Smelling the fresh morning air, I saw a big sign on the side of the road after getting off the bus and I walked for only a minute. The sign said: McKenzie River Organic Farm, open 9a.m.-6p.m. everyday.
"Good morning! Come on in!" Haaken John, the tall man standing in the doorway of the store with a big smile welcomed me.
The store was filled with a variety of brightly colored fruits and vegetables. “Can I do blueberries picking now?” I asked when I saw him playing with a basket of fresh blueberries.
He put a plastic bag inside the bucket and handed it to me, "Of course, just remember to pick the bluest and biggest one!"
It was quiet in the field, but I only vaguely heard insect sounds coming from the grass. I followed the direction of John’s guidance through some plants that I did not know the name to. However, blueberries liked playing hide and seek with me and I still could not find them. Suddenly, a white dog ran over and stopped at my feet, she tried to put her big head into my arms. I rubbed her head hard, she shook her tail and ran on ahead, seemed like it was asking me to follow her way. We stopped in front of the bush, and I just took a glance without any hope… “I have more luck than I imagine!” I thought, and I really did not expect to see those fully ripe deep purple berries were real right there before my eyes! |
"Ke$ha" (the dog's name) sent me to the gate of the farm. I grabbed a plastic bag filled with blueberries and a ripe charentais melon in total of just 4 bucks, and sat on the return bus with great satisfaction. I thought to myself to do a blueberry yogurt or freeze them up to eat later when I am back home. My hand reached into the bag again and again to find blueberries, and the whole experience of devouring blueberries is rather like eating donut but without the guilt. I'm thrilled to discover not the store-bought dilution I'm accustomed to, but rather sweetness underlined by a seductive tartness. The small, juicy purple morsel made me laugh involuntarily, this was really a blue sweet memory, I thought.
McKenzie River Organic Farm
http://mckenzieriverfarm.com/