Thursday, April 19, 2018

Strawberry Pickin’ Time!

At long last, spring has sprung! And through the haze of pollen, strawberries are calling your name. Let me tell you about our favorite pick-your-own strawberry farm.


Wise Acres is an organic strawberry farm about 40 minutes southeast of uptown Charlotte. The family that owns and runs it lives on the farm. And they’re friendly! You’ll likely see him running the barrel train or walking the fields, and her running the shop in the barn or greeting groups of guests. Wise Acres is committed to producing good, local fruit free of pesticides, herbicides and fumigants. 


The farm is large, but manageable. The strawberry fields greet you upon arrival. To pick, simply grab a carton (they have multiple sizes) from the large red barn and head on over to the sprawling rows of juicy plants. Wagons are available if you need help hefting young pickers. Fill your container, then pay at the barn. Strawberries are $3.29 per pound – and worth every penny!


A word of advice: Play first, then pick.

There are a number of fun activities beyond strawberry-picking that make the outing even more enjoyable. By leaving picking to the end, you don’t have to schlepp your fruit around (especially on a hot sunny day) while you enjoy everything the farm has to offer.


We like the natural play area, which includes a fun, rag-tag assortment of equipment – from a zipline, to stacks of tires, to wooden tree swings, to a refurbished preschool playground set. Best part: This wooded play area is nice and shady!

You can also pay $2 for a barrel train ride and there is a small animal farm with goats, pigs, chickens and rabbits.


If you get hungry, there are picnic tables for a lunch or snacks you pack from home, or goodies for purchase in the barn (slushies!!) and, on select days, wood-fired, locally sourced, natural pizza from Wise Pie Pizza Kitchen. Check the Wise Pie schedule.

Portable toilets are available for bathroom breaks.

The sun is shining and the temps are lovely! Go ahead and make a day of strawberry picking (but check the schedule first; Wise Acres is closed Mondays and Thursdays and open different hours during weekdays versus the weekend.) On a pretty spring day, it’s an enjoyable outing for the whole family. 


How to get there:
Wise Acres Organic Farm is located at 4701 Hartis Road, Indian Trail, NC 28079. The gravel parking area will be obvious. Head toward the big red barn to start.


Don’t forget to pack:

  • Hats, sunglasses and sunscreen: The wooded play area is blissfully shady, but the strawberry fields are not.
  • Water: On a warm day, stay hydrated.
  • Snacks: Picnic tables are available for a quick break.
  • Comfortable shoes: Something you don’t mind getting a little dusty.



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