Family Fun at Libby and Son U-Picks: Blueberries and More

https://www.libbysonupicks.com/

About 1 hour southwest from Portland, Maine, is a large u-pick farm in Limmerick called Libby and Son U-Picks.

This is the quintessential Maine pick your own blueberries weekend activity. Set in rolling wooded hills, on 40 acres of blueberry bushes, apple trees, and peach trees. It feels like a hidden New England garden of Eden.

Except this one comes with homemade apple cider donuts, food trucks, a bar truck, live music, and a children’s play area. It has won many well deserving awards.

Fresh blueberries

Warmed in the sun. The variety and volume of blueberries is unimaginable. They are easily picked and fall off the branches with minimal effort. I had no idea there were so many varieties! There are bushes as far as the eye can see. Even on busy weekend days, we did not feel crowded or rushed. And there are many low lying branches so even the youngest can participate. Apple trees and peach trees are also available for picking.

Getting Around

They also mercifully offer large golf cart transport to and from the further parking lots and the picking fields. These carts rotate frequently along the trails. We have never had to wait more than 5 min before one pulled up. The cart drivers are friendly and readily offer suggestions for what’s “good pickin” that day. This allows families with small children and members with limited mobility to access the fields easily and enjoy the Farm. They even have a cart with a ramp for off road strollers to load!

There are countless spots for amazing Fall photographs for those soon to send holiday cards. (No professional photography allowed without permission).

Tip: Blueberries can be easily washed and dried spread flat on a paper towel. When dry, place on parchment covered cookie sheet in a single layer, then place in freezer for about 24 hours. Once frozen, they can be piled into Ziploc freezer bags for later use. Use them in smoothies, muffins, or waffle syrup all winter long.

Sample itinerary:

Tip: Bring a hat/sunglasses, comfortable shoes (no heels), and a light sweatshirt .

1100 – Arrive at farm and purchase a box for blueberries. This allows up to 6 people into the fields. You will fill it quicker than expected.

11:10 – Everyone use the restroom.

11:15 – Get in line and take golf cart out into blueberries. The driver will drop you where the best ones are.

11:20 – 12:30 – Spend about an hour roaming, sampling, and picking. Don’t forget to grab some family photos with blueberries in the background.

12:35 – Hail a cart back to the main area.

12:40 – Draw straws to see which adult has to haul the berries back to the car. The other adults make all the kids use the restroom again.

12:50 – Return from car. Reward yourself with a beverage from the bar truck. (Please drink responsibly, have a DD).

1:00 – Sit at a picnic table and drink a beverage. Meanwhile, kids can keep busy playing corn hole, yard Connect 4, stacking wood blocks, giant bubbles. They also can climb on some tractors.

1:30 – Kids wash their hands. Grab some lunch from the trucks. We had smashburgers, chicken sandwiches, and cheesesteaks, and all were good. They also offered fries and hot dogs, and some more interesting options as well. Bringing a picnic lunch is also an allowed and smart economical choice for picky eaters. Enjoy the live music.

2:30 – Get in line to design your dozen donuts to bring home. These are made fresh, blueberry, apple cider, pumpkin, and with sugar or glaze topping. (Alternatively, consider heading back out to fields for apple picking).

2:40 – Everyone uses restrooms, again.

3:00 – Last selfie in the big Libby chair (Sorry no professional photography allowed without permission from Libby’s).

We have made this an annual tradition with our family. Do yourself a favor and make it one of yours too. Check the website for hours and weekly picking updates. See you there!

kit@astrayfish.com