Northwestern Ontario blueberries, just starting to turn. Soon they'll be perfectly ripe for picking!
The Promise of Blue: Northwestern Ontario’s Berry Season
Look at these little guys! You can just see them, nestled among the green leaves in Northwestern Ontario, starting to plump up and turn that beautiful dusty rose colour before they settle into their deep blue. This sight always brings a smile, because it means blueberry season is on its way.
For us, this year, it’s particularly exciting because following their growth is the subject of our art and storytelling projects this summer. We’ve been documenting local and regional plants like these, digging into the stories behind them, and learning about how people traditionally and currently use them. It won’t be long now before these go from firm and pale to sweet, juicy, and ready for picking. We pick hundreds of pounds every summer!
Blueberries are truly North American natives, and they absolutely thrive in places like Northwestern Ontario. It’s pretty amazing how they grow on these relatively small bushes, creating carpets of dark berries once they’re ripe. And fun fact: they’re not just delicious; these little powerhouses are famous for being packed with antioxidants – basically, tiny health bombs! Their flavour is that perfect balance of sweet and slightly tart, making them incredibly versatile.
We just love seeing them go from these unripe beauties to the deep blue gems that will fill our pails. Whether they end up in a pie, a batch of muffins, a smoothie, or just eaten by the handful right from the bush, there’s nothing quite like the taste of a fresh, wild Ontario blueberry. This project has given us a wonderful new way to connect with the land and the stories it holds.
The wait is almost over!
