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Fun fact: My husband Jake is from Cleveland, Oklahoma, a little town outside of Tulsa. So when we heard about a strawberry farm you can pick your own strawberries at in a small town near Birmingham called Cleveland, Alabama, we knew we had to go. Jake and I both love fresh fruit, so strawberry picking was high on our agenda this spring. It had rained the morning of our outing (rain seems to follow us), so we were not positive we would be able to go. Luckily it stopped raining just in time. I was so excited that Jake had the afternoon off and we could do something fun outside. After visiting Pepper Place (Birmingham’s farmers’ market), we headed to Jerry Marsh Farms in Cleveland, which is about a 45 minute drive from downtown Birmingham. You drive through the middle of nowhere to get there, which is what I fully expected.
Jake and I have always wanted to go strawberry picking, but we didn’t know of a place in Oklahoma. We were glad to find several options near us in Alabama. Since it rained, it was a little muddy, but we were careful to step around it. I was glad that I wore tennis shoes for this reason. Jerry’s farm has acres and acres of strawberry fields. We met Jerry himself who advised us to go to the back of the property, since it would likely not be as picked over. Sure enough, while the closer rows had been picked over pretty well by that point in the day, there were lots of good ones left to be had further out. Jake and I had fun competing to see who could get the best basket of strawberries (Jake claims his was better).
When picking the strawberries, I knew I would be bending over a lot. I picked a midi dress for that reason and as soon as I saw this gingham dress I knew it was what I wanted to wear. I didn’t think it would come in time, but luckily it literally came right before we left. Gingham screams spring, so I feel like it was perfect for this activity. It was a bit hot once we moved around and picked from many different vines. Of course, from all of the bending over, my front button was open the entire time and Jake didn’t notice. Luckily it was not too noticeable in pictures (just keeping it real that wardrobe malfunctions do happen to me all the time).
As we drove off, it started raining. I was glad we went at literally the perfect time. It was the perfect day! We loved it so much that we plan to try to go apple or peach picking during those seasons. When we got home, we were excited to try the strawberries. They were absolutely delicious too! We had them with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream that night for dessert, and recently I made strawberry cheesecake bars.
What To Make With Your Fresh Strawberries:
- Strawberries and ice cream
- Strawberries and whipped cream
- Strawberry daiquiris
- Strawberry cheesecake
- Strawberry cheesecake bars
- Strawberry ice cream
- Strawberry shortcake
- Strawberry muffins
- Strawberry bread
- Strawberries in a salad
- Strawberries on salmon as a relish
- Strawberry pie
Have you ever been strawberry picking? Comment below with your favorite thing to make with strawberries.
I would love to go strawberry picking!! Love fresh strawberries!!
Jennifer
Effortlessly Sophisticated
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It was so fun. I plan to go again next year. We do too.
Every spring or summer season we try to do something like this at least once too with our kids! it’s so much fun!
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That sounds so fun! I love strawberry picking. We want to go peach picking now.
What a CUTE outfit!! Looks like you two both had fun! 🙂 I want to see if there is a strawberry patch near my city.
xoxo A
http://www.southernbelleintraining.com
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Thank you so much, Annaliese. It was a blast. You should! You would love it. I want to go peach picking next.
Oooh I haven’t gone strawberry picking in ages! There is nothing better at this time of year. My mom makes the best strawberry jelly after we go and we’ll make strawberry shortcake as well. And your outfit is the perfect outfit for strawberry picking. I just adore your hat!
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Strawberry picking is soo fun! They were so delicious too. Ahhh how fun. I would love to make jam. I froze a lot of mine-good idea. Aw thank you. 🙂 When I thought of strawberry picking, gingham came to mind immediately.
I love fresh juicy strawberries. I would love to go for strawberry picking with my son. He loves strawberries too.
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Me too, they are so delicious!
We went years ago in Indiana when our children were little. I think they ate as many as they put in the pails. I haven’t been here yet. Oh, and I love that dress!
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How fun! We loved going, the strawberries were delicious. Thank you so much. 🙂
Adorable! You look so darling in that dress! Now I’m super hungry for strawberries haha. Looks like you guys got a great batch!! Hope you got to make something yummy!
Katherine | http://www.oneswainkycouple.com
Hi Courtney, that is a fun fact that Jake is from a town called Cleveland . I am glad the rain let up so you could go strawberry picking. It must have been nice to meet the owner and him tell you where to pick. Good choice with the tennis shoes! Oh Jake , I am sure your wife had an equally good basket of strawberries!! Such a lovely gingham dress, the length is perfect for having to do a lot of bending over . I am glad the wardrobe malfunction was not too serious, sometimes men don’t see the obvious! I am glad the strawberries were so good, I would love to get your bars recipe sometime. I have to say you are dressed perfectly for a day picking. The straw hat and bag go well with the dress. Have a nice weekend Dear, Terri xo.
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I didn’t realize Alabama had a Cleveland too. I am so glad we got to go after all. Hahha too funny, he thought his were better. He was a little more picky than I was. Hahahha yes, men don’t notice, I was glad It wasn’t too obvious or surely he would notice. Here is the strawberry bar recipe: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/52776626870234592/ Thank you for your kind words. Xoxo- Courtney
Thanks for the recipe Courtney!! I am sure Jake would have noticed eventually! Have a great rest of your week, Terri xo.
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Let me know if you try the strawberry cheesecake bars 🙂 Thank you, I hope you do too.
I will Courtney, I have the recipe bookmarked. I will have to make with store bought Strawberries if I make it soon, It will be a while before we have any growing here! Happy Thursday, Terri xo.
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Oh yay! I would probably recommend following the instructions on the back of the jello packet because the texture was a bit off, but other than that it was yummy.