So, it’s Saskatoon season, and I am freaking out over here. It’s my absolute favourite thing to harvest on the farm, and not being there when those juicy, amazing berries are ripe is just about breaking my heart.  I mean, LOOK AT THEM. THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL (sorry for shouting, I just can’t help it).

I’ve never been much for gardening, much to Mom’s dismay.

I used to joke when I was a kid that I would have a garden full of weeds when I was an adult because I was too lazy to pull them. I was convinced that I would discover some brilliant way to season and eat the plants that would grow wild of their own accord, but as Mom pointed out, if there was a way, someone would have already come up with it by now. At one point I attempted to grow some herbs on the fire escape of my apartment, but the squirrels demolished that plan so I’ve taken it as a sign from the universe that gardening is just not for me. I digress.

Despite my general dislike of plant maintenance, I never got tired of filling buckets upon buckets of Saskatoons, and often wouldn’t bother coming in for lunch on the days I was tasked with berry picking. I had usually eaten waaaayy more than I ever dropped into the pail (this love of Saskatoons undoubtedly influenced my nickname from Pop: Huckleberry Finn) .

In any case, the end of July is prime Saskatoon season.

The berries darken from a bright pink to a purple that is sometimes almost blue, and swell with juice that stains your hand when you pick them (as you can see).

They taste like a blueberry, except a million times better.  I’m serious, and I never EVER exaggerate. Apparently they taste similar to Huckleberries, but I’ve never had one, so I’m taking people’s word on that one…

Nothing makes me miss the farm quite like Saskatoon picking, and the family knows it.

Whenever they can Mom and Pop send a few frozen bags of them out my way so I can make a pie or two (more on that later). That being said, nothing beats how beautiful these little guys are when you first pick them: sweet, juicy, a little tart, with a bit of spice, sheer goodness. Mmm mm mmmm. I hope you guys know how jealous I am, and get picking!