Harvest!

  some of my fondest memories as a child consist of harvesting summer and fall crops.  I was lucky enough to grow up in a family that enjoyed gardening & growing our own food. If it even resembled a garden, I called it a 'patch.'  Strawberries were my favorite.  I even had a little patch of my very own! 

Me, 1980, in a Corn Patch

Adult life for me and my family is very different.  We live in a community of landscaped,  tract homes.  We do have a few citrus trees & a very productive apricot tree, but it doesn't really compare to the luxury of land and soil to grow crops. Sometimes I miss getting dirty planting & excited about blossoms and produce, talking about bees and ladybugs, and rainfall.  There are moments when I would give it all up for a 'patch' for my own children.

Luckily, California is known for its bountiful produce and here are a TON of U-Pick farms around, good ones, if you know where to find them. 

Here are some links to some U-Pick farms and attractions that are TOTALLY worth the effort.

Redlands/Pumpkins: http://www.liveoakcanyon.com/loc/pumpkins/PumpkinTours.htm

Toms Farms/Pumpkins:  http://www.westcoastfestivals.com/Harvest_Festival.html

Oak Glen/Apples & Berries:  http://www.oakglen.net/farms.shtml, http://www.rileysfarm.com/

Cherry Valley/Cherries: http://www.cherryacres.net/history.htm

Temecula/Berries:  http://www.temeculaberryco.com/U-Pick_Tips.php

Santa Barbara/Blueberries: http://restorationoaksranch.com/