Last week I received the email that I’ve been anxiously awaiting ever since I found out about Vogley Enterprises after last year’s blueberry season–the blueberries are ready! So yesterday I packed up the kids and we headed off on our first blueberry picking adventure.
Vogley Enterprises is located just off Rt. 800 on Battlesburg Road north of East Sparta. There was a large sign for Vogley’s at the corner of Rt. 800 and Battlesburg and smaller signs pointing the rest of the way to the farm. It was really easy to find and much closer than I imagined!
When we pulled up I was surprised at the number of people there to pick, but the Vogleys have this down to a science! There was someone to direct us to an open parking space, a very friendly woman who helped the kids pick their buckets, and a gentleman who showed us the finer points of picking blueberries.
Armed with our buckets, we were off on our adventure!
The kids and I had a great time picking berries, talking about where our food comes from and interacting with other pickers.
We picked for about 30 minutes, for a yield of about 5 lbs. We might have picked even more, but our time was cut short by a hot, tired and melting-down 4-year-old, so we quickly headed back to the barn to have our bounty weighed, taking the walk of shame through the field accompanied by tears and screams.
From start to finish, the thing I most enjoyed about our Vogley experience was the friendly atmosphere. The staff was great with the kids and even the other pickers we encountered were super friendly (even at meltdown). Most importantly, the kids had a blast (meltdown notwithstanding) and can’t wait to go back … next week! I think we’ll go earlier in the morning when it’s cooler. 
Vogley’s is open for picking on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. This year’s picking season is expected to last through the end of July, but you can always check their website for the latest picking information at www.vogleyenterprises.com
Now I need some help figuring out what to do with all of these blueberries and the ones we pick next week! Share your favorite way to enjoy blueberries below.
Blueberry pancakes and muffins are a favorite at our house.
Of course, I love to eat them by the handful!
Dip them in chocolate or freeze for smoothies. Frozen blueberries (and frozen grapes) are a great popsicle substitute!
I read that if you’re going to freeze them you should not wash them first, that you should do it when you’re ready to use them.
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