Tag Archives: Strawberry festival

It is Strawberry Season on Long Island!

Strawberry Fields: 4 Strawberry Picking Farms on Long Island

The East End of Long Island is ripe with places that will allow you to pick your own strawberries. Deciding where to go can be a challenge, so we’ve hand-picked a few of our favorites. Harvesting your own food is not only fun, it connects you to where your food comes from and supports locals farmers. It also allows you to experience food at it’s freshest, right off the vine. This is especially important for Long Island strawberries, which are sweeter and more delicate than the grocery-store varieties and tend to have a shorter shelf life.

Pick-Your-Own

Lewin Farms
812 Sound Ave., Wading River
631-929-4327
The westernmost farm on our list, Lewin Farms was the first-ever pick-your-own farm on Long Island and has been around for four generations. The farm has its very own farm stand with more than 20 varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables. While you’re there, stop by the corn stand to indulge in the delectable wonder that is sweet, roasted corn! Hours for pick-your-own strawberries are 9am–4:30pm. Call ahead for availability and days that the fields are open.

Harbes Family Farms and Vineyards
715 Sound Ave., Mattituck
631- 298-0800
Farm opens April 27th
This farm makes for a great day trip because of all the exciting things it has to offer, including a barnyard, a farmer’s market, and a country café. Strawberry picking starts in June, and the family even offers tips on how to make delicious homemade strawberry jam. Pick -Your-Own Berries are available 9am–5:30pm.

Organic Pick-Your-Own

Garden of Eve Organic Farm
4558 Sound Ave., Riverhead
631-722-8777
According to Eve, the owner, the Garden’s particular variety of strawberries tend to ripen early, and this year they expect to be open mid-May. In addition to the strawberry picking, young visitors can play in their playground, pet a bunny or chicken, and visit a working bee hive. Classes are offered here year-round for preschoolers through adults.

Golden Earthworm Organic Farm
652 Peconic Bay Blvd., Jamesport
631-722-3302
Pick-your-own strawberries are available on Fridays and Saturdays beginning Memorial Day weekend. You may also purchase farm produce and baked goods. Farm tours are offered during strawberry season and allow you to visit their rare animal breeds.

Strawberry Festivals

Mattituck Lion’s Club Strawberry Festival
1175 Rte. 48, Mattituck
June 13 – 16
At the peak of the strawberry season, this annual festival serves up strawberry shortcake, strawberries dipped in chocolate and strawberries just about any way you can imagine. The festival also offers midway rides, live music and more than 100 arts-and-crafts vendors. To top it all off, all the proceeds will benefit local nonprofits on the North Fork.

Benners Farm
56 Gnarled Hollow Rd., East Setauket
651-689-8172
The Benners will do the picking for you so you can Indulge in strawberry shortcake (homemade by Mrs. Benner), strawberry ice cream (kids can take a hand in making this), strawberry jam and my personal fave: strawberries dipped in chocolate. While on the farm, kids will have a chance to hold baby chicks, ducks, and bunnies, feed the lambs and goats, and visit a tremendous sow, Honey.

Summer & Water Safety Meeting for Au Pairs

Cindy Garruba’s Suffolk County Au Pairs learned about WATER & SUMMER SAFETY to prepare for childcare this summer with their host children on Long Island!  Though it was a bit cloudy and cool, the au pairs enjoyed the Northville beach and the heated pool. 

006Cindy taught the au pairs to recognize poison ivy to prevent exposure, and what to do if unfortunately a child or the au pair develop the rash. Everyone agreed sunscreen and avoiding the peak sun is very important.  We discussed prevention tips and what to do if someone gets a sunburn.  We even discussed deer ticks, lymes disease, splinters, and basic first aid.

We reviewed the ways to keep children safe around pools and on the beach.  EVERY AU PAIR IN SUFFOLK COUNTY WILL BE ON THE BEACH OR IN A POOL THIS SUMMER.  Water safety is essential for good childcare this summer.  Josi and Kristina really enjoyed the pool and know the importance of water safety!!

  • 007The most important lesson for the day was that everyone must learn how to swim. 
  •  Never take your eyes off the kids around water
  • At the beach, swim near the lifeguard, but still keep your eyes on the kids, the lifeguard is there for emergencies!
  • Keep a phone outside near the pool for emergencies.
  • Learn Red Cross CPR – Au Pair in America gives scholarships for Red Cross classes!
  • Keep access to pools locked when not in use this includes doors from the house and gates to the back yard.
  •  No running around pools!
  • No diving in shallow water
  • Keep life saving equipment in pool area – poles & flotation devices
  • Tubes and lifejackets on children are not substitues for adult supervision
  • Keep toys out of and away from the pool when not in use, children might follow them into the water!
  • If a child is missing, check the pool first!!!!

008The au pairs had time to socialize with each other.  We talked about some upcoming summer activities including going to a see Mary Poppins on Broadway in July and to a Long Island Ducks Baseball game in August.  It is Strawberry Season on Long Island and Cindy served some strawberry shortcake and the au pairs loved it.  She encouraged them to visit the farms this season to pick your own berries or just go to the farm stands to buy fresh fruit and vegetables this summer.  There are some Strawberry Festivals in Suffolk County.  Cindy’s favorite is the Mattituck Strawberry Festival.  This year it is June 17, 18 & 19.  http://mattituckstrawberryfestival.org/

         HAVE A SAFE AND FUN SUMMER EVERYONE!

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