farm, what they’re growing, what’s currently best for picking, and what we ought to return for in future weeks. Their outdoor wooden farm stand, which boasts a few flats of picked berries, farm fresh eggs, homemade soap and local honey, is right at the entrance to the berry fields. Zac handed us each a bucket with ropes attached so we could enjoy the freedom of two-handed picking.
While we were hoping for raspberries, they were out for the day. So we harvested three pounds of blueberries instead. Berry bushes that are prime for picking are marked with reflective ribbon or CD’s each morning.
They are starting to grow all kinds of produce in their greenhouse (ask them about it) but for U-Pick berries, it starts with strawberries in May, then blueberries and raspberries in July, with all three berries being available in August and September. Blackberries are now ready too. Prices are very reasonable.
And yes, all their produce is Certified Naturally Grown – which is an “organic” certification that small, local farmers earn through a co-op of farmers across the U.S. In other words, no pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers ever used.
Detering Orchards
30946 Wyatt Drive, Harrisburg
Check website for events and seasonal hours
I had no idea one could pick fresh peaches in Oregon. But, I got to do this at Peach Daze (August 1-3, 2014) at Detering Orchards, and it was a quintessential orchard experience.
While we were there primarily to harvest the peaches (only $1.25/lb), there was also a Vintage Festival with vendors selling all sorts of Pinterest-y treasures. We also sampled the farm’s fresh pressed cold apple cider and perused their farm stand store for locally made snacks and goods as well as all kinds of produce that they grow on their farm. One farmer took us on a 30-minute hay ride and in that time we only covered small portion of their vast farmland. He plucked a couple of ripe peaches for us from the trees as we tractor-ed on through the orchard rows.
I will be returning for Apple Daze which occurs every weekend in October. So much goes on and grows at Detering Orchards, so visit their website to figure out when you’d like to visit.
I know we all have our own U-Pick farm near and dear to our hearts, so please comment and share your favorite place in Lane County...especially if any farm is still doing raspberries!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christy Rice is a mom to two great boys. They love to explore all that Lane County has to offer & share their adventures with GoMomGo.
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