Strawberry Fields Forever

I think that might be the longest I've gone without a post since this blog started. Sorry, readers! I don't know what got into me.

It certainly is not for lack of goodness to share. For instance: last weekend, I finally got to fulfill a lifelong desire to go strawberry picking. It was lovely! I had mentioned to Jodi Bart of Tasty Touring that I wanted to go via Twitter, and several other foodie types chimed in that they'd like to join in the fun. Next thing we knew, a group outing was being planned. Jodi generously agreed to send out the info via her Tasty Touring Facebook group, and just like that, a little strawberry posse had formed.

Chris was in a seminar on the appointed weekend and his dad Carl was visiting from Lubbock, so Carl got roped into accompanying me for the trip. We met up with the rest of the group on Saturday morning and made our way out to Sweet Berry Farm in Marble Falls. We were delayed for quite some time on the way out by an accident on Highway 71, but when we finally arrived, this is what greeted us:

Stop here first to pick up a picking basket for $.50. After that, whatever strawberries you pick are $2.75/lb. No entrance fees, parking fees, etc. Note that they do not weigh you before you start picking!

The fields were lush with gorgeous, ripe strawberries. There were rows and rows of plants, and gently pushing back the leaves between the plants would reveal a bounty of the juicy red gems.







Before too long, Carl and I had two boxes full of strawberries. This was actually the less-full of the two boxes! They tell you that a level box of strawberries will run you about $16; our two boxes cost around $25.



Aren't they gorgeous?



Before we headed out, we had to indulge in some of Sweet Berry Farm's homemade ice cream. They have pumpkin, vanilla, strawberry, and berry-berry (a combination of strawberries and blackberries, which you can also pick there from May-June). We tried the strawberry and the berry-berry. Both were fantastic, but I preferred the berry-berry because of the nice texture that the blackberry seeds imparted to the creamy treat.



If you'd like to make a day trip out of this, there are several other fun places to visit in the area. We stopped at Spicewood Vineyards for a wine tasting (just $2 to taste six wines, and the generous cheese/cured meat plate was $13):



Then we wandered through this really neat shop specializing in unusual cacti and succulents, Spicewood Spines. I am a sucker for funky and easy-to-care-for plants, and came away with three fun little guys.




This was such a nice way to spend a gorgeous spring day! Big thanks to Jodi for making this happen, and to Carl for being game to join me on this trip!