What’s one of our favorite parts of the summer season? Eating ripe blueberries right off the bush, of course.

We all know that warm weather means these sweet little berries will be ripened and ready for snacking in no time. Take a walk around the Grange Hamlet and you’ll seriously find a blueberry bush on every corner, residents are lucky they grab a handful as they walk the streets of Grange. Grange is dedicated to all things agriculture, as is also home to Serenbe Farms and plenty of other edible landscaping. Here you’ll find herbs such as rosemary, thyme, and basil, just to name a few. Shout out to Serenbe Landscaping crew who work endlessly to ensure everything is well managed and beautiful.

We love all the edible plants in Grange, but let’s get back to these delicious and nutritious blueberries. Blueberries are native to Georgia and have one of the longest growing seasons of April through mid-July. These tasty and super popular fruits are known as a superfood, packed with an incredible amount of nutrients. Just one cup of blueberries contains fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Manganese and other nutrients while maintaining a low calorie count. Who doesn’t love a superfood with barely any calories but high nutrition density? On top of that, blueberries are believed to have the highest antioxidant level of any fruit or vegetable. Antioxidants protect your body from damaging agents that can lead to harmful diseases, such as cancer. According to a Healthline article, blueberries are also known to lower blood pressure, protect cholesterol in your blood from becoming damaged, help maintain brain function and improve memory, may help prevent heart disease, and can even have anti-diabetes effects, among other health benefits. So, needless to say, these tiny berries sure do pack a healthy punch!

So now that we know how beneficial eating blueberries can be for our overall health, what are some ways we can consume blueberries? Well, if you’re planning to move to Serenbe soon, be prepared to eat them straight off the bush - which (in our opinion) is the best way! Obviously eating any fruit or vegetable raw is going to be the most nutrient-dense way to eat, but we understand that could easily lead to blueberry burnout. One easy (and kid-friendly) way to pack in your blueberries every day are smoothies! Throw a cup of berries in with some of your other favorite fruits or veggies, add some almond or oat milk and blend it together. Simple, colorful and nutritious, even on the go.

Below is a fun, sweet way to prepare blueberries this summer. This recipe comes straight from Marie Nygren herself, and was one of the dishes taught in Camp Serenbe for Cooking & Farming Camp as a way to get kids in the kitchen using fresh ingredients. Keep scrolling to see the recipe and a former camper’s photos of the recipe book they made at camp.

Invite some friends over and have a blueberry cooking party. Share your special dishes with friends and family, and even tag us on instagram with your favorite blueberry dish. The Grange blueberries aren’t for harvesting just some snacking. If you want to pick your own blueberries when at Serenbe, head to our neighbors farm, Wild Fern Ranch, just up the road from us. When blueberries are in season you can stop by Monday through Saturday, open for pick your own from 8am-8pm.

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BLUEBERRY COBBLER

• 1 cup sugar
• ½ cup butter
• 1 cup flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup milk
• 2 cups blueberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice butter and put it in a baking dish to cook in the oven until butter is melted. Mix together all the dry ingredients and then add milk. Pour batter into the melted butter then scatter fruit around. Bake for 30 minutes to 1 hour until middle is set.

Note: Several types of fruit can be used for this recipe. Sliced strawberries, blueberries or sliced peaches can be added raw. If using apples, peel, slice and cook in skillet with ¼ cup butter and 2 tablespoons brown sugar until soft.