End of First Week of Picking

I have not reviewed the berry patch in a few days, but based on the berry ledger, picking must still be very good (over 3000 lbs picked so far but there are tons, literally, still on the bushes). Lots of 10s and 20s of lbs are being picked and verbal reports are still glowing. I imagine, however, that easy picking must be exhausted on the bushes that ripened first. Nevertheless, there certainly are berries to be had on the lower branches of the large bushes and in the rows that are closest to the treeline on the southern boundary of the property, where the bushes are closer together and the picking is more "backwoods" like. There are couple of varieties that ripen later (those smaller bushes, more spread out, next to the big open field) that have not yet ripened. Last year they never did ripen before the first frost but this year they will. Not sure when.

It is never crowded during the weekdays, it seems, even in the evenings. Mornings are the best, both in terms of temperature and room. I suspect this coming weekend (Aug. 7/8) will be our last crowded one. My department will be picking on the evening of Thurs., Aug. 12th, and it might get a little crowded then.