A Berry Good Time – Berry Picking Creates Memories and Strengthens Family Bonds

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I grew up without grandparents and I often found myself wishing I could have known my grandmothers. Because of that, when I became a grandparent myself, I wanted to give my grandchildren the kind of memories I imagined I had missed as a child. One of my favorite activities with my own children has been berry picking. Berry picking creates memories and strengthens family bonds. Now that I am blessed with ten grandchildren, we all enjoy continuing that tradition. It's good exercise, good fun and good fresh food. It's a berry good time!

BUILD YOUR OWN BERRY-PICKING ADVENTURE

Recently, I took three of my granddaughters’ strawberry picking at Garners Farm & Market in Warsaw, Virginia. I wanted the outing to be relaxed and fun, so each granddaughter had her own bucket to fill. I stayed close to my youngest granddaughter, showing her how to gently twist the strawberry from the plant. On her first attempt, she nearly pulled the entire plant out of the ground! It was a sweet reminder that every new experience is a chance to learn.

The strawberry field was beautiful, easy to navigate, and filled with ripe berries ready for picking. I filled a bucket of my own to make sure we had enough strawberries for homemade jam.

A few years ago, I took some of my grandchildren blueberry picking, and they loved searching for the sweetest berries—and, of course, sampling a few along the way. We had a wagon then, and the younger children would sit in the shade of the tall blueberry bushes while picking berries from the lower branches. If you plan to sample berries in the field, it's always wise to know your grower and ask about their growing practices, including whether and if pesticides have been used.

Once our four buckets were full, we headed to the farm stand to weigh and purchase our strawberries. Garners was a wonderful destination because, in addition to the u-pick/pick your own fields and the market, it offered a children's play area and a small farm animal area for families to enjoy. While my granddaughters played, I browsed the selection of plants and fresh produce available for purchase.

If you're planning a berry-picking adventure, look for farms that offer family-friendly activities. You could even extend the day by packing a picnic and enjoy lunch on the farm or at a nearby park.

Once our four buckets were full, we headed to the farm stand to weigh and purchase our strawberries. Garners was a wonderful destination because, in addition to the u-pick/pick your own fields and the market, it offered a children's play area and a small farm animal area for families to enjoy. While my granddaughters played, I browsed the selection of plants and fresh produce available for purchase.

If you're planning a berry-picking adventure, look for farms that offer family-friendly activities. You could even extend the day by packing a picnic and enjoy lunch on the farm or at a nearby park.

PRESERVE THE PRODUCE AND FLAVORFUL MEMORIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

Here's a pro tip: Berry picking creates memories and strengthens family bonds throughout the year. How? Step 2!

Later in the day once we returned home, we made a delicious strawberry shortcake before beginning one of my favorite traditions—making homemade strawberry jam. Jar after jar preserved produce preserves the memories at breakfasts, holidays, as an ice cream topping during parties and more. There's something incredible about how God uses homemade savory flavors to enhance and strengthen our bond to family and our memories of cherished relationships and experiences. Every jar full is more than a tasty pleasure and fond memory. It is an opportunity to for us and our grandchildren to give thanks to God and pray for each other.

I like to keep my recipe simple and uncomplicated.

Simple Strawberry Jam

Ingredients

2 cups crushed fresh strawberries
5 cups granulated sugar
1 box (1.75 oz.) Sure-Jell pectin
3/4 cup water
Fresh-squeezed lemon juice (optional, to brighten the strawberry flavor). If you add extra lemon juice, you may want to reduce the water slightly to help the jam thicken properly.

Instructions

Wash, hull, and crush the strawberries using a potato masher or food processor.
In a saucepan, combine the Sure-Jell pectin and water. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly until the pectin is dissolved.
Stir the crushed strawberries into the pectin mixture, then gradually add the sugar, stirring until fully dissolved.
Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil and cook for one minute, stirring constantly.
Pour the hot jam into sterilized jars, leaving about 1/4 inch of headspace. Seal with lids and process in a boiling water bath for 5–10 minutes.
Allow the jars to cool completely before storing them in a cool, dark place.

We successfully canned nine jars of strawberry jam—a sweet reminder of a wonderful day spent together.

A HAND OF TRANQUILITY AND A HARVEST LIFESTYLE

Needless to say, our strawberry-picking adventure was a wonderful experience for all of us. We picked enough berries to enjoy strawberry shortcake, make homemade jam, a strawberry banana smoothie and still have a few fresh ones remaining to savor later. More importantly, we strengthened our family bonds and created memories that the Bible says my granddaughters will treasure for years to come.

in ripen - a gardening lifestyle magazine when we talk about "a hand of tranquility" we're talking about both God AND you. God's hand intervening and engaging in the garden work and experiences is not forceful or artificial. It's gentle, inviting, tranquil and it's natural.

Prepare for berry picking and other inter-generational family gardening activities with prayer - seeking God's hand to be present. You'll see how God makes a difference in the moment and how it produces a divine outcome for years to come. The harvest lifestyle isn't just about the fresh produce or even the berry good time. It's a spiritual transformation for grandchildren and you to live a more robust life in the future and into eternity.

I encourage you to create traditions that become generational blessings. Whether it's berry picking, gardening, preserving food, or simply spending time together outdoors, these shared experiences teach valuable skills while strengthening family bonds. The legacy of growing, harvesting, and enjoying good food is one that can be passed from one generation to the next.

So, find a local berry farm, gather the people you love, and enjoy a berry good time together.