Updated General Information

We are looking forward For you to drop by Gold Hill Blueberry Farm. Remember to take and share your pictures. Make sure you sign up for e-mail updates (on the top right hand side of this blog page). We will be sharing tasty recipes, blueberry facts, stories and updates in the future including when our season starts next year. We will also be posting when other items become available like kiwis, turmeric, lamb and beef. When you sign up, all the posts from the blog will be sent to your e-mail address.

Blueberry Season is Open:

Days & Hours: Friday & Saturday 7:00 a.m.- 7:30 p.m. We still have plenty of blueberries available for picking and at this point we anticipate having berries through the middle of August.
To check on the Blueberry Forecast call 540.222.7954

Blueberry Prices UPDATED: 

General pricing: This year we are selling our juicy PYO blueberries for $3.40 a pound. This is a great price which equates to about only $2.50 a pint. We will be weighing the blueberries onsite.

Please call ahead for your pre-picked order @ 540.222.7954

Payment: 
Cash or check only

What to Bring: 

In additional to this previously posted list: we want you to know there is a bathroom available at the house for your use. Also feel free to bring lunch and a blanket with you. We have a lovely veranda, plus other shady locations to spread a blanket out and have a relaxing lunch before you head home for the day.

Here is a list of additional items you may want to bring with you when you are picking. 
1) Hat
2) Sunblock
3) Bug Spray: we ask if you are using a bug spray to please spray in the parking area, to help keep all chemicals away from the plants...
4) We have containers to pick into.  
5) Bring a bag and/or containers to carry your purchase home. We will have some cartons available.
6) Feel free to bring a blanket, pack a lunch and stay for a spell. 
7) Your smile

Address & Directions:

We are located at 12290 Daffodil Ln, Unionville, VA. 22567(<--Click for Google Map)

If you need other general information please check our first post: General Information

Future News:

We are now offering grass feed lambs and now taking orders for custom butchering. Read this post for more details. Freezer Lamb Now Available
This year we are offering grass feed Angus Beef
All lamb and beef are raised here on the farm, naturally on open pasture. From birth until they are processed they roam around on the farm.
Hormone free and antibiotic free.
If you are interested in getting in line for purchasing meat please call 540.222.7954

4 TIPS: Freezing Blueberries

Guest post from our long time friend Perky Gramma Teaches who helps us out on the farm. 
Remember we sell pre-picked fresh blueberries by the pint for only $3.50.
We also have 2 pint bags of frozen blueberries available for only $7.00 (quart). These are available now and through out the winter while our supply lasts. We actually ran out last year.
All we ask is that you call ahead so we are able to pick your berries for you at (540) 222-7954.

I know that freezing blueberries seems very simplistic. Here a few nifty tips on freezing your blueberries.

Freezing Blueberries:

We love having blueberries all year, so we actually freeze a lot of them for our own use. Personally I find that freezing high quality blueberries is well worth it when they are in season instead of using blueberries from the grocery store.


TIP: Do not wash the blueberries before freezing this will cause them to freeze together. Remember the berries grown at Gold Hill Blueberry Farm are grown without chemicals, pesticides or herbicides. If you are unsure about the growing conditions of your blueberries and feel that you need to wash them, then make sure you pat them dry before freezing. It you pack them dry, they will roll out easily from the freezer bags.

Place dry, unwashed, and unsweetened berries in freezing containers or plastic freezer bags. Seal and freeze. The berries will freeze individually and pour out like marbles. Keep frozen until ready to use.
I am finally getting some to time to sit and tell you what I did last weekend. Last week I spent some time unpacking 120 pints of blueberries and repacking them in gallon zip-lock freezer bags. 

TIP: Two pints will fit in a quart sized zip lock freezer bag, which is a size convenient for using in recipes. Eight pints will fit into a gallon zip lock freezer bag.

Another great TIP: I had two large pots (large bowls work also) that I stuffed the freezer bags in when I was filling them. That way it had more of a flat bottom to allow me not to have to use my hands to hold the bag open as I poured and the few berries that missed went into the pot instead of rolling all over my porch. Though a few berries still escaped. 

This week I added 20 gallons of blueberries to the freezer!

Then you know me, I made up little packages with coffee and a pint of blueberries and a card from Gold Hill Blueberry Farm to give to my new neighbors and an electrician that came out to the farm to run electricity to our new garage. I do whatever I am able to do to promote my friend's business. 

One last TIP I shared before: Do not thaw your frozen blueberries when you are going to bake with them. Always add them frozen so they will not "bleed" in your baked goods.

Make sure you sign up for e-mail updates (on the top right hand side of this blog page). We will be sharing tasty recipes, blueberry facts, stories and updates in the future including when our season starts next year. We will also be posting when other items become available like kiwis, turmeric, lamb and beef. When you sign up, all the posts from the blog will be sent to your e-mail address. It's that simple to keep up to date with what is happening on the farm.

Gold Hill Blueberry Farm

Freezer Lamb Now Available for Ordering

We are now offering grass fed lambs and taking orders for custom butchering. All of our lambs are raised here on the farm, naturally on open pasture. From birth until they are processed they roam around on the farm. They are all raised hormone free and antibiotic free.
They are raised feeding on grass. But the ewes were given a corn/grain feed supplement during gestation and early lactation, since hay in the winter does not provide enough energy for the mammas.

Lambs are sold at $2.00/lb live weight, plus the cost of butchering at a facility of your choice, which is usually $80-100.
We can do one at the weight range you prefer, but many people prefer one that is 80-110 lbs. 
We currently have 33 lambs, some are currently in the 75-80 pound range now and most will be in the 75 -100 lb range by September. 
 You may expect about 1/3 of live weight in actual meat once it is processed. The butchers will have options for different cuts.
If you are interested in getting in line for purchasing meat please call 540.222.7954.

Best Blueberry Pie Recipe

Best Blueberry Pie

You will need a bottom & top crust for this delicious pie.

1 quart of blueberries

3/4 cup sugar

3 tablespoons flour

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Mix together in a bowl smashing some of the berries.

Place mixture into the bottom pie crust.

Cut 2 tablespoons of butter into 4 pieces. Lay butter pats on top of blueberry mixture.

Place top pie crust on, sealing at edges (so juice doesn't run out while baking).

Cut design in top crust (to allow steam to escape during baking).

Bake for 30 minutes @ 415 degrees. Cover edge of crust with foil and bake another 20 minutes until center of top crust is flaky light brown. Remove from oven, cool on rack. Enjoy.

Susan' s Secret: Although this recipe works well with fresh berries, I find that there is less liquid when frozen berries are used. Recent studies show that when frozen or cooked blueberries are eaten, they are more easily digested and our bodies absorb more of the antioxidants!

Our Favorite Blueberry Cobbler Recipe (Simple)

Melt one stick of butter in a 9x13 cake pan by placing in the warming oven.

Mix: 1 cup of milk, 1 cup of self-rising flour, 1 cup of sugar & 1 teaspoon almond extract.
Pour over melted butter, do not stir.
Add 1 - 2 quarts of blueberries. Sprinkle with cinnamon & sugar.

Bake 45 minutes at 350. Goes great with vanilla ice cream!

How to Freeze Your Blueberries

Freezing Blueberries:

We love having blueberries all year, so we actually freeze a lot of them for our own use. Here a few nifty tips on freezing your blueberries.
Do not wash the blueberries before freezing. Remember our berries are grown without any chemicals.

Place dry, unwashed, and unsweetened berries in freezing containers or plastic bags. Seal and freeze. The berries will freeze individually and pour out like marbles. Keep frozen until ready to use.

Do not thaw your frozen blueberries when you are going to bake with them. Always add them frozen so they will not "bleed" in your baked goods.
Don't forget we also have pre-picked pints of blueberries on hand, so you will have plenty of berries for the rest of the year. Call ahead for a pre-picked order at (540) 222-7954.

Super Simple Blueberry Ice Cream

This Blueberry Ice Cream recipe treat is from a friend of ours.

You don't even have to have an ice cream maker to enjoy ice cream.
I started making this tasty treat over 30 years ago, when I was a single mom. 

Three ingredients: Frozen blueberries, sugar, half & half.

I tend to not cook with recipes, I taste & fiddle with ingredients as I make things. For two servings I use about a cup of blueberries in my blender, add enough milk so the blueberries are still peeking through & add enough sugar to taste (about 1/3 cup).

 Pulse & blend until the ice cream is smooth.

 Eat & enjoy! It is really that easy. 

 This works with any frozen fruit you want.

Tiny Blueberry Miracles...

We often don't take the time to notice the little things. There are tiny miracles all around us everyday.
Last year some children were picking blueberries at the farm and saw this wee little birds nest with one blueberry inside. They got so excited and they insisted that the adults come over to see their tiny little miracle.
Picture perfect moment, picture perfect day.
Berry picking is a great family adventure in the summer time. 
Fresh air, sunshine, laughter and memories built together. Let us adults not forget, that this time is so precious while they are young. Build some wonderful memories with your children this summer.
Make blueberry ice cream
Make a blueberry pie
Make blueberry juice
Stuff blueberries in your mouth
Follow us as we are going to be sharing some recipes to increase your summer fun and someday in the future you will be able to reminiscence about the days you spent at the farm
Last thought...take pictures...I'm glad I did.

A. General Information

There are exciting changes this year at the Gold Hill Blueberry Farm and we are looking forward to seeing you. Make sure you sign up for e-mail updates (on the top right hand side of this blog page). We will be sharing tasty recipes, blueberry facts, stories and updates in the future and you sign up, all the posts here will be sent to your e-mail address.

Blueberry Season is Open:

Blueberries are ready for picking.
We are open on Friday & Saturdays; from 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
To check on the Blueberry Forecast call 540.222.7954

Blueberry Prices UPDATED: 

This year we are selling our juicy PYO blueberries for $3.40 a pound. This is a great price which equates to about only $2.50 a pint. We will be weighing the blueberries onsite.

Payment: 
Cash or check only

What to Bring: 

Here is a list of items you may want to bring with you when you are picking. 
1) Hat
2) Sunblock
3) Bug Spray: we ask if you are using a bug spray to please spray in the parking area, to help keep all chemicals away from the plants...
4) We have containers to pick into.  
5) Bring a bag and/or containers to carry your purchase home. We will have some cartons available.
6) Feel free to bring a blanket, pack a lunch and stay for a spell. 
7) Your smile

Blueberry Picking Tips:

Select plump and full blueberries with a light gray-blue color. If there is any hint of red on the blueberries they are not fully ripened. Blue berries will not ripen further once they are picked.

Once blueberries are picked, it's best to leave your picking container open to prevent moisture from forming. Remember they are still warm from being in the sun. 

Fresh Blueberry Tips:

Remember your blueberries are grown naturally without any chemicals, so they are safe to eat immediately. You will want to refrigerate your blueberries soon after picking which increases the shelf life. If refrigerated, fresh-picked blueberries will keep 10 to 14 days.

If you do wash your blueberries wait until just before eating or using in your recipes otherwise they become mushy. Unwashed blueberries will stay fresh for up to two weeks in the refrigerator if kept dry.

A bathroom for people picking is available.

Address & Directions:

We are located at 12290 Daffodil Ln, Unionville, VA. 22567(<--Click for Google Map)

Future News:

We are now offering grass feed lambs and taking orders for custom butchering.
2016 we will be offering grass feed Angus beef.
All lamb and beef are raised here on the farm, naturally on open pasture. From birth until they are processed they roam around on the farm.
Hormone free and antibiotic free.
If you are interested in getting in line for purchasing meat please call 540.222.7954