Coastal Mountains Land Trust invites everyone to pick berries at the Beech Hill Preserve.

As CMLT did last year, instead of selling blueberries, the land trust is offering a week of community free picks, from Sunday, July 20 through Saturday, July 26, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., each day, with the exception of Thursday, July 24, which will be from 1 - 7 p.m. 

To take part, please register ahead of time. Visit CMLT's website at www.coastalmountains.org and look for the button (“Blueberry Free Pick”) on the homepage to register, no phone calls please. Participants should bring their own picking containers, water bottles and sun protection. Raking is not permitted. 

"In order maintain our organic certification, please remember that dogs are not allowed in the fields, so please leave them at home," said CMLT.

If you have any questions, email info@coastalmountains.org.

CMLT is looking for volunteers to help it harvest remaining blueberries for local food pantries. Coastal Mountain staff will lead volunteers in raking and/or winnowing (cleaning and packing) blueberries on Monday, July 28 and Tuesday, July 29, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Volunteers can help for either half or a full day and will get to take home some berries for their help. To volunteer, email jacks@coastalmountains.org. 

Beech Hill Preserve in Rockport is a 295-acre conservation property, managed for wildlife habitat, certified organic blueberry production, historic preservation, and scenic values.