U Pick Treats Make Island Summers Sweet

One of the unmistakable signs of summer around here is the seemingly endless selection of delicious local fruit and veggies.

If there’s nothing you’d like better than to have a fridge full of local uber-fresh delicacies — You could head out to local farms and pick some yourself. It’s an awesome way to get the whole family out and gets your kids in touch with nature.

We went Tuesday evening to check out a farm off of Beckwith Drive, just past Beckwith Park that I had heard had blueberries. The farm was easy to access, so close to town and had plenty of delicious blueberries ready for picking!

Brent and Lisa have been farming blueberries at this farm for three years now, and have a beautiful rural spot right in the middle of the city. If you’d like to pick some yourself they’re open for picking Saturdays from 9am-12pm and Tuesday evenings 5pm-8pm through July. Give them a call for more info at 250-883-7879. We ate handfuls of them all the way home — luckily only a 2 minute drive…Now we’ve got berries for days!

Tips for U-Pick from Island Farm Fresh:

Picking your own fresh berries or your Halloween pumpkin is another great reason to visit local farms. Here are some tips for your rural ramble:

• Call before you head out. Make sure the farm is open and picking is good.
• Bring the kids if you want – but please leave your pets at home.
• Morning is a better time of day for picking (cooler).
• Cash and carry. Bring cash and your own buckets for berries.
• Please sample berries after you’ve picked and paid for them

Here’s some names and numbers of farms that you might want to get picking at from Island Farm Fresh (full printable list here):

U-Pick Farms 2016: Southern Vancouver Island Direct Farm Marketing Association
Please remember… Call ahead to confirm picking times and costs. Bring your own buckets and cash, but
please leave your pets at home. Dress appropriately for the weather conditions and wear proper footwear

Blackberries (thornless)

• Rosemeade Farms  — Central Saanich 250-652-1862
• Cowichan Bay Raspberries — Cobble Hill 250-743-2094

Blueberries

• Brent & Lisa Hoeppner’s Farm – 1018 Beckwith Drive (through the gate at the end of the road) 250-883-7879
• Arbor Blueberry Farm — Central Saanich 250-704-0053
• Marsh Farm — Central Saanich 778-678-4558
• Northbrook Farm — Central Saanich 250-652-9035
• Phil’s Farm — Saanich 250-652-2264
• Stewart’s Berry Patch — Central Saanich 250-652-6768

Lavender

• Marsh Farm — Central Saanich 778-678-4558

Loganberries

• Heritage Farm — Saanich 250-479-4769
• Cowichan Bay Raspberries — Cobble Hill 250-743-2094

Raspberries

• Dan’s Farm — Central Saanich 250-652-9100
• Heritage Farm/Starling Lane Vineyard — Saanich 250-479-4769
• Marsh Farm — Central Saanich 778-678-4558
• Oldfield Orchard & Bakery — Central Saanich 250-652-1579
• Phil’s Farm — Saanich 250-652-2264
• Rosemeade Farms — Central Saanich 250-652-1862
• Cowichan Bay Raspberries — Cobble Hill 250-743-2094

Strawberries

• Dan’s Farm — Central Saanich 250-652-9100
• Guite’s Farm — Central Saanich 250-208-5130
• Marsh Farm — Central Saanich 778-678-4558
• Oldfield Orchard & Bakery — Central Saanich 250-652-1579
• Rosemeade Farms — Central Saanich 250-652-1862
• South Island Saskatoons — Cobble Hill 250-743-7475

Vegetables

•  Marsh Farm — Central Saanich 778-678-4558

Mel Z – Middays 10am – 3pm on Ocean 98.5