Becoming an Expert Berry-Picker

Do you love the taste of fresh berries? Most raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries will come into season midway through August, so now is a good time to start thinking about making some summer plans.

There are many farms spread throughout VT and NH, and if you are planning a family outing, I suggest going here to find a full list of farms in your area. 

1. Go When It's Cool

The reason for this is two-fold. You won't get too hot and overheat before you bring in your haul, and the berries will also be more plump and less mushy as they sit out in the sun. Either way, if you are going to be out in the sun for a while, remember what mom said and don't forget sun screen!

2. Save Them for Home

When you're out in the field and looking for a quick meal, it's almost a natural reflex to pick up some of the tasty fruits to steal as a snack. But something important to keep in mind is that the berries pulled from the branch aren't necessarily clean just because they're organic. They could be dirty from bugs, fungus, or other people's fingers. 

3. Bring Thin Gloves

Something that you might not remember until it's too late is to bring some form of protection when you're picking through the bushes. Fruits like raspberries and blackberries are guarded by thorns, because they are a part of the rose family. Some protection to keep your skin from being poked may pay off before the day is through!

4. Make Use Fast

Raspberries will not continue to ripen after you have picked them, and they have an unfortunately short storage life. Refrigerated berries may only last up to three days, so enjoy them fast. You may wish to hold off on washing them until you are ready to eat them to prevent them from soaking up the water and becoming mushy.

To further extend your berry life, consider freezing them! Enjoy!

Do you remember the windstorm in July? If you do, you probably remember the large gusts and shaking of trees that lead to several downed power lines that left thousands without power and closed roads. (My power didn't come back on until the next day) With a storm as strong as that fresh in everyone's mind, it seemed like a good idea to go over some steps to prepare for future storms.

1. Bring In Furniture

In the summer, most of us spend a good amount of time outside, whether it is on a patio deck, lounging under an umbrella, or with some chairs in the backyard for picnics. Things that can be easily blown away should be kept safe by either bringing them inside, or securing them with weights. Tablecloths, umbrellas, awnings, lawn chairs could all be at risk of being whisked away to the land of Oz.

2. Maintain Your Property

In almost any official storm preparation guide you might get from your state or federal organization, there will be a section dedicated to keeping your land prepared by proper trimming of dead branches and trees, as well as keeping a well maintained roof. Worn shingles are at a higher risk for coming loose and causing damage.

3. Be Ready For Power Loss

If you were one of many that was left without power a few weeks back, hopefully you have taken steps to prepare for what will likely happen in the future. Depending on the severity of the storm, power could be out for as short as a few hours, or as long as days. Because of the rural area we live in and the frequency of storms, especially in winter, many people choose to have personal emergency generators. However, they can be expensive, and its hard to know how often they will be used. This article here goes over key things to keep in mind when considering a back-up generator.

As a reminder, we are no longer able to provide our oxygen customers 24-Hour oxygen services for conditions that render you without power. For more information please click here.