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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Work on new park underway Police reports Weather change should help clear smoke from fires 10 things to know for Friday Rabbi Lerner visits Ashland to speak, lead workshops Education Getting a 'Fresh Start' Ashland Kiwanis Club donates to AHS emergency fund Getting the low down on high school SOU ROAR's to life Middle schoolers get a taste of college living Environment Talent earns Bee City USA designation Ashland marchers won't give up on climate change message Deadly virus stalks Southern Oregon deer National monument area still faces threats What do you think of the return of wolves to Jackson County? Business Happy Labor Day Brammo plans to keep jobs in Rogue Valley U pick, U enjoy Organic & Healthy Dobra serves up teas and tranquility Politics and elections Two races set for council positions Library district won't take maximum tax rate Commissioner Skundrick plans final four town hall meetings Taking an independent stand Library district board, county at odds over proposal State News Nation - World Obituaries Gwen G. Thomas Death Notices Death Notices Death Notices Colton Taylor Webster Sports Latest Stories Raiders let one slip away Allred finishes strong at Fort Wayne Allred climbs leaderboard Raiders start fast Raiders stay hot, improve to 5-1 High school Southern Oregon University Raiders let one slip away Raiders start fast Raiders stay hot, improve to 5-1 'Keep it fresh, keep it fun' Raiders cross country teams ranked high Opinion Latest Stories Letters to the Editor, Aug. 30 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 29 Matthew T. Mangino: Violent crime was rampant not too long ago Granlund cartoon: Russian humanitarian aid to Ukraine Michelle Teheux: Kids aren’t as expensive as you think Editorial Not out of the woods yet Our View: Taking small steps to confront climate change Now's the time to taste the bounty Whither OSF? Two views City sets example on marijuana tax Letters Letters to the Editor, Aug. 30 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 29 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 28 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 27 Letter to the Editor, Aug. 26 Guest opinions Two seemingly disparate moments in history Rauch replies: Frustrating, yes — yet there is method in't The summer of my discontent: An open letter to Bill Rauch Opportunities for civic involvement are plentiful in Ashland Hamas supporters spread anti-Semitism around the world Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Poet Willa Schneberg at Bloomsbury Books Community blog:Ashland Book and Author Festival Coming Soon Ashland's On The Fly Improv had the audience rolling Community blog:Poet Laureate Peter Sears in Ashland World of Wine celebrates local varietals Theater Wise cracks and hot licks make for super show OSF adds 'Wrinkle in Time' Family Night Daedalus Project 2014 Music The Jeff Stanley Trio at Lounge South 'On the Fly' Visual Art Movies Movie listings: Aug. 27-Sept. 4 'Calvary' is about darkness and dialogue Varsity Theatre, Ashland Street Cinemas movie listings: Aug. 22-26 'What If' hits the sweet spot Varsity Theatre, Ashland Street Cinemas movie listings: Aug. 15-21 Food and Drink World of Wine celebrates local varietals Lifestyle Latest Stories Nonviolence as a transformative way to peace Community Blog: Take a Joyful World tour! Grand days for grandparents and 'grand-others' Michelle Teheux: Kids aren’t as expensive as you think Gluten-free support Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos NEWS NOW 10 things to know for Friday ... Fire crews stop blaze before it spreads from cars to house ... UPDATED: Interstate 5's northbound lanes south of Ashland reopen after truck fire ... 10 things to know for Friday ... Fire crews stop blaze before it spreads from cars to house ... UPDATED: Interstate 5's northbound lanes south of Ashland reopen after truck fire ... SELF-SERVE FRUIT HARVESTING U pick, U enjoy Doesn't get any fresher than plucking fruit yourself By John Darling For the Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Daily Tidings Posted Aug. 23, 2014 @ 3:36 pm Updated Aug 28, 2014 at 7:00 PM By John Darling For the Daily Tidings Posted Aug. 23, 2014 @ 3:36 pm Updated Aug 28, 2014 at 7:00 PM » Social News They could buy these blueberries for a buck a pound more in town, but the eager pickers like them fresh and organic and like to do their picking early in the day, before the heat comes — and they like the ritual of being close to nature and helping local farmers succeed. It’s become an annual homage for many, strapping on a plastic milk jug (top sawn off), bringing friends, leaving your worries in town and having a great time chatting it up, then heading home to make blueberry pancakes, muffins and smoothies. Then you toss a bunch in the freezer for a blast of summer nutrition in the dead of winter, says Chuck Burr, owner of Restoration Seeds, a 10-acre organic farm at the foot of Old Siskiyou Highway.  “You can’t beat the price and I love supporting local farmers. Plus they are great anti-oxidants,” says Nicole Del Pizzo, who came with her daughter Rhi Ahimsa. “It’s a lovely opportunity to pick delicious fruit with friends in the sunshine,” says Ahimsa. “We’re going to make blueberry pie and smoothies, then freeze the rest.” Burr plants row after row of u-pick blueberries, selling them for $3.50 a pound. For 10 to 20 pounds, it’s $3. Over 20 pounds is $2.50 a pound. Blueberries in town vary between $3.60 and $4.25, he notes. Hours, in season, are 8 to 11 in the morning. “It’s a fun social thing, a great chance to talk and laugh out of doors,” he says. “People do it for recreation. Mamacita brings the little ones with their sand pails and by the time they’re done and standing at the scales, the kids’ pails are empty.”  He laughs, “We should weigh the kids and then weigh them on the way out.” Ahimsa’s pals, Robin Cross and Haley Baldwin — all recent graduates of Ashland High School — rapidly fill giant 10-gallon cans, having scant idea that those tiny berries, in large quantities,weigh a great deal and the tab can sail over the $100 mark.  “You’re taking fruit live from the plant,” says Cross, “and you just feel more connected. It’s wonderful to eat healthy fruit like this —- and grown locally.” “I used to come pick when I was small and I’ve been waiting years to get back here,” says Baldwin. “It’s a very happy, positive, awesome feeling. They have a gorgeous color and they have no thorns, like blackberries do!” Weighing out the berries, Burr notes, “We are all organic. If you wonder if berries are organic, just look at the grass under them. It will be brown from sprays.” Burr says his peaches are at a peak of ripeness, ready to cut up for pies, on cereal or put in the freezer. Peaches in stores have to be picked when “hard as golf balls,” so they ripen during shipment, storage and waiting on shelves. Alfredo Quispe of Ashland says he loves the berries with yogurt. He earlier picked peaches, which he dried and canned. Picking with Quispe, Nicole Graham says store berries are “ridiculously expensive,” not as fresh and may not help the local growers and economy. “Life doesn’t get any better than this,” muses picker Phil Loveless. “You’ve got nature, healthy food and feeling good. I like to make them in French pastry. When the season has passed you can pull them out of the freezer, make pastry and remember this day.”   John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. Email him at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Daily Tidings Posted Aug. 23, 2014 @ 3:36 pm Updated Aug 28, 2014 at 7:00 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. 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