Blueberry Picking – Week 10 of 52 Weeks of Experiences

By
Elena @ Every Avenue Life
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15
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Blueberry Picking – Week 10 Of 52 Weeks Of Experiences

 

If you haven’t joined our 52 Weeks of Toddler/Preschooler Experiences and explored all the ways you can have fun together, check out this post and then this post.

WEEK 9 – Blueberry Picking

To see all our experiences, click here

Blueberry Picking – Week 10 Of 52 Weeks Of Experiences

 

Blueberry Picking – Week 10 Of 52 Weeks Of Experiences

 

Last week I posted about Daily Mom recruiting new contributors. The response was so overwhelming that I almost forgot to blog about this with all the work I had to do. {Literally I have not done anything but respond, answer questions and set up all week and I usually get good 8 hours of work between Lexi’s nap, what hubby gives me and how late I stay up at night. So to me it seems like it’s been a month, not just a week.}

Anyways, this  was one of the more fun and completely new and unexpected experiences for Lexi. For about a week, I’d been telling her that we will have a “fruit picking day“. She loves that episode of Daniel Tiger and was very excited when she heard we’d be going on a Fruit Picking Day, listing all the fruits she would pick. I love when we are able to connect an experience with one of her favorite characters, books or shows – it makes a huge difference in her level of interest.

On our way home from our monthly Orlando trip, I quickly looked up some organic farms in the area (there are a lot of them in middle Florida) and since she fell asleep in the car, we had to go to the one furthest on the way home. When we arrived, the blueberries were HIT majorly. Completely picked over. I guess the season was almost over for them.

It didn’t matter though, because as soon as Lexi was given a bucket, she began dancing around asking to go pick blueberries in that way that only 2-3 year olds can:”Can we go? Pick blueberries, mama! Pick blueberries! Let’s go! Can we go? Can we go? I want to pick blueberries” It didn’t help that the owner was chatty, but it was kind of nice to talk to someone about the horribleness that Monsanto is.

So finally we were able to go into the fields (blueberries were planted in buckets off the ground which is really cool cuz there is no pesticide run off from other crops or any other contamination)

What a blast she had!

Seriously she had not been so interested and so involved and active in any of the experience weeks as she did this time. She always enjoyed each activity but usually didn’t get excited about  it till some time into it. For this one, it was full on excitement from the moment I mentioned it and complete seriousness as soon as we got into the field. She was there to do a job!

So we went to pick, she had no trouble taking blueberries off the branches. Because the bushes were really picked over, it was actually more fun to pick, hunting  for blueberries, playing peek-a-boo, than it would have been had they been full of berries. She would move branches, look around, exclaim when she would find one.

This activity is a definitely going to be repeated numerous times as we drive back and forth to Orlando and pass all these U-pick farms. Highly recommend it!

Since we didn’t pick that many blueberries (and she dropped the bucket on the way to the car onto a dirty road) and then they sat in the car for a bit, we didn’t end up eating them, which makes me think that going to a non-organic farm would be fine for next time just for the experience, not to eat the fruits/vegetables. She didn’t attempt to eat blueberries off the bush after we told her that they needed to be washed and was just excited about picking them.

Wonderful time and wonderful memories for everyone involved!

The beautiful UPF zipper top is courtesy of Petit Crabe and is an absolute lifesaver in Florida sunny weather. We layer it atop of everything when outside. It protects so much better than unblock.
The UPF sun hat is by Polarn O Pyret

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Blueberry Picking – Week 10 Of 52 Weeks Of Experiences

Blueberry Picking – Week 10 Of 52 Weeks Of Experiences

Blueberry Picking – Week 10 Of 52 Weeks Of ExperiencesBlueberry Picking – Week 10 Of 52 Weeks Of Experiences

Blueberry Picking – Week 10 Of 52 Weeks Of Experiences Blueberry Picking – Week 10 Of 52 Weeks Of Experiences

Blueberry Picking – Week 10 Of 52 Weeks Of Experiences

Blueberry Picking – Week 10 Of 52 Weeks Of ExperiencesBlueberry Picking – Week 10 Of 52 Weeks Of Experiences Blueberry Picking – Week 10 Of 52 Weeks Of Experiences

 

Blueberry Picking – Week 10 Of 52 Weeks Of Experiences

HERE IS OUR LIST (PRINTABLE VERSION OF BOTH LISTS)

  1. Backwards Day
    (Daniel Tiger episode tie in, Backwards Day book tie in)
  2. Ride a pony/horse
    (Berenstain bears book tie-in)
  3. Go to the airport and watch the planes land.
    (Curious George episode tie-in, Curious George book)
  4. Go to a music shop and explore the instruments
    (Daniel Tiger episode tie in)
  5. Go to a train museum SEE OUR WEEK HERE
  6. Jump in Puddles (Weather contingent) (Hello, Fiends book) SEE OUR WEEK HERE
  7. Feed ducks at the park (Curious George book)
  8. Dance in the rain (Weather contingent) (Olivia book )
  9. Plant something from seed and watch it grow OR plant a garden
    (Curious George episode tie in,  Little Critter book, Curious George book)
  10. Climb a tree
  11. Gather shells (Berenstain Bears book)
  12. Ride a trolley (Daniel Tiger themed)
  13. Go to the lake to look for tadpoles
    (Curious George episode tie-in, Curious George book tie in)
  14. Go on a scavenger hunt in the woods
    (Curious George episode tie in, another Curious George episode tie-in Berenstain bears: nature’s guide (this is a great book for a scavenger hunt and it rhymes)
  15. Fly a kite SEE OUR WEEK HERE
    (a great rhyming Berenstain bears book, Curious George episode, Little Critter book)
  16. Roast marshmallows by the fire
    (OLIVIA tie in)
  17. Play in the snow (Location contingent)
  18. Go to an aquarium
    (Berenstain Bears book, Little Critter book, Curious George book)
  19. Have a picnic – complete with basket and red checkered blanket. (Berenstain Bears book – another great funny rhyming book)
  20. Lay out and look at stars (Curious George episode tie-in)
  21. Go camping unplugged (phones turned off)
    (Daniel Tiger episode tie in, Curious George episode tie in, Little Critter book tie in, Curious George book tie-in,  OLIVIA book tie in other camping books)
  22. First movie theater movie (Curious George book)
  23. Go to a petting zoo!
  24. Listen to a thunderstorm (Weather contingent.)
    (Daniel Tiger Episode tie in, Little Critter book tie in)
  25. Have a Family Movie Night with snacks  SEE OUR WEEK HERE
  26. Run around the grass in a park, barefoot, as a family
  27. Pick fruit at a farm SEE OUR WEEK HERE
    (Daniel Tiger episode , Curious George book)
  28. Make Snow/Sand Angels
  29. Make pinecone and peanut butter bird feeders and hang them in the yard
    (Curious George tie-in)
  30. Draw with chalk on the driveway/sidewalk
  31. paddle a canoe down the river
    (Curious George episode tie-in)
  32. visit a tidepool  (Weather contingent)
  33. Egg Dying (Curious  George book)
  34. Go to see a boat show (at Christmas)
  35. Go on a sunset cruise on a boat
    (Curious George episode tie in)
  36. Make giant bubbles in the yard SEE OUR WEEK HERE
  37. go to a waterpark
  38. go to  Botanical gardens
  39. Go bowling
    (Curious George episode , Curious George book)
  40. Jump on the bed/couch/furniture together (5 Little Monkeys book) SEE OUR WEEK HERE
  41. Get long newsprint/butcher’s  paper and trace/color your hands, feet and bodies!
  42. Make cookies together
  43. Play Hide and Seek
  44. Build a fort out of blankets and pillows (The Fort that Jack Built book)  SEE OUR WEEK HERE
  45. Go to the Zoo
    (Curious George episode, Curious George book)
  46. Go on a family bike ride through the woods
  47. Make newspaper planes
  48. Get a few giant cardboard boxes play pretend with them!
  49. play tennis
  50. play miniature golf
    (Curious George book)
  51. Ride a roller coaster SEE OUR WEEK HERE
    (Curious George episode , Curious George book)
  52. Ride a train
    (Berenstain Bears book tie-in)

 

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15 COMMENTS

  2. So cute!! Why did you deactivate the comments on gentle parenting? I would love to ask you some questions that arose from your post.

    • I wrote about it in the post. I don’t have time or desire to respond to comments that a post like that would surely bring. If someone is interested in this type of parenting, they can look into it further. If they are looking for support, they are welcome to email me with questions, however it would probably be a long time before I am able to answer, so they are better off finding answers in books.

  3. I would have let her eat a few if they are organically grown, why not? They look delicious, shame they went to waste. Maybe next time bring a cooler to keep the fruit in so you aren’t wasting it and she can actually enjoy the fruit she picks.

    • If we had gathered a significant amount, I would have been more interested in making sure it survives the trip. Considering how few we picked that they didn’t even charge us because there wasn’t enough there (Probably would be 25 cents), it was definitely not a waste. Besides I am not of the mindset that ALL food needs to be eaten. There are many cases where food is better off left alone.
      I want to go to a farm with several crops that are in season (not at the end of season), so that we could actually show her the result of her work and have her enjoy eating what she gathered. I just have to find good organic farms for that. Otherwise, we’ll be going for the picking experience, and if she wants to eat non-organic, as long as they are washed, I don’t mind a one time occurrence either.

  4. Fun trip! One of my favorites yet. And snaps for you for having her covered up from the sun (is that shirt like “rash guard” material?)

    Do you mind if I ask what you would do with the non-organic berries you may pick next time? Certainly not just waste them, I hope!

    • Certainly not :\
      There are plenty of other people around us who would eat non-organic, including my husband (I try not to since I am still breastfeeding).

      Yes the shirt is mean to me a rash guard but we wear it as a cover up all the time, because it’s so nice and convenient.

  5. are those orth-shoes that lexi wears? they’re cuter than the old-fashioned boots, but don’t look very comfortable for berry picking. my kids had to wear corrective shoes, it was such a pain to match them to clothes!

  6. So fun! Although, eating the berries is half the fun of picking them! Seems such a pity to waste even a small amount of tasty berries. My SIL takes my little niece to a local strawberry farm and she just loves picking her favorite fruit to eat. It’s so adorable to see her eyes light up when she eats the fruit right off the plant.

    I like how you give the peace sign in your pictures. It reminds me of my time in Japan! :))))

  7. How fun! We have a bunch of stone fruit farms around us, we’ll have to take our boys for an adventure. Thanks for the idea!

  8. Have you ever thought of planting berries in your backyard? We have blueberries, blackberries and cherries, and I’m planning on putting in strawberries and raspberries this year. It’s great because you can control what goes on/around them so kids can eat right off the bush! They are such a healthy snack. Shame you didn’t get to eat any of the berries you picked. Even if you go to a non-organic place next time, I still think it’s worth eating what you pick! Isn’t that the whole point of harvesting food …. To eat it? It’s like cooking a meal and not eating it. Also, it will teach Lexi respect for the planet and nature. Especially if you eat organically the rest of the time …. Once or twice won’t hurt. 🙂

    Speaking of clean living, I’m not sure if you have addressed this before since I’m a fairly new reader, but how do you feel about living on a golf course? Isn’t that highly carcinogenic? Do you take any steps to ensure minimal exposure to airborne off drift, etc.?

  9. I’ve gone blueberry picking before–it was so much fun and one of my favorite memories! I would eat my weight in blueberries and my Grandfather would joke that it was lucky they didn’t weigh me before and after because he would be charged a lot. LOL.

    Also, they were not organic blueberries. I lived to tell the tale! 😉

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