Open for the 2023 Season on 7/15! Make your reservation here >>
If your family loves the U-Pick fruit experience at a picturesque pastoral country farm, Duckworth Family Farm in Sebastopol is your new favorite summer day trip. I recently took my four kids (ages 3-10) for a beautiful Saturday full of blueberry picking, visiting donkeys, indulging in homemade blueberry ice cream, and a sense of well-being that can only come from being outdoors in the countryside.
So, make a reservation and pack a lunch for the perfect summer weekend day trip to Duckworth Family Farm.
Duckworth Family Farm for East Bay Families
Our family loves fruit picking, be it raspberries, strawberries, stone fruit, apples, pumpkins, or pomegranates. But we had yet to try our hand at blueberry picking. I happened upon Duckworth Family Farm while researching summer U-Pick options in the Bay Area. And while only one of my four children like blueberries (I know), I still figured it was worth a try for the farm experience and rumors of delicious homemade blueberry ice cream. As it turns out, blueberry picking is the most child-friendly of all the U-Pick fruits we’ve tried (though raspberry picking is a close second). The bushes are perfectly kid-height. And unlike picking apples or peaches, where the pounds (and $$$) add up surprisingly quickly, blueberry picking is ideal for the enthusiastic picker. It takes a lot of blueberries to get to a pound!
Duckworth Family Farm Extras
Even if you’re not a huge fan of blueberries, Duckworth Family Farm has so much more to offer. There are several antique trucks that kids can climb in and pretend to drive (a big hit with all my kiddoes). Transportation-loving littles will also appreciate the tractors, bulldozers, and an enormous combine harvester. For your animal-loving kids, there are two very cute donkeys who will nibble carrots out of outstretched palms, as well as several horses running around the pasture. Also, the adorable little carousel for the smallest children is beyond cute. For summer 2022, there’s a new covered picnic area and other blueberry baked goods, including blueberry biscuits and blueberry pesto focaccia. And last but not least, don’t forget to try the creamy homemade blueberry ice cream for an after-lunch treat!
Duckworth Family Farm Details
It’s about an hour’s drive from the East Bay to get to Duckworth Family Farm. You’ll need to make a reservation and pay $5 cash for parking. The (organic) berries themselves cost $5.99 per pound (wholesale pricing). Ice cream is $5 and the carousel is complimentary. Otherwise, there’s no entry fee or other markups. You can bring lunch and enjoy one of the many tables and shaded areas to spread out and relax in the bliss that is fresh air and wide-open space. There are also several ponds with geese as well as chickens, donkeys, and horses. Plenty to keep everyone entertained!
Pro Tip: Try this Blueberry Boy Bait recipe… that is if you don’t gobble up all your berries on the ride home.
Location: 2950 Canfield Rd, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Season: Opening in, July for the 2023 season, usually through the end of July. Check their website for updates.
Reservations:Â Check their website on Thursday evenings at 8 pm to secure your Saturday reservation. Slots go fast! Each reservation is per car and once you check in you can stay until the farm closes at 2 pm.
Prices: $5.99 per pound for blueberries (cash or card). $5 parking (cash).
What to Bring
- Hat and sunscreen
- Lunch, water, and snacks
- Layers because the fog will be present until about 10 am
- Wagon to carry everything; it may be a bit of hike from your parking spot
- Blanket to spread out if there aren’t any tables available
- Hand sanitizer, though there are several hand washing stations including before you begin picking
- Cute outfits for your Holiday Card if you’re an overachiever
- NO Dogs
The Bottom Line on Duckworth Family Farm
We’ve been to a lot of U-Pick farms over the years, and Duckworth Family Farm is certainly one of the tops we’ve visited. The ideally sized blueberry bushes are perfect for little kids and the family-friendly extras (ice cream, animals, farm equipment) make a day trip to Sebastopol well worth the trip. I highly recommend a family visit to Duckworth Family Farm if you’re looking to fill a lazy summer weekend with a wholesome farm experience.
