April Fool's Day Means Berry Pickin' Time - No Foolin'

There's something about Spring that triggers the berry lover in me.  Suddenly I want every berry known to man in my kitchen!  Maybe it's because back home we had a bunch of mulberry trees less than a mile from where I grew up. The neighborhood kids used to meet there and we'd eat those things right off the tree!  


Organic mullberries are so healthy

My parents had fruit trees in their back yard.  We had the best pears, apricots, cherries (if we could beat the birds to them), apples and daddy always had a great crop of peaches as well.

Give me a basket and let me go a-pickin'!!!  Gardening should come as second nature to me - sadly, it does not.  I grew up a simple country girl but I married a city boy and I think I must have lost the desire when it comes to growing fruit trees and planting a garden.  I do love the idea of being able to go to my own back yard to pick food though.  I was so spoiled growing up!

Today it can be a real challenge to find fruits and vegetables that are truly healthy.  We keep hearing about all the pesticides that are used and how when these pesticides are applied, the workers have to wear a mask.  The question becomes, "If they have to wear a mask to protect their health - and they are spraying it on our food - then what makes them make the determination that these pesticides are perfectly fine for us to ingest?"

It's a valid point, really!  I'm blessed to have friends who grow organic foods, so we have a sort of built-in safety net from most of this debate.  I know where my food is coming from and I know how it was grown.  Most people don't have that advantage, unless they happen to be growing their own food.

I'm angry and disappointed that we've been led to believe our food is safe when in fact it may not be.  It's sad when the almighty dollar and greed and profit are considered before the safety of the consummer.  The point here is, if you can have some degree of control over where your food is coming from, then I think you're ahead in the game.  If you can't do that, then find a local farmer's market to buy from.  Most cities have local farmer's markets setting up in the early Spring.

If you can keep from buying produce at the market this Spring and Summer that would probably be best.  They do sell organic products, of course.  Even then you don't really know and have to take their word.  I'm not sure how much I trust what is claimed anymore.  I've become quite skeptical about labels through the years.  There are many claims that food companies can make that end up just being lies.

Don't be fooled by the labels you read.  Take every precaution against ingesting harmful chemicals.  Know your source and buy from the grower if possible.  Keep eating the healthy foods!  If you go back to packaged or boxed foods you are certainly not doing any better.  Eat the fresh fruits and vegetables but know the source if you can!

Spring reminds me of mullberries.  When I was a kid, I used to ride my bike out to the wild mullberry trees a few blocks from my house and just eat those things right off the tree until I was sick! 

In our city there were 3 different peach orchards we used to frequent.  We did have a peach tree, but we still went to the orchards to pick peaches.  I was just a little girl and got to ride in the wagon with the bushel baskets!  Mama used to let me munch on a peach while they were picking.  I always looked forward to that. 

I don't know why some of the best childhood memories are centered around food!  For me, the best memories are of Springtime back home with my mom and dad.  We spent a lot of time outside soaking up the sunshine and working in the garden.  In the evening we used to sit out on the screened in porch drinking my mom's homemade lemonade.  No, we did not have any lemon trees.  They came from the local farmer's market.

April is NATIONAL HUMOR MONTH!!!!!!!!!!  Well, that fits because today is APRIL FOOL'S DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Get your prankster on, but don't let those labels at the grocery store fool you.  Know the source of your food as much as you possibly can.  There is one rule of thumb:  if a fruit or vegetable has a THIN SKIN you should buy organic!  If it has a THICK SKIN you do not necessarily have to buy organic.  Yes, organic costs a little more - yes, it costs a little more to buy your produce from a local grower at the farmer's market.  Illness from toxins costs you more in the long run!

Think about it.  Have a great day!  

Are toxins to blame for how you feel? 

http://youtu.be/hgA38pFEEYw

Even though today is the start of berry season, we celebrated the best Holiday ever yesterday - EASTER!!!!!!!!!  My friend and gifted poet, Lucinda Berry Hill (love that Berry part - lol), author of "Coffee With Jesus", wrote this beautiful poem about Easter. 

 

When The Stone Was Rolled Away

Tears of grief were all around
For the man they thought they'd lost;
When Jesus Christ was crucified,
When He died up on a cross.
Life was frightening and dark;
No hope, no joy, no faith,
Until they came and saw the sight
When the stone was rolled away.
Then joyfulness had filled their hearts
When they saw Him with their eyes.
They knew He spoke with faithful words,
For from death He did arise.
So once a life of hopelessness,
Today a life of faith;
A peace was found not known before
When the stone was rolled away.
And now we feel that same delight
As He lives with us this day;
For He took His place within our hearts
When the stone was rolled away.

Lucinda Berry Hill, author of "Coffee With Jesus".