Just got back from Keatons blueberry farm. It was great. It is a little family farm with 20 or more rows of blueberry bushes/trees. Many were much taller than I and you could get behind them for some shade while picking. The farm is a bit out of the way but there are signs to follow if you have a sharp eye.(yeah, we got lost)
We went to another blueberry farm near Covington a few weeks ago so here are the pros and cons or differences and similarities :
The biggest difference is the price. $4 per gallon at Keatons, $10 per gallon every where else.
The other farm we went to was Blue Harvest. They have a large shelter with picnic tables, fans, and bottle water for sale. Keatons is a home. There is one picnic table under a tree but I think I saw one other person the entire time we were there so crowding was not an issue.
Blue Harvest opened up a limited number of rows to pick from keeping everyone in one area. the rows were neat and well weeded. Keatons let us go were ever. She tried to keep us up front were the rows were nice and neat. The back rows were full of vines and the occasional thorny plant but also full of blueberries. Personally I like wild and overgrown and the kids like running and hiding from each other.
Another thing is bathrooms. BH has porta-potties which are very clean as far as porta-potties go. I dislike all porta-potties so when we went to Keatons I made sure we stopped at a gas station before we got there. At Keatons I did not see any porta-potties and while they were very nice I would feel awkward asking to use the restroom in their home.
As far as distance form New Orleans it was about the same. Because of where I live it is easier for me to get to the twin span(Keatons) than the causeway(BH).
BH is open Friday and Saturday only, Keatons is open 7 days a week.
BH gives you a strap to hang your bucket like a purse and Keatons doesn't but Keatons has little kid buckets which you just dump into your bucket as they fill them.
Suggestions:
Pack a cooler with lots of drinks. Even if you go to BH $1 for a water can blow a budget when temperatures get past 90 degrees. We drank 2 or 3 bottles each and poured a bit on the head of the 3 year old.
sunscreen and more sunscreen.
CLOSED TOE SHOES! I wore flip flops and was bitten by ants all over my toes the first time. Shrimpin boots or galoshes are ideal because it can get messy out there. There were fire ants at both farms and I believe that neither farm uses pesticides.
Wash cloth or small towel to wipe you hands and face. It get sweaty out there.
Probably the most important thing is to go early. It was still in the 70's when we started picking and it gets hotter fast. read more