I adore picking-my-own. It started in New Hampshire, when we found ourselves surrounded on all sides by local farms with fresh produce (we occasionally even bought fresh eggs from a little boy at church!) It was about the same time that I became interested in the back-to-real-food movement, headed by the likes of Michael Pollan and Jamie Oliver. Eating food from as close to the source as possible and reasonable, sounded like a health and socially conscious choice. So, we’ve been trying ever since.
Needless to say, when a chance to pick something delicious off of the tree where it has been plumping and juicing up in the heat of the DC summer arises, we love to take it.
I visited Hollin Farms last year with some friends, and this year Milo and I returned with Eliot and Dave. It’s a cool, small orchard and garden on a hill with amazing views.
They have several varieties of peaches, and this year we went for the…um…yellow ones. Can you tell I didn’t pay attention when the farmer told me the exact names?
Milo indulged himself with a fresh pick.
We spent about an hour and a half, and picked one single peck. That was all I really needed, because we were headed out of town in a couple days, but also picking with Milo was slower than usual because it included short bouts of hide-and-seek in the trees.
And once he may have dumped out the whole bag to then excitedly yell “clean up!!” and begin hastily shoveling them back in. Gotta love him.
I love that a short hour outside of bustling DC we can find these rolling hills and wide open spaces. The Dixie Chicks would love it here.
It amazes me how one little face can get so dirt-smudged in such a short time. I love getting out with him and letting him get a little dirty. Shouldn’t all kids get a little dirty every once in a while?
Eliot had a great nap in the front pack while I helped pick the peaches and at the end some sun-ripened tomatoes. Mmmm.
While I sought out the most beautiful and fragrant tomatoes I could find, Dave and Milo meandered down the hillside checking out flowers and having a sweet moment.
And, of course it wouldn’t be a trip to the farm without a tractor. I love the sun umbrella on this one! Smart farmer!
On Sunday, before we left for Utah, I made a quick batch of peach jam. I made some last year, too, and loved having the taste of summer last all winter long (if only on my PB & J). The rest of the peck got washed, quartered, and frozen for a future smoothie, cobbler, and some frozen peach lemonade.
