A Berry Busy Weekend!

So this weekend was so busy that I am already planning on breaking it up into multiple posts! Friday was a complete bust what with having to work and dodging raindrops but Saturday was absolutely amazing! We started out the day with a trip to my family's farm in Whiting Vermont and got a chance to snack on fresh snap peas and lettuce straight from their award winning garden. My mother has learned the hard way that weeding a giant vegetable garden is not conducive to raising 7 children and thus has laid out white plastic across its length. Now the garden only needs small holes cut and tucked under wherever she wants her plants. She uses old railroad ties to hold everything in place and create sections but I have also heard of using rocks, or piling dirt around the holes. Their sugar snap peas are overwhelming their section and have even begun to have some gorgeous little purple flowers!

My next stop of the day was too the Lemon Fair in Shoreham, VT to spend a little outdoor time on the covered railroad bridge. Although we spent a good three hours fishing, we have yet to catch anything over .5 lbs... But sitting on the riverside soaking up the sunshine is always a good afternoon regardless of what we catch!

Shoreham Rail Road Bridge

Our last outing of the day was a four-wheeler (ATV) ride out through Moriah, New York. My boyfriend and I jumped on the wheeler and flew through all of the rural trails in town. We stopped on one trail to take a gander at an old mine opening and the collapsing ground around it. However, while we were stopped I began looking around and noticed the most brilliant wild strawberry patch I have ever seen! We picked and ate for a good 15 minutes until our fingers were stained red and our bellies were full of our sweet treat! This little treat was a great reminder to always be keeping an eye out for wild edibles close by!

Wild Strawberry Patch

Our trails went from the strawberry fields to the top of a "tailings" pile left over from the Iron Ore mines in the 1850's. This pile has an EXTREMELY steep trail going up the side with literally inches of firm ground on either side and had me clutching on for dear life. But the view at the top was worth the trip! A small plateau looks over all of Mineville, NY and onto Lake Champlain with the bridge in clear view. We sat here and watched the sunset before heading for home and bringing our Saturday to the perfect close.