A Berry Sweet Adventure in the Hills of West Virginia

On July 22nd, I went on a mountain adventure I’ll never forget—BBG’s Berry Picking Day in McDowell County at T&T Organics, a Black-owned family farm nestled deep in the hills of West Virginia. A group of 10 of us hiked up into the mountains in search of wild berries… but what we found was so much more than fruit.

The hike was about two miles long. Along the way, we picked berries, tasted a few (okay, more than a few!), and even discovered an old coal mine opening right in the middle of the mountain. That was wild! The land was full of surprises—cabbage, collard greens, apple trees, bees, and wild berries growing everywhere you looked.

After the hike, we headed back to the farm for a delicious home-cooked lunch outside under the sun. We had fried fish, fresh cabbage, mashed potatoes, cornbread, and lemonade. But the best part? Warm blackberry cobbler for dessert—made with berries right from the farm. 

Seeing a Black-owned farm in action was really inspiring. It made me think about agriculture, family history, and how powerful it is to grow your own food. It also made me proud to be from West Virginia.

When we got home, we used the rest of our berries to make smoothies—and even added some on top of ice cream. It was a fun day with my family, out in nature, learning about the land, our roots, and each other.