It's harvest time in Colorado! Visit these great pick-your-own farms for a super fun experience with a healthy pay-out!
Whether you're into fresh strawberries or gorgeous flowers, a pick-your-own farm can be a ton of fun! Kids love it, and with all the organic produce available at your fingertips (literally), the you-pick experience makes you feel at one with nature in an oh-so-very-Colorado way. The fruit, veggie, and flower pickins' will change from week to week, depending on the season and the availability, so you'll want to check with each farm to see what crops are ready for picking and when!
Here are our picks:
Berry Patch Farms
Farm Hours: Tues. and Thur.: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturdays: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
This 40-acre working farm in Brighton has been in business since 1991. Right now, they have basil, pickling cucumbers, flowers, strawberries, and red raspberries -- all ready for picking! Strawberries and red raspberries will increase as August comes to an end.
Miller Farms
Ya-Ya Farm and Orchard
6914 Ute Hwy Longmont, CO 80503 [gallery size="large" ids="21731,21732,21733,21738"] Hours: August -- Fri.–Sun., 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. September & October -- Tues.–Fri., 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Sat.–Sun., 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. The orchard had limited fruit this year, so no more pick-your-own fruit is available. But herbs and veggies abound -- like mint, oregano, basil, lemon balm, dill, cucumbers, squash, heirloom tomatoes, peppers, carrots, horseradish, turnips, peas, beans, kale, arugula, and more! Flowers include lavender, sunflowers, zinnias, and multiple kinds of bulbs. Pumpkins can be picked starting in October.Ferrara's Happy Apple Farm
1190 1st Street Penrose, CO 81240 719-429-6300 [gallery columns="2" size="large" ids="21736,21737"] Hours: Wed. – Sun., 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Annual Fall Festival -- Sep. 16-17 The rustic fruit farm has a limited selection of apple-picking this month, as well as pears, blackberries, raspberries, and pumpkins, as the fall months go on. Call ahead so you know what's available for picking before you go!Big B's Juices, Hard Ciders & Delicious Orchards
39126 Highway 133 Hotchkiss, CO 81419 970-872-3065
[gallery columns="2" size="large" ids="21743,21740,21742,21744"]Hours: Mon. – Fri., 9 a.m – 7 p.m. Sat. – Sun., 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
It's getting to be too late to pick cherries for this year, but there are other fruits ready to be picked! This place is definitely going on my bucket list for next summer. Since it's quite the jaunt from Denver (over on the western slope), they even allow on-site camping! Plus, they have an adorable tasting room and cafe. Just call them before you venture out over the hills!
