Farmer Ted and his wife Matilda live on a farm on the outskirts of Buckleberry. They have a few cows, chickens, goats, a dog, and a number of sheep. They grow pumpkins, cauliflowers, peas, and cabbages. Near their orchard, they have grape vines and strawberry patches. From time to time, they invite the Buckleberry community to come to the farm to help with the harvest. People are rewarded with a sumptuous lunch and usually produce, including Matilda’s award-winning jam.

Spring has arrived and so have the bluebells. The fields have become large purple carpets. This is a sign that Farmer Ted and Matilda need to arrange their bluebell walking tours and strawberry harvest. They invite local artists to join them and take and display photographs. Local craftspeople set up small stalls to form a craft market to sell their goods. The community love to buy homemade items from socks to sweaters, to fudge and cupcakes. There is something for everyone. The community become extremely excited as the event is a highlight on everyone’s spring calendar.

Farmer Ted gave the call out for people to come to the farm on Saturday. Everyone was excited to be able to go to the farm. On the day, musicians set up in the courtyard, craftspeople set up their stalls. People who help with the harvest were dressed in old clothes and brought their own gloves. Strawberry harvesting needs to start early morning so that the strawberries are picked fresh and last longer. Farmer Ted opened the farm gates at 6.am. Farmer Ted made sure all the animals were secure, so to avoid annoying any of the visitors. The visitors could still see the animals in the barn and pens, but everyone was kept safe.

Barry the butcher had set up a barbeque and cooked sausages and eggs for people to eat for breakfast. There is something special about eating freshly cooked food and picnicking. Everyone gathered and chatted, laughed, and ate. The sausages on a bread roll with homemade tomato sauce tasted like heaven. The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. Farmer Ted called everyone together and gave an explanation of harvesting the strawberries. People were given large baskets and cutters and a designated area for harvesting.

As people moved to the strawberry patches, people sang and whistled. Everyone was extremely happy. The mood continued as people picked the strawberries. Basket after basket were filled with the plump, ripe, juicy strawberries. Farmer Ted said that people could eat some as they worked. Everyone did that and had bright red lips and cheeks from the juice of the strawberries. The baskets were placed on a trailer behind a tractor. The tractors then took the strawberries up to the farmhouse. A special shed was used to keep the strawberries cool and fresh.

Matilda used part of the shed to make jam. She used some of the strawberries to give a jam making demonstration. Some of the people decided to use Matilda’s equipment to make jars of jam for themselves. Matilda made jam making look so easy but in fact it was a little trickier than everyone thought. The smell of the jam making and strawberries soon filled the shed. It was a sweet almost flowery smell that filled the air. The smell was good.

At midday, Matilda rang a bell. That was for people to stop work and to have lunch. Large tables had been placed in the courtyard and covered with red and white tablecloths. People sat down to a feast of hamburgers, salad, bread, cheese, elderflower cordial. Nonna Nina and Nonno Nico brought wine and pasta to share. Everyone enjoyed the delicious lunch and spoke about picking the strawberries and jam making. They also talked about the crafts they had bought from the stalls.

After lunch, more strawberry harvesting took place. People also took time to visit the bluebell fields and walked among the flowers. Matilda handed out bags for the bluebells to be collected for people to take home. The bluebells smelt of a strong sweet fragrance almost like honey. Some people said they smelt like cloves and cinnamon. Matilda encouraged people to take as many of the flowers as possible as they were on her farm and free to take. She noted that they are a protected species in the wild and are not allowed to be taken. So, the taking of Matilda’s flowers was considered something special.

At 3pm, Matilda rang the bell again. People gathered in the courtyard for afternoon tea. People enjoyed freshly made milky tea, scones, cream, and homemade jam. The craftspeople tried to make their last sales for the day, and the photographer displayed photos for people to see and order. Farmer Ted gave a big “Thank You!” Matilda had arranged “Goody Bags” for people to take home. Inside each bag, Matilda had put an assortment of vegetables and homemade treats. They were sure to put a smile of people’s faces. Those who made jam collected their jars, bags of bluebells were available too.

Farmer Ted and Matilda cleaned up after the day and the last of the musicians, craftspeople and visitors all went home. Farmer Ted let some of the animals out of the barn and pens, so they were free to roam. Feeling tired, Farmer Ted and Matilda went inside the farmhouse and enjoyed bread, cheese, pickles, and ham with cups of coffee. They went to bed and fell fast asleep.