more melbourne moments – berry picking
2010
Something else we’ve never had before … local berry and fruit farms. Well – at least, not too far away. Whilst Abby’s much-loved friend Sacha was visiting, we trooped off to Yileen – an organic berry and fruit farm perched on the edge of the tiny village of Hallston, nestled deep in the beautiful Yarra Valley. It was quite the epic journey.
The mostly dirt road twisted up many hills, threaded its way past countless rolling fields of lush pasture, bales of hay and cows, and tumbled down, down, down into deep shady valleys. And we got lost. Of course we did! Stalled under a huge tree, aside the Hallston Community Hall, we gave up on the GPS and called Farmer Jenny for advice.
In lovely country style, directions were provided with good humour and warmth, and within minutes we found ourselves over our heads in berry canes and bushes. Belted Galloways (I think that’s what they were called – cows that is) grazed in the fields of MooGrass (Jenny’s husband’s side of the farm), roses scrambled over fences and climbed outbuildings, countless birds that I have only seen and heard in books and documentaries trilled amongst the trees, bees hummed to us as they vied for the sweetness of the berry bushes, and we picked buckets of lush, sun-warmed berries in the hot, hot sun. 38 degrees celsius. Boy was it hot, still and fragrant amongst those bushes. It was a magical sensation.
Good thing Farmer Jenny’s son makes organic ice creams with his mum’s berries. After we’d had our fill of berry picking and had the only ripe peach on the farm land at our feet, we sat in the cool of Yileen’s garden under a majestic Indian Bean Tree, where Jenny served us iced water and fresh icecream with berries on top and charmed us with her stories of life on the farm and their latest dear little grandson.
It was a goooooooood day. I cannot wait to return – and we have the low down on berry picking now. Early December for raspberries and mid-January for blackberries. Farmer Jenny advises we ring regularly to check ’cause each year, she has a platoon of local jam makers all poised and waiting for her beautiful berries to ripen. Once they come a-picking, they leave no stragglers!
After travelling to Yileen via Grand Ridge Road – a road that truly lives up to its name – Jenny suggested a different route home for its superior scenic qualities. We were doubtful this could be true, having spent the previous journey ooohing and aahing at every bend, but she was right. Our homeward trip was glorious and by the time we hit the motorway, all three of us were dreaming of our future as farmers. And after admiring so many cows, Abby’s even given up on beef.
She hasn’t, however, given up on enjoying the moment in that beautiful way that only children can. On the way home, she and Sacha had a riotous time painting their faces with berries. They ate the good ones and those that were a bit smooshed, were used as paint. They had several different looks – the 18th century French, the richly decorated tribal, and then the plain silly. Strangely enough, they didn’t want to get out of the car at the shops with their chins painted berry red.
We Boots enthusiastically recommend berry picking for a great day’s fun. What better way to celebrate the bounty and beauty of summer – and now we have a freezer full of yummy berries! :-) Thank you Farmer Jenny for sharing your glorious part of the world with us.
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Definately sounds fun!
Wow, I’m jealous. Here in Chagrin Falls, Ohio we’re just getting rid of 39 inches of snow and those berries look soooooo delicious!
I know (cause I heard them tweeting yesterday,) that spring is just around the corner and those robins will be waking me up in no time…but oh, those glorious raspberries!!!!!
Sounds like such a fun and yummy day!
I had to chuckle at the pictures of Abby and her painted face – so what I would have done at her age! My mother took us girls strawberry picking in Plant City as kids, annually for a few years. We’d pick, and eat, and pick, and eat, and by the end of the day our fingers would be stained oh-so-red. Then she’d bundle us tired, hot and somewhat cross girls back in the station wagon to ride 45 minutes home, where we’d get to help hull the berries while she made freezer jam. It was so good, my mouth is watering even now! I hope Abby made happy memories of this trip. I wish my mother had taken pictures of our outings – how nicely you’ve documented hers. Lovely!
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I have fond memories of berry picking, but it was blueberries. Wonderful photos of the countryside.
Debbie
These photos are gorgeous! Wish I had some sun-ripe berries right now, yum. Thanks for sharing – there’s nothing better.
Wow Lily, these photos are so gorgeous. It looks like a very fun and warm day had by all.
The photographs are lovely. So pastoral and lovely. Like a breath of fresh warm air. Love the berries! Yummy.
It’s freezing and wet here. Reading this post has been like a mini-vacation for me. Love the war paint especially!
It’s been snowing for days, here, so it does my heart good to see that at least it’s summer *somewhere*!
So glad you’re settling in at your new home, and making wonderful new memories.
So…beautiful summery pictures. I can feel the warmth. Abby looks beautiful all dressed up in her berries. Thanks for the essay on kids being kids. A lot to think about. You are one smart cookie!
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