What is it about your hometown that leads you to overlook the treasures it holds? I have friends who have traveled up to two hours to visit The Blueberry Patch, a blueberry picking farm in Mansfield, Ohio, and though it is maybe six minutes from my home and yet it took me years to stop by!
It wasn’t until my sister-in-law was visiting from out of state and my mom asked if I had any ideas of what we could do that the Blueberry Patch came to mind. Originally I had planned a fun day visiting some of the area parks but then I spoke to a friend who suggested that I check out this local attraction for u pick blueberries and promised that it would be something that everyone in our party could easily do.
So my three-year-old nephew, teen daughter, sister-in-law and mom loaded ourselves into my minivan and set off down the road for a blueberry picking adventure.
I was a bit unsure of where to go when we pulled in to The Blueberry Patch but I followed the drive beside the greenhouse and café and right at the end, I saw a large sign alerting potential ‘pickers’ where to go.
We checked in to the building, gave my name and picked up a plastic bucket as we were directed where to go to pick our berries. On the day we were there, they were picking Bluerays on the hill directly behind the greenhouse. It was a little bit of an incline, but not anything strenuous and we arrived at the beginning of the plants a minute or two after leaving the shop, so we didn’t have far to go.
We reminded my nephew that he couldn’t eat any of the berries until we were done picking and turned him loose with my daughter. The plants were heavy with blueberries and the bushes were much different than I expected. They were fairly tall and we didn’t really find the need to bend over much to pick from them.
We had planned to pick about three pounds of berries which would be about $15 so we were told to fill our bucket half full. Even picking at a leisurely pace, we’d filled our bucket with the desired amount in around 15 minutes. Picking three pounds of blueberries certainly wasn’t an all-day affair.
When we finished picking, we headed back to the counter where I again gave my name and the girl at the counter checked to see how many buckets we took out and then weighed our berries. The berries could then be transferred to another container, or you can purchase the bucket for $1 and the lid for .50. I opted to buy the bucket, which I plan to use on future visits, which will save me a bit of money.
Remember how we told my nephew he couldn’t eat any of the berries until after we had paid for them? He was as patient as he could be but by the time we reached my vehicle, he wanted to taste what he’d been picking. Unfortunately, the berries didn’t really appeal to him but we’re hopeful that they grow on him over the years.
Our visit to The Blueberry Patch was a lot of fun, and something I wish I’d done with my own kids when they were my nephew’s age. My mom, sister-in-law and I talked and hope to make this an annual event but next time we plan to pick more berries and stick around to browse the gift shop and grab a bit to eat in the café.
Though I thought picking our own berries was a great experience, I realize it isn’t something everyone will enjoy. If you’d rather let someone else do the picking, you’ll find fresh berries already packaged in the shop that you can purchase, along with blueberry products like jam, tea, and truffles.
Here are a couple of tips to keep in mind when visiting The Blueberry Patch.
- Blueberry picking season is July and August and in Ohio, that means it’s hot. Visit first thing in the morning or later in the evening to avoid as much of the heat as possible.
- Slather on the sunscreen and wear a hat to avoid burns and take water along if you plan to pick a lot of berries.
- If you plan to make more than one visit to the Blueberry Patch, buy a bucket. Each time you return and buy four or more pounds of blueberries, you’ll save .50.
- Picking hours are from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday – Saturday and from Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Not only will you avoid the heat if you plan an early morning visit, you’ll find it easier to find a parking spot too. The Blueberry Patch gets pretty busy around lunchtime. Which brings me to my 6th tip.
- If you linger or arrive later in the day, stop in the cafe for a bite to eat.
Store Information:
The Blueberry Patch
Address: 1285 West Hanley Road
Mansfield, Ohio 44904
Phone: 419-884-1797
Website: http://www.TheBlueberryPatch.org
Hours: Monday-Saturday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Blossoms Café is open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
You may call ahead to see what type of berries they are picking.
You can also follow The Blueberry Patch Facebook or Twitter to learn about specials or upcoming events.
Looking for more things to do in Ohio? Check out my Ohio Bucket List for ideas.
© 2014 – 2018, Tonya Prater. All rights reserved.
Shell Feis says
What a great idea to take visiting family to do this. Sounds like so much fun- a great family activity!