Today, when I take a walk, I will head out through the deep woods to the clearing where the wild blackberries grow. Yesterday, I spent a couple of hours picking, got wet from toe to hip because of heavy rain recently, and only got two cups of deep crimson blackberries. They taste like a hint of heaven and their harvest is just beginning. We will have to pick berries daily for the next week or two in order to keep ahead of the birds. Having said that, there are plenty to go around. The berry bramble flourishes here, with little interference on our part.
We will be planting a few blueberry bushes on the farm today. We bought five plants from a roadside stand the other day. The "blueberry guy" who sold them to us was country folk, pure and simple, and for over an hour regaled us with stories of growing organic produce and roses. His description of how to plant the blueberry bushes was detailed and exacting. I am going to attempt to follow his instructions to the letter. He sounded as if he knew what he was talking about. There is a special wisdom in people who work with the earth and growing things that I can't ignore.
Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you contentment and joy.
