Guest Post by Nevin Thompson
Summer is now in full-swing on the Saanich Peninsula and so is blueberry season, thanks to a late start caused by cooler than normal temperatures! This delicious little berry is available at several locations on the Peninsula and throughout Vancouver Island. However, one of the most enjoyable ways to get your berries is to pick them yourself, fresh from the farmer’s field.
This is a great outdoor activity for friends and family, it’s also easy to plan. Simply consult the Farm Fresh U-Pick Directory farms offering blueberries and hours of operation . Then, pack your hat and sunscreen, gather-up your family and begin your fun berry picking adventure!
For a comprehensive directory of berry picking locations, check out the excellent Farm Fresh U-Pick Directory for southern Vancouver Island.
Here are a couple of blueberry farms on the Saanich Peninsula:
Nicholas Farm
Address : 1901 Nicholas Road, Saanichton, V8M 1X8
www.nicholasfarm.ca
Tel : 250-652-6639
Blueberries: July–Aug, eat them fresh and fill your freezer, these berries are always good. Order by email or phone, get them fresh at the farm Monday-Saturday or take part in the harvest and pick your own.
Find out more by calling or by viewing their website
Meadowbrook Farm
Address : 205 Meadowbrook Road, Saanich, V9E 1J5
Tel : 250-479-7166
BLUEBERRIES – Late July and August, U-pick and picked: phone first before U-pick.
Directions: West Saanich Rd onto Prospect Lake Rd, 1.2 km, right on Meadowbrook Rd to end.
Enjoying the outdoors with your friends and family is just one of the many benefits of harvesting blueberries. This sweet, colourful, food is more than just an attractive garnish, it’s packed with amazing health benefits.
On top of this, the blueberry is also filled with several vitamins and nutrients, such as: vitamin A, vitamin B complex, vitamin C, vitamin E, anthocyanin, copper, iron, selenium, and zinc. All of which aid your body in fighting against viruses and bacterial infections. Finally, blueberries are the ultimate brain food. The nutrients in the berry protect your brain against oxidative stress and help to guard against age-related memory loss. Clearly, this is a highly beneficial super-food.
Blueberries have many benefits for those who choose to enjoy them, and the farms that grow this delicious food have many benefits to the community. Blueberry farms are part of a proud agricultural heritage on the Saanich Peninsula. Conservation of this heritage supports the local economy, encourages educational opportunities for youth and promotes tourism and the profile of local communities and municipalities. All of this helps to sustain a vibrant and dynamic culture that is unique to this area.
So, the next time you have a beautiful bowl of blueberries, remember – you’re enjoying so much more than just a berry!
Diversified Health Clinic is a health clinic in Victoria BC, just down the road from the Saanich Peninsula
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