a peek inside the fishbowl

01 Jul, 2014

Enjoying the fruits of our labour on Canada Day

Posted by andrea tomkins in: - Ottawa for kids|Easy ways to make kids happy|Ottawa|Recipes and Food

It’s not Canada Day in Ottawa if it doesn’t include some strawberries. We went to our usual U-pick strawberry farm the other day: Richmond Nurseries on Richmond Road at Fallowfield.

It was stinking hot, but when there’s four people filling three big baskets (and a promise of strawberry milkshakes afterwards) it goes pretty quickly.

Richmond Nurseries is a no-frills operation. There are no pony rides or food trucks. No concession stands or gift shops or cartoon characters to entertain the kids. You grab a basket, find your assigned row, get down, and get pickin’. Heaven help you if you’ve forgotten your sunscreen or need to use the W.C. (There are a couple portapotties, but still.)

I say this, not because there’s anything wrong with this kind of operation, just that it should be perfectly clear that (a) they mean business and (b) you have the right kind of expectations when/if you go. The berries are splendid, that’s the important part.

The big berry at Richmond Nurseries strawberry farm. #latergram

Picnic area at Richmond Nurseries strawberry farm Ottawa

Strawberries taste like sunshine

Best Strawberry picking in Ottawa

Strawberries in Ottawa

Strawberries all ready to eat

My advice to fans of strawberry picking farms in Ottawa? Go now, because the season will be over very soon!


5 Responses to "Enjoying the fruits of our labour on Canada Day"

1 | Annie @ PhD in Parenting

July 1st, 2014 at 12:48 pm

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I ordered two large boxes of strawberries from Ottawa Organics for pick-up this week. I can’t wait to eat them fresh, bake with them, and freeze them for use in smoothies all winter long. I’m a huge fan of strawberries, but there is such a difference between the fresh ones that are available now and the tasteless ones you get in the grocery store in the winter.

2 | andrea tomkins

July 1st, 2014 at 2:48 pm

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There is a HUGE difference Annie! Just the smell alone!

3 | Brenda A

July 1st, 2014 at 1:57 pm

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If you ever want to get rid of your green vintage Tupperware colander let me know! I LOVE mine dearly but melted it on the stove top a few years ago!

4 | andrea tomkins

July 1st, 2014 at 2:48 pm

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This one belongs to my MIL, but there are lots of them on eBay!

5 | Strawberry picking in Ottawa >> a peek inside the fishbowl

July 2nd, 2014 at 11:55 am

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[…] Edited to add: check out this post about our favourite place to pick strawberries in Ottawa! […]

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