This morning we left earlier than usual for our Tuesday drive to Eugene for our Waldorf class. We arrived at Bush’s Fern View Farms just as they opened their U-Pick field for the morning. They had two different fields and we headed to their non-spray field. We had it all to ourselves. Strawberry picking is usually the first harvesting we do each year that starts filling up our freezer. It feels symbolic. Strawberries start off the goodness of the season. And Spring just doesn’t feel right without strawberry picking.

(A few strawberry picking posts from before: when Bracken was one, when he was eight months, 

and before he was born.)

 Harvesting starts with a few….

 And bit by bit….

Your bucket fills up.

 We started with layers, but didn’t need them. The day got warm early.

 A peek in Bracken’s bucket. Last year he ate most of his strawberries and not many made it in his bucket. I was surprised this year that so many made their way to his bucket.

 Jeff is a very fast picker and had his first bucket full before mine was half way full.

 Bracken kept coming over to us and proudly showing us his bucket of berries.

 His bucket color switched from red to blue and back and he loved to pour his strawberries from one container to the next. 

We only picked for about 45 minutes. Some more families showed up, with kids of all ages. Bracken wanted to play with them and we would have loved to keep picking, but we also wanted to go to our Waldorf class and it was time to get going.

 Jeff dropped us off at the park while he ran errands and then joined us when he was finished. Our Waldorf class met at the park for our final class for Spring. As I mentioned last week, there will be a break for Summer, before it starts back up in the Fall. The Waldorf group has been so special to us and gathering together today was another reminder of that.

 Not only did the park have friends, sand, swings, and slides….

 It had water fountains! 

They were a hit. Big time.

 Back and forth from eating lunch on our picnic blankets to playing in the water. We talked, the kids had a blast playing, and we gathered for a group photo. Then said goodbyes, exchanged information, and made plans. Most of the little ones were worn out and ready for naps by that point.

When we came home we sat in the yard and took all the greens off the strawberries. The berries went in the freezer. The greens went in the chicken yard (along with a few over-ripe berries that we came across.) The chickens loved their treats. 

It was a long, full day.