We needed something to keep the kids occupied and relieve Darren and my own stress of a long few weeks.
Declan had remarked - in fact begged me for strawberries in the fruit shop, and being $5.99 a punnet in the second week of June I thought - why don't we take the kids on a trip picking the local strawbs!
So on Saturday after a phone call to check that the rain had not destroyed all the local crops (indicated by the price at the fruit shop), we packed the van full of kids, boots, spare clothes, snacks and other supplies and headed for Eumundi markets and the strawberry fields near by. Sadly after a snack at the markets and a quick look about as it was nearing closing time (1pm-2pm ish) the strawberry fields were closed thanks to a rain shower.
None the less I bought a couple of kilos of strawberries and we handed them out to the kids and then headed for the fields near the Ettamoogah Pub.
These are named "Strawberry Fields" and it is about $15 a kilo for the strawberries in the organic pick your own patch. Luckily they also offer pre-picked seconds and "thirds" or jam grade strawberries at a cheaper price. ($15 for about 2 kilos)
So we picked about 1.5 kilos so the kids could have their fun and bought home about another 2 or more in jam strawberries which are now topped and cut up to be frozen, smoothi-ed and eaten of course!
The kids had the best time and revelled in being free to eat such a sumptuous fruit without being restricted!
Not only was it a nice day out for us all including Jess (17) but also a great way to show the kids about how their food is grown and where it comes from.
The strawberries were so good - and still are. I think we will be returning there within the next 2 weekends to buy /pick some more as we all love the fruit and what better way to spend a quiet and relatively cheap day out for 6 people (less than $12 each including food and strawberries of course!)
