Strawberries on a Tank

My son ate the last strawberry of 11 pounds this morning. I found myself with a free morning this week, and had the light bulb appear above my head reading, "Father's Day means strawberries in New Hampshire." That was always the notion in my childhood home. So off I went to my old faithful strawberry fields at Brookdale Fruit Farm in Hollis, N.H.

Once I weighed in my re-usable tray, I was off to the first five rows, ran half way down, and carefully stepped into the middle of the row. Thirty minutes later, I paid for my berries and ate strawberry shortcake, fruit salads, and plain old snacking berries for 2 days, until my son had the last lonely one this morning.

Besides pick-your-own crops of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, apples and pumpkins, you'll find a bushel and a peck of everything grown in soil, on vines or up a tree inside Brookdale's. And to complement its foods, it's gift shop offers more well known names such as Stonewall Kitchen or Burt's Bees, as well as some unique items made in New Hampshire. Know someone interested in bird houses, iron garden sculptures or bulbs?...It might be a time for some pick-your-own-pleasures and very early holiday shopping at Brookdale.

Beyond the obvious splendor of what's in front of your eyes, you can take pleasure knowing food at Brookdale is delicious, nutritious, and safe. In today's world of genetically altered everything [Have you seen the size of today's children!?], Brookdale has received awards for staying true to clean water and air, healthy soil, sustainable forestry, improved habitat and open space, and a quality environment for all. It was also one of the first orchards in New Hampshire to adopt integrated pest management strategies to reduce pesticide use and enhance environmental quality. So breathe easy popping those strawberries!

Pick-Your-Own Strawberries at Brookdale is located just behind the Farm Stand on Rte 130 (Broad St) in Hollis, N.H. It is about an hour's drive from Boston, with no tough-to-decode directions. Those gorgeous plump berries come with a Pick-Your-Own Hours (Weather Permitting) schedule as well: Mon.- Fri. 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., and Sat. - Sun. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. I'm all out, so maybe I'll see you there!