I am so excited! Behind the scenes I have been calling all over central Florida for a berry picking get together. All the strawberry places I called were out of strawberries (mostly) or were not willing to let kids or public in (a few).

Today I called a blueberry farm and the guy was wonderful! He said that he has picnic tables by a pond and trees and we will have free reign to use them to have a picnic! He said that the blueberries are $5 a pound, you pick, and we can eat as many as we can hold while picking. He sounded very nice!

The only down side I see could be location. I know there were a couple of locations mentioned outside of Polk County, I really wanted to stay inside Polk-- I mean, WE are POLKMOMS! -lol.

This farm is in Polk, but in North Lakeland. Would you ladies be game for that!

Let me know. I am ready to do this, we have talked about it to long, and this sounds like a fun chance. Of course I hope there will be more meet ups than just this time, so if you cant make this one maybe another? If it is a long way for you, why not trek it anyway? It will be about 45 minutes for me probably b/c I live in South Bartow, but how often does one get to go blueberry picking?

I will write back with an exact address so you ladies can yahoo map it if you want.

Let me know also what days are good. I was thinking a weekday morning so we can try to have the place to ourselves mostly. On weekends it is busier. If we plan ahead, maybe some working moms can get the day off and come with their wee ones?

And would we want to bring bag lunches for ourselves and kiddos for the picnic?

That sounds like alot of fun Shawn. I can try to make it.

Sounds like fun! We should be able to make it; we live in North Lakeland. I don't know where the blueberry farm is though. Keep me posted.

oh boy! oh boy! Yeah that sounds like fun! And, the good thing about it is the location for me. I live in North Lkld. I work Monday-Friday from 2-6 p.m. A morning or weekend would work for me!
Thank you Shawn

yeah thats sounds awsome!!! it will be a far drive for me too but brooke would love to pick or i should say eat blueberrys there her fav!!! bringing bag lunches sounds fun too. the only day that i would prefer not to do it would be thursdays because of book babies but if thats the day everyone else wants to then we can skip a week.

Well, it sounds nice but this Polk Mom works during the day.

gkschwanke, I know, I have been a working mom a lot in my life and I always hated missing things like this .

If working moms can not get the day or morning off, Maybe we can plan a weekend get together, in future. We could even bring our significant others?

On the blueberry trip, it would probably be better to do a week day morning. This will be the first of what I hope will be many get togethers in future.

I would love to go and my daughter LOVES blueberries..I let her eat them while we grocery shop so I can have some peace..LOL!

Okay ladies here is the place. The name of the farm is called

Shady Oak Fruit Farm and location is here at this
yahoo map search

At Yahoo map you can type in your address and the address of the farm and you can have specific driving directions for you.

The farm address is
3320 Shady Oak Drive East - Lakeland Florida


Unless any other moms have a day better for them, I guess I will just pick a day and hope you all will come

As far as our working moms go, if you can not make it for the weekday trip, feel free to use this thread to ask other working moms or any moms to go to the farm on a Saturday with you (they are closed on Sunday) I can try to make that one also?

Shawn, how soon are you talking? This friday morning is not good for me.(18th) Do you have a couple of days for us to choose from? Thanks!

Okay ladies, how about Friday, April 25th for our trip? After looking at my schedule and talking to some other moms, I thought this would work out and plus it gives us some time to clear our calendars if need be.

I was thinking 10am to give us some time to meet and greet, then pick some berries by 10:30, pick for at least an hour, then have a bag lunch around 11:30 or 12:00.

Does that sound okay with you ladies?

Great! Count me in. However, I have never gone blueberry picking before so does anyone have any advise/suggestions on how I should prepare? Thanks!

Sounds great! Count us in! I'll be sure to mark my calendar. Like Ann, we've never gone berry picking either. I would like any suggestons as well regarding preparations.

I haven't been blueberry picking since I was a kid. I am very excited. So I hope I am covering all the bases.

I would bring sunscreen for sure, plenty to drink for mom and kiddos, and dont forget to bring a bag lunch for you and the wee ones.

Any moms that frequent PolkMoms are welcome to come and join us, whether you are registered or not. I would love to have a great turn out!

And maybe wear a hat and old clothes.
I've never picked blueberries before. How do you prepare them to use? Is it safe to eat out there, I"m wondering about pesticides.

Sounds like fun. I should be able to make it and bring my 5 yr old.