You Had Me At Blueberries

My son and I have been picking blueberries together since he was just a few weeks old… well, he was with me in his Ergobaby carrier.  We used to live close to a blueberry farm in Port Alberni BC, but hadn’t been out picking together since we moved to the mainland.  Klaassen Farms in Chilliwack was well worth the drive from our South Surrey home.

Blueberries | Klaassen Farms Picnic

Klaassen Farms in Chilliwack:

Klaassen Farms U-Pick Farm is found at  51211 Chilliwack Central Road, only a few short minutes off of the highway. It’s a family owned and operated blueberry farm offering fresh and delicious locally grown BC Blueberries. Their farm is the perfect spot for a family outing; they have picnic tables, shade and plenty of blueberries to be picked for only $1.50 per pound.

• Organic Spray is used on all the plants and berries.
• 6 We-Pick Stands in Chilliwack and Hope for $2.50 pound.

Website: http://chilliwackblueberries.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chilliwackblueberries/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chilliwackblueberries

So here’s why we loved our visit:

1. It’s Great To Get Quality Family Time

There’s something special about taking a road trip with the family, putting the phones away and getting out in nature.  Blueberry picking has become an annual tradition for us, and we both love working on this project together with the daunting large box that’s waiting to be filled with berries.  Yes, it takes time, but the blueberries DO add up, with focused effort and lots of teamwork.

Blueberry Bush

Life Lessons in the Blueberry Field

I unexpectedly received some life-advice when out in the field. At first, we were running around the field, being silly, and only picking the HUGE berries before moving on to another bush.

There was a First Nations man about my dad’s age picking nearby, who had arrived at about the same time as we did. His box was almost full, while ours had just a few berries in it. We asked him what his secret was.

He said “You have to slow down. Put the box down and use two hands. Start with one bush and pick every single blue berry off of it before moving on. The small ones taste just as good as the big ones.”

We tried this new technique and it WORKED. Thank you.

Blueberry Fields | Klaassen Farms

2. It’s A Peaceful + Scenic Picnic Spot

After a successful hour of picking berries, we enjoyed a picnic in the field. We enjoyed meat, cheese, bread and macaroons… and I had some wine from local Chilliwack Whispering Horse Winery.  It kind of felt like we were at a fancy French vineyard or something. Oui, Oui.

Family Picnic Time

Picnic Spread | Whispering Horse Winery

Family Picnic | Whispering Horse Winery Chilliwack

Hello There! Picnic at the Farm

3. There’s Lots of Space for Kids to Run Around

Anyone who has kids knows that they need to get their sillies out… especially when on a bit of a road trip! I MAY have created a game that involved my son running to the end of the row and back again several dozen times while I enjoyed a few moments of peace and quiet.  Guilty. A mom’s gotta do what mom’s gotta do.

Blueberries | Kid Laughing

Lots of Space at Klaassen Farms

Moment of Peace and Quiet

4. There’s Freshly Made Baking + Local Gifts

Mmmm! The barn on the property offers a stylish showcase of freshly made muffins, scones, jams, and locally made gifts.

Freshly Baked Blueberry Muffin

Blueberry Muffin

Klaassen Farms Barn

Chilliwack Blueberry Jam

Chilliwack Blueberries | Klaassen Farms

5. There’s Endless Yummy Blueberries, Of Course!

They taste better when you pick them yourself! I swear, this is based on research! Ha ha.

We were so proud with our full box, and brought it home to my hubby who had been working and pointed out that our day was a lot more fun than his was. We shared the blueberries with him for dessert that evening, and our fridge is full for snacking and our freezer is full for morning smoothies. I also love mixing a handful of fresh blueberries into a bowl with Greek yogurt and whey protein powder for a healthy + quick meal!

Chilliwack Blueberries

Klaassen Farms Blueberries

Recipe:

My friend Catherine offered me this yummy looking recipe for “Poudding Aux Bluets”, which can be found here. 

Caught Red Handed… or Should I Say Blue Handed?

He couldn’t resist sneaking a few berries while he picked.

Sneaking a Blueberry | Klaassen Farms

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post but opinions are my own. 

I want to hear from you! Did we miss anything? What are your favourite things about blueberry picking?

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