The Strawberry Farm

When you ask your children where strawberries are found and they respond “Woolworths” you realise it’s time to escape the city (only just) and head out to farm country and back to basics.

The Strawberry Farm in Hartebeespoort is a haven for children and adults alike. There is something quite therapeutic about sitting in a field of a working farm on a beautiful, sunny, summer day eating delicious organic strawberries to your hearts content.

Strawberry picking is available on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays from mid-September until early December. The strawberries are organic – no herbicides, pesticides or artificial fertilizers are used to grow them – so you can literally pick them and eat them straight from the soil. I thought my 18 month old may be too young to truly appreciate the experience, but after just one bite she’d cottoned on to the concept and I think she ate her weight in strawberries. So for moms and dads looking for something fun for the whole family – this is definitely one for the memory books (and also makes for Insta-worthy photos!).

Apart from the strawberry picking itself, the farm is also a great place for a picnic (whether you bring your own basket or order from them), a spa day or a sneaky stay-over in their guest house. They also have a fully-operational restaurant on-site called Forage & Feast, with a comprehensive menu that includes a number of items made with fresh strawberries – including scones, waffles, salads, cheesecakes and more.

For the moms and dads…. Their signature strawberry daiquiri is one of the best you’ll ever have and the perfect refreshment after a morning of intensive fruit picking!

Things to note:

The fields opens at 8am and close at 4pm. We went mid-October and by 10h00 it was scorching hot so go early if you can and don’t forget sunblock and hats.
It costs R100 per adult (age 10 and over) and R80 per child – this enables you to eat as many strawberries as you like within the fields (you may go in and out of the fields as many times as you want) and make use of the picnic areas.
Depending on supply, if plentiful, you are provided with a plastic bucket which you can fill with strawberries and weight out on your way out of the field. This will be charged at the going rate per kilogram.
You don’t need to pre-book unless you order a picnic basket from them, but it is advised to go early as it is popular during picking season
It’s a farm and you’re foraging in a field so yes, there is mud. Nothing drastic by any means but I wouldn’t recommend wearing your favourite white sneakers.