Our basket of loot from the strawberry patch. ©2015Marie Stephens Design

It’s hot out, but if you can get there early, it’s worth the trip to head out to The Pride of the Wapsi this week to get some, oh so yummy, fresh strawberries!

The cool spring temperatures and nice rains we had this spring have made or some lovely, sweet, yet tart, little jewels!  This year, is by far, one of the best tasting years for strawberries in a long time, in my opinion.

I would recommend getting there as early as possible, wear light colors, hats, and use plenty of sunscreen.  A nice jug of cold bottled water is highly recommended for after the pick.  Oh, and prepare to end up with random strawberry stains in odd places! You will be given a tray that can hold up to 10 pounds of strawberries.  Price is $2/lb.  Then, you’ll get a ride out to the field in a golf cart, where you will be given instructions for where you can pick.  Hold on tight, it’s a bumpy ride! Afterwards, you’ll get a ride back to the shed where your berries will be weighed, and you can pay.  There is a nice, outdoor hand washing station with soap and paper towels, so you can clean up a bit before you leave. On our visit, we saw a resident cow and 3 huge pigs.  All in all, it was a fun experience, even for my 2 little boys who were dragging their feet about wanting to go.  They were pleasantly surprised.  I think they enjoyed the crazy golf cart ride that the young lad gave us out to the strawberry patch! On our visit, we saw a resident cow and 3 huge pigs.  All in all, it was a fun experience, even for my 2 little boys who were dragging their feet about wanting to go.  They were pleasantly surprised.  I think they enjoyed the crazy golf cart ride that the young lad gave us out to the strawberry patch more than the strawberries! Find a pick your own farm near you!