Saturday, August 29, 2009

Huckleberries!

Huckleberries are a big deal around these parts of the U.S. They only grow in the north western States and western Canada. They taste like a really intense blueberry, (but way better than a blueberry).
We've enjoyed our fair share of huckleberry ice cream, shakes, and even candy bars, but we've always had to pay big bucks for them. So this year, we decided to go to the mountains for a day and pick our own. We dawned our Halloween buckets and took off to a secret location shared with us by Jarom's parents and brother. (Good locations are kept more secret than US Military maneuvers. Count yourself very lucky if a huckleberry picker shares their spot with you.)

The kids were troopers for a really long time.

Then some of us got bored and hungry and decided to just plop down in the middle of a bush and eat their hearts content. (Seriously, this kid probably ate over 100 berries.)

Don't just reach your hand into a bush without looking! This little hornets nest was a buzz with activity.

You can tell if you've been good little workers by the color of you hands. (Around my fingernails is STILL purple.)

We came home with a full gallon and at $10 a pint to purchase, we figure we have $80 worth of berries. We've washed and dried all our delicious little purple berries. We've made homemade shakes twice, huckleberry pancakes, and huckleberry pie. Now we have 10 more cups of frozen little goodies waiting to be used throughout the year.

Huckleberry picking is a lot of fun and I find it very relaxing. But the best part is just being alone with my little family.

9 comments:

Tonya said...

I love huckleberries.. It looks like you had great luck this year.

My mouth is watering just thinking of the eating all the different goodies you have made.

Fun family activity.

Deidra Smith said...

Looks like you got quite the haul. Way to go! And looks like you had fun, too, even better!

Mama Williams said...

Yummy Fun! I love that you are saving some for later too.

Wendy said...

I loved hearing about your huckleberry fun. Making memories with your sweet family! Nothing could be better.... :-)

Lee Ann said...

Way to go! That's a lot of huckleberry's! We'd usually pick enough for ONE pie and be done!

LouandAngela said...

AHhh. . . huckleberry picking. We didn't get to go this year. But, I've still got some I hoarded from last year's picking. It takes quite a bit of work to get so many, but it's always worth it. And like you said, mostly for the time you get to spend out in nature with you family!

Jennifer P. said...

make syrup!!! yummy! I haven't had a single huckleberry all summer...so eat some for me too :)

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

They do look a lot like blueberries. We have gone to a pick your own blueberry farm. Do people "farm" huckleberries...or do you have to go to the "wilds" to find them?

Trish said...

I LOVE HUCKS! *sigh* Even the best gardener can't grow hucks OR blueberries in the low dessert. I just LOVE them and miss that northern taste. We've applied for work in OR and WA, so perhaps someday! ;)