The Charleston Real Estate Search.com

Real Vacations are restful

Do you remember when summer vacation meant taking the kids to pick blueberries?  Spending the day at the beach? Going to the dairy farm for the best ice cream in town? Modern consumerism has convinced us that if we’re not spending thousands of dollars going to exotic places then we’re just not on vacation but I completely disagree. ”Getting out there” doesn’t have to mean going into debt.  It could just mean getting outside of your normal routine to discover or rediscover something you enjoy. 

Southern blueberries bushes are 8-10 feet tall- Easy picking!

The concept of “vacation” dates back to the 14^th century when farmers were given time off of daily chores for respite.  It was intended as a period of inactivity, when normal work is suspended so that enjoyable activities or rest could ensue.

This summer as you plan your vacation, why not consider doing something restful and fun?   If your life is too complicated for long vacations, do what I do, take mini vacations.  Spend the morning picking fruit at one of the local pick-your-own farms.  Make a pie and invite friends to share it with you.  For the next few weeks, our local farms are open for blueberries, blackberries and tomatoes. 

Here’s a list of pick-your-own farms around Charleston.  If you live elsewhere, go to this link to find one near you.

Charleston County

• Ambrose Family Farm – Follows organic practices, asparagus, beans, blackberries, blueberries, flowers, onions, peas, strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables, Other fruit or veg,
  2349 Black Pond Lane Selkirk Plantation Road off Liberia Road, Wadmalaw Island, SC 29487. Phone: 843-559-0988. Alternate Phone: 843-559-9999. Fax: 843-559-9957. Email: ambrosecsa@stonofarmmarket.com. Open: Monday to Saturday, from 9 am to 5 pm During Strawberry Season, April and May, we are open on Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm. Directions: Highway 700 (Maybank Highway) onto Wadmalaw Island. 7 miles from the Wadmalaw Isle bridge turn right onto Liberia Road 1 mile exactly, left onto Selkirk Plantation Road Take an IMMEDIATE Left through the farm gate. At the fork in the road, you may go right onto Bears Bluff Road At the 4 Way Stop Intersection, turn left onto Liberia Road. Turn right at the first drive onto Selkirk Plantation Road and take an IMMEDIATE left through the farm gates. Click here for a map and directions. Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Click here for current open hours, days and dates. April, May, June. We follow organic practices, but are not seeking certification. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa/MasterCard. We have the largest CSA in the Charleston Area.  Our Spring 2009 Membership is now open; click here for more information. (UPDATED: March 27, 2009)
• Boone Hall Farms – strawberries, peaches, tomatoes, pumpkins and Christmas trees
  1235 Long Point Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29465. Phone: 843-856-5366, and also 843-884-4371. Email: bhpsara@aol.com. Claims to be one of America’s oldest working plantations. “We have been continuously growing and producing crops for over 320 years. Once known for cotton and pecans, we are still actively producing peaches, strawberries, tomatoes, and pumpkins, as well as many other fruits and vegetables for our visitors to enjoy. Our U-Pick fields are open in season, and we are looking forward to the Grand Opening of the Boone Hall Farm’s Market in summer 2003.
• Champney’s Blueberry Farm – blueberries, and prepicked produce
  4492 Rose Drive, Ravenel, SC 29470. Phone: 843-763-6564. Fax: 843-832-6052. Email: champneysblueberries@gmail.com. Directions: From Citadel Mall take highway 17 south towards Savannah. Travel approximately 8 miles and you will see our sign on the right. It will be 1/2 mile south of the intersection of highway 17 and highway 162. And for a map to our farm, Click here. Open: Monday thru Saturday 9:00am til 8:00pm Payment: Cash, only. We also have the garden shed at Champney’s Farm that carries flowering plants and shrubs
• King’s Market – Vegetables, Peaches, Blackberries
  2559 Hwy. 174, Edisto Is, SC 29449. Phone: 843-869-3600. Email: Kingsfarmmarket@aol.com. Open: March – December. Also, Boiled Peanuts, Cut Flowers, Honey, Jams, Jellies, Dressings, Pickles, Rice, Grits, Bakery Items, Shrubs. Directions: 8 miles north of Edisto Beach.
• Plantation U-Pick - Strawberries, Pumpkin Patch, Christmas Trees
  Hwy. 17 N., Mt. Pleasant, SC. Apr 1 – August 31 9 am to 6 PM.
  Pumpkin Patch (August 5 – August 31) Christmas Trees (Nov 27 – December 24)
  Strawberries U-pick or We-pick (Apr 1 – June 10).

Happy Day,