Quality of Life 20/07/02

2020, part 2
More businesses and organizations in New Hampshire are reopening and the state is coming out of shutdown mode. But we’re certainly not back to what life was like in January and who knows what “normal” is going to look like in the coming months. So, in this second half of 2020, QOL will restart the QOL meter, and restart at 50, as we do at the beginning of each year, recognizing that no 100-point meter can really gauge what it’s like to live in this unprecedented time (or accurately reflect all that has changed in the last few months).
QOL score: ?
Comment: There has been a lot of sadness over these past few months, a lot of frustration and a lot of fear. But there have been moments of optimism too. QOL will try to keep doing what QOL does best — pointing out the good stuff and the bad stuff that is part of life here in southern New Hampshire.

First in the nation!
New Hampshire is the most patriotic state in the country, according to a study from WalletHub, which used data of 13 “key indicators of patriotism” to compare the 50 states. Among other findings, New Hampshire ranked first in Civics Education Requirement, fourth in Percentage of Adults Who Voted in the 2016 Presidential Election, sixth in Peace Corps Volunteers Per Capita, and 10th in Veterans per 1,000 Civilian Adults.
QOL score: +1
Comment: Following New Hampshire on the list was Wyoming, then Idaho, Alaska and Maryland, while California, New York and New Jersey were listed as the three least patriotic states in the country, according to WalletHub’s data.

Prices at the pump
The average gas price in New Hampshire was $2.07 as of June 29, according to GasBuddy, which is 13.6 cents per gallon higher than a month ago but 52.4 cents lower per gallon than during this week last year. New Hampshire’s cheapest station was $1.83 per gallon, and the most expensive station was $2.29 per gallon. Though the prices have been rising gradually in recent weeks, they dropped slightly last week nationwide, likely due to a resurgence in Covid-19 cases, according to GasBuddy. “Motorists across the country will likely be influenced by what develops in those areas — improvement and a slowdown in Covid would cause gas prices to continue rising, while a continued resurgence in Covid-19 cases and a drop in gasoline demand will mean lower gas prices,” Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in the release.
QOL score: 0 (because while $2.07 is low, that under $2 was such a welcome silver lining)
Comment: This is setting the state up to potentially have the lowest gas prices on the Fourth of July holiday since 2004, according to GasBuddy.

Great state for kids
The annual Annie E. Casey Foundation report found that New Hampshire is the second best state in the country for children’s well-being. The Granite State ranked second in the family and community domain, which includes data like Children in Single-Parent Families (30 percent in 2018) and Children Living in Poverty (1 percent in 2018). New Hampshire ranked fifth in the education domain and sixth in both the health and economic well-being domains.
QOL Score: +1
Comment: Massachusetts is the best state for children’s well-being, according to the report, beating New Hampshire in the education (second) and health (first) domains.

QOL score: 50
Net change: +2
QOL this week: 52
What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at [email protected]

Fostering hope

New foster care program supports young adults

In April, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Division for Children, Youth and Families launched the Hope Program, which extends the age limit for foster care in the state from age 18 to age 21. DCYF Director Joseph Ribsam discussed the new legislation and the support it provides for youth in foster care as they transition into adulthood.

Why was the Hope Program created?

The idea is that young people who enter the foster care system who are not able to achieve permanency — meaning, they’re not able to return home and be reunified with their families, or are not able to be adopted into another family — need more support entering adulthood than they would typically get through their 18th birthday. [The program] allows them to continue to have the support of a foster family [which gets financial support through the program] to help them transition successfully to adulthood. … We had the broad support of the [New Hampshire] legislature and the governor in pushing this forward, and it was included in the budget that passed last year. It was really exciting to see everyone come together and be willing to support this type of expansion going forward to make sure that our young folks in foster care have all the advantages that they need to be successful going into adulthood.

How does it work?

It allows youth between the ages of 18 and 21 to stay with a foster family or have the support of a foster family through their time in college. It makes sure not only that they have their housing needs met, but also that they have social and emotional support from a primary caring adult maintained over time. … To qualify, they need to be engaged in some type of productive activity, [such as a] secondary education program or an equivalent such as a GED or HiSET program; an institution for post-secondary or vocational education for at least six hours per week per semester; an activity to promote employment or remove barriers to employment; or working [at least 80 hours a month]. Young people with medical or mental health challenges that impede their ability to maintain those types of activities can also be part of the program. … The program is voluntary, so when a youth turns 18 they can decide to be part of this or not. If they turn 18 and think they’re ready to be on their own and then, six months later, realize they still need extra help, they can come back at that point, too.

Prior to the new legislation, what were some of the biggest challenges facing foster care youth after they turned 18?

For most people, when they turn 18, their families don’t say, “Alright, you’re on your own now.” Their families are still there for them. Many young people in foster care haven’t had that kind of normalcy … The data shows that young folks leaving foster care are at a higher risk of homelessness, having substance [misuse] challenges and not graduating high school or being able to go to college. When you look at jurisdictions that have [allowed] kids [to stay] in foster care longer, you see trajectories moving in a different direction. More young folks successfully graduate high school or get into college and are more likely to avoid the traps of homelessness and things like that.

Have foster care families and youth expressed a need for this program?

Yes. This is something that they have been talking about and needing for quite a long time. … We’ve actually had a number of foster families who, even though they previously didn’t [receive funding] to continue supporting their foster kids after they turned 18, would still allow them to stay in their homes beyond their 18th birthday and try to support them into adulthood. … We also have a group of young adults — some who are still in foster care and others who are alumni of the foster care system — who are really engaged in trying to improve policy for other young folks in foster care. Some of them actually went to the legislative committee and testified on behalf of this idea, and I think that was really compelling and is what ultimately led to the [change in] legislation.

How is fostering a young adult over the age of 18 different than fostering a minor?

The dynamics change as they do in any household where somebody who is legally a minor becomes legally an adult. Young adults need to be taking some healthy risks and making some decisions on their own, but at the same time [foster families] need to maintain appropriate boundaries so that those young adults stay safe during that time. That transition period can be a challenge, but also really rewarding [for the foster family] when they are able to help that young adult succeed on their own.

What is the ideal outcome for young adults who participate in the Hope Program?

Ultimately, we want these young folks to be independent, productive adults who are able to care for themselves, care for their communities and be successful in doing whatever it is they choose to do with their lives. … For young folks who want to go to college, that’s great. For young folks who want to learn a trade, that’s great. For young folks who want to start working, that’s great. It’s about helping them find the path that’s right for them and making sure they have the support to follow it.

News & Notes 20/07/02

Covid-19 updateAs of June 22As of June 29
Total cases statewide5,5585,760
Total current infections statewide929958
Total deaths statewide339367
New cases233 (June 16 to June 22)212 (June 23 to June 30)
Current infections: Hillsborough County586586
Current infections: Merrimack County6665
Current infections: Rockingham County185194
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

Governor’s updates
In the past week, Gov. Chris Sununu made multiple announcements in the state’s ongoing response to Covid-19.

In a June 23 press conference, Sununu announced that $5 million in CARES act funding will go toward youth-focused programs in the Granite State, while $6 million will be used for mental health and substance abuse-focused programs and $7 million will be used for veterans service organizations.

On June 25, in a press conference, Sununu announced that all hotels, inns and campgrounds in the state were able to operate at 100-percent capacity starting on June 29, though the 14-day self-quarantining rules for out-of-state visitors still apply. He also announced the establishment of the Self Employment Livelihood Fund, which will provide up to $50,000 in funding to self-employed businesses in New Hampshire. To qualify, a business must not be permanently closed or be in bankruptcy and must not be a nonprofit. Applications will be accepted from July 6 to July 17.

Also on June 25, Sununu issued Emergency Orders No. 54, No. 55 and No. 56. Emergency Order No. 54 gives refunds of road tolls to private school bus owners or school bus lines when their vehicles are being used to transport meals to students during the Covid-19 pandemic. Emergency Order No. 55 extends the funding of the Covid-19 Long Term Care Stabilization Program through July 31. The program had been established in April, providing temporary stabilization funding through Medicaid for frontline workers in the state. Stipends of $300 per week have been distributed to full-time qualifying frontline workers, and $150 per week to part-time workers. Emergency Order No. 56 authorizes municipalities in the state to enter into agreements with property taxpayers on an agreed schedule for the payment of property taxes.

On June 26, Sununu issued Executive Order 2020-14, extending the state of emergency in New Hampshire due to Covid-19 for another three weeks through at least July 17. It’s the fifth extension he has issued since originally declaring a state of emergency on March 13.

Also on June 26, Sununu issued Exhibit J to Emergency Order No. 29, which had been issued on April 9. Emergency Order No. 29 requires state agencies, boards and commissions to submit recommendations to Sununu if any regulatory deadlines should be adjusted in response to the state of emergency. Per Exhibit J, annual Department of Education fees, such as licensing, licensing renewals, new courses, new programs and transcript requests, have been waived for FY 2020-2021. Details of all Emergency and Executive Orders can be found at governor.nh.gov.

Race fans
Approximately 19,000 fans can attend the Aug. 2 Nascar Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, according to a June 25 story from WMUR. The rescheduled Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 will be the largest spectator event in New England since the Covid-19 pandemic started, WMUR reported. The speedway will be limited to 35 percent capacity, and social distancing requirements and safety protocols will be in place, based on an action plan that was approved by Gov. Sununu. Employees will have to wear face makes; fans will be encouraged to wear them, but not required. Other precautions include prohibiting fans from bringing standard-size coolers, and cash will not be accepted. “Being outdoors, having it being for a limited time, having a system where you can ensure the physical distancing for the vast majority of the event … gives us a lot of confidence” that the event will be safe, Sununu said, according to WMUR. There are about 7,000 tickets left; the credits that were given out for the approximately 12,000 tickets that had been purchased for the July 19 race date can be used Aug. 2.

Risk protection
On June 28, the New Hampshire Senate voted 14-10 in favor of HB 687, which establishes a procedure for issuing extreme risk protection orders to protect against persons who pose an immediate risk of harm to themselves or others. The bill will now go to Gov. Sununu’s desk.

“The NH Extreme Risk Protective Order bill is designed to put a speed bump in front of a person who has access to the most lethal means available to do themselves or others harm,” the bill’s prime sponsor, Rep. Debra Altschiller (D-Stratham), said in a statement after the vote. “It creates a tool for the people closest to someone suffering to prevent tragedy and get them help.” The bill’s co-sponsor, Senate Judiciary Chair Martha Hennessey (D-Hanover), said in a statement following the vote that New Hampshire’s suicide rate has risen 48.3 percent between 1999 and 2016, according to a report from the CDC. “In people under the age of 24, it is the second leading cause of death — it is clear that we must take action to address this crisis,” Hennessey said. “This bill creates a pathway for concerned family members and law enforcement to request assistance from our courts in protecting someone who may be a danger to themselves and others.”

Assault bill
On June 29, the New Hampshire Senate voted to move forward with HB 1240, relative to the grounds for sexual assault and related offenses, according to a press release from the Governor’s Office. “Ensuring there is proper justice for victims of sexual assault is paramount, and this will close a critical loophole and protect students from sexual assault at the hands of those in a position of authority over the victim,” Gov. Sununu said in a statement. According to the release, HB 1240 “amends the definition of sexual contact in the criminal sexual assault statutes. The bill also expands the elements of the crime of felonious sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault to include sexual contact between school employees and students, and to include circumstances when the actor is in a position of authority over a victim who is between 13 and 18 years of age.”

Diversity training
The City of Manchester has received a $20,000 grant to implement a Diversity and Cultural Competency Program for representatives from all city departments, according to a June 28 press release. Mayor Joyce Craig announced the City of Manchester applied for the grant from the Norwin S. and Elizabeth N. Bean Foundation. “Our city employees serve one of the most diverse communities in the state, and it is critical that all our staff is equipped with the tools to assist individuals of all backgrounds,” Craig said in the release. “This program will create a network of city employees able to design and deliver quality cultural competency programs for all city staff.” The Mayor’s Multicultural Advisory Council — formed this year after Craig announced its creation at her State of the City Address — suggested this competency training, which will be facilitated by New Hampshire Health and Equity Partnership and the Southern New Hampshire Area Health Education Center. “I am very excited to see that the Council is already making an impact and bringing the positive changes we need to see happening in our city,” Arnold Mikolo, chair of the Mayor’s Multicultural Advisory Council, said in the release.

Health kits
Health and Wellness Kits will be distributed to 25,000 families across New Hampshire, according to a press release, after the New Hampshire National Guard packs them up and delivers them to participating schools and pick-up sites in the coming days. The kits include dental supplies, Deterra pouches to safely dispose of prescription medications, and several flyers that promote well-being. The Choose Love At Home program is also free for parents this summer at jesselewischooselove.org. “While we are all working hard to protect the physical health of our children, social and emotional well-being remains of the utmost importance,” Gov. Sununu said in the release.

The public is invited to a free virtual tradeshow as the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce presents its 29th annual Business Showcase on Thursday, July 16, from 4 to 6 p.m. via Zoom. According to a press release from the Chamber, this event is for anyone who wants to connect with local businesses and community leaders, whether you’re looking for a job, need help from a professional to plan a wedding or renovate your home, or you could use advice for growing your business or investments. Visit.ConcordNHChamber.com/business-showcase.

The Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner opened July 1 and is offering self-guided tours and limited hours to practice social distancing guidelines, according to a press release. Temporary hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. and reservations are requested by calling 456-2600 or emailing [email protected]. The Medicine Woods Trail and Arboretum are free and open to the public each day, according to the release.

Construction for the new 18,000-square-foot, three-story headquarters of Manchester-based Members First Credit Union will begin this month at the corner of Elm and Salmon streets, according to a press release. The building will include full-service banking, a two-lane drive-up and offices for the credit union’s executive management and back-office support teams.

Nashua is getting a new yoga studio: On Sunday, July 5, Vibe Yoga will open at 182 Main St. and will feature vinyasa-based yoga paired with “invigorating music,” according to a press release from owner Melissa Coppola. All of the classes will have “awesome playlists of all different types of music, with some classes specifically offering hip hop,” plus monthly classes with live musicians and DJs. Follow VibeYoga603 on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Still stuff to celebrate

The last few months have been unprecedented — and rough. In addition to the immeasurable health effects of the pandemic on the lives of Granite Staters and the losses it has caused, we faced the sudden closing of major parts of our state with most residents stuck at home and hundreds of thousands of people here losing their jobs.

Now, with the stay at home order lifted, many businesses have reopened or are planning to reopen soon. Many people are heading back to work and many of the area’s restaurants, businesses, recreation areas and attractions are finding ways to operate (see 47 examples of this in this week’s cover story).

While life isn’t fully “back to normal” we thought it was time to recognize the people, places and things that make New Hampshire such a special place to live. That’s right, it’s Best of 2020 time. We plan to publish the Hippo Best of 2020 in August. But before we do, we’re going to hold a mini round of Hippo Best of 2020 voting to give some praise to the places that helped make the shutdown a little easier. These categories include: “Retail shop with standout service during the shutdown” and “Eatery whose takeout got you through the shutdown.” Go to hippopress.com to give some love to the restaurant that gave you a much-needed break from your kitchen or the store that helped you pick out something special for somebody who needed a lift to their day.

We held off on publishing the Hippo Best of 2020 in late March because many of the locations that readers chose as their favorites were closed and we didn’t know how long that would last. Hippo’s annual Best of is both an expression of what Hippo readers feel is interesting and worth sharing with everyone and a guide to independent businesses and events. One of the many frustrating things that happens online is that when you seek out local events, parks, attractions, restaurants and other businesses, the results are both not so local and not so accurate. No person has picked up the phone and called to see that those businesses are still operating (like we do at Hippo). And for some reason those algorithms think Waltham or Scituate, Mass., is local. I guess if you’re in Silicon Valley it is. But if you want to grab a burger or go on a walk it isn’t so much.

Now more than ever, it’s important to support the local attractions, businesses and museums that make our region an enjoyable place to live.

We further explore those favorites in our annual magazine, Cool Things About New Hampshire (due out in October 2020).

Thank you for taking the time to vote this year and continuing to support Hippo’s independent journalism.

New Nepalese option

Gurung’s Kitchen opens inside Bunny’s Superette

You won’t see it right away when you step inside Bunny’s Superette in Manchester’s North End, but walk all the way across the store and you’ll find a new Nepalese takeout restaurant.

Gurung’s Kitchen, which opened for business on June 27, features a menu of authentic Nepalese dishes like steamed or fried momos, thukpa (noodle soup) and shapale (fried meat pies), all cooked to order. Owner Sarmila Gurung opened the eatery with the help of Pramod Nyaupane, her friend and former landlord, who owns Bunny’s Superette and Bunny’s Convenience on Elm Street. Both Gurung and Nyaupane are natives of Kathmandu.

“I used to cook for [Nyaupane] and he loves my cooking,” said Gurung, who remembers always helping her mother out in the kitchen growing up. “When I told him I was thinking I wanted to open a restaurant, he said, ‘If you’re really interested, I can help you.’ So that’s how we ended up opening the restaurant here.”

Because her restaurant’s space was formerly a butcher shop, Gurung said, it went under all kinds of renovations, including the introduction of new stoves, fryers, a freezer and a warmer.

Gurung’s Kitchen accepts takeout orders via phone or walk-in, as well as delivery through either DoorDash or GrubHub. Among the most popular items, Gurung said, have been the momos, which are dumplings filled with chicken, pork or vegetables. She said she has also offered bison meat, but said it’s been difficult to get regularly due to the pandemic. One order of momos yields eight dumplings, which are either steamed or fried, with the option to have them served in a homemade tomato sauce or chili sauce. You can also customize your order with a momo platter.

Other big sellers have been the chicken, pork or vegetarian chow mein, or the fried noodles with turmeric, cumin, coriander and other spices; the chicken, pork or vegetarian fried rice; and the thukpa, or noodle soup. When it’s available, Gurung will also make each of these dishes with bison meat as a protein option.

Some harder-to-find dishes available at the restaurant are shapale and pakoda. A common street food in Nepal, according to Gurung, shapale (pronounced sha-PAH-lee) features half-moon-shaped meat pies stuffed with either chicken or pork and deep fried. You get two pieces per order with a side of homemade sauce.

Pakoda, which Gurung described as being similar to hash browns, is also a Nepalese street food or snack featuring a mixture of potatoes, onions, flour and spices that’s deep fried.

“We have different kinds of customers right now,” Gurung said. “Our customers who come from Nepal … usually come here for the shapale and the pakoda, because they know it and they can’t easily find it here [in the United States].”

Gurung’s Kitchen offers a small selection of non-traditional items like french fries, chicken wings and chicken nuggets. There is also black tea, masala tea and mango lassi, a smoothie-like drink featuring a blend of fresh mango, yogurt and ice.

Since between 700 and 800 people usually come inside Bunny’s Superette every day, according to Gurung, she hopes her restaurant will continue to see new customers.

“We try to offer really fast service,” she said. “People come here first and order their food, then they go [shop for] their groceries and when they come back here their food is ready.”

Gurung’s Kitchen
Where: 75 Webster St., Manchester (inside Bunny’s Superette)
Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week
More info: Call 316-1540 or search “Gurung’s Kitchen” on Facebook

Ripe and ready

Pick-your-own blueberries and raspberries

After an unusually short season for strawberries at some local farms, pick-your-own blueberries and raspberries are back, now through July or into August, depending on the weather conditions and the status of the crops.

Samantha Fay of Sunnycrest Farm said too much precipitation late in the fall and inconsistent temperatures in the winter were to blame for the poor showing of strawberries.

“We only had [pick-your-own] strawberries for two days before we were picked out,” she said. “We usually have five beds, but this year we only had two, so we lost some.”

Blueberries and raspberries, on the other hand, have been going very well. Fay said both are available now for pick-your-own every day from 7 a.m. to noon.

Customers normally purchase a container and return to the farm stand after they’re finished picking to have it weighed. But in an effort to maintain social distancing and limit the amount of surface contact, Fay said all containers are being provided with a flat rate.

Similar measures are being taken at Apple Hill Farm in Concord, which is also offering pick-your-own blueberries and raspberries after recently concluding its strawberry season.

“Usually you have to come back into the farm stand and have [your berries] weighed, but we’ve eliminated that this year,” co-owner Diane Souther said.

According to Souther, some late varieties of blueberries at Apple Hill Farm are usually around until about mid-September. Raspberries will likely last another couple of weeks from now, depending on the weather.

“Raspberries like the heat, so they’ve been going full force and doing great with the hot days we’ve been having,” she said.

Apple Hill Farm is open for pick-your-own every Monday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to noon. While you’re not required to wear a mask while out on the farm picking berries, Souther said the farm does ask customers to wear one inside the farm stand and to keep children close by.

At Berrybogg Farm in Strafford, blueberries are ripening right on schedule, according to owner Julie Butterfield. For the first time this year you can call the farm to schedule a pickup for blueberries they’ll pick for you.

Bob Marr of Durocher Farm in Litchfield, which features three acres of more than 2,500 blueberry bushes for picking, said there are separate designated entrances and exits for pickers.

Masks are recommended, but not required. Picking hours are daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., with additional evening hours on Thursdays from 5 to 7 p.m.

“We have an outstanding crop this year,” Marr said. “We have five varieties that extend our picking season into late August.”

At Berry Good Farm in Goffstown, pick-your-own blueberries are available seven days a week. Co-owner Rich Bailey said more checkout stands on the farm and extra parking have been implemented to encourage social distancing.

“It’s different every year, but a lot of times we’ll make it until the end of August,” Bailey said. “We have five to six different varieties that last for quite a while.”

Where to pick your own blueberries and raspberries
Most of these local farms will offer pick-your-own blueberries through the middle or the end of August, depending on the weather conditions and the availability of the crop. Some also offer a few varieties of raspberries as well. Do you know of a farm offering pick-your-own blueberries or raspberries that isn’t on this list? Let us know at [email protected].

Apple Hill Farm
580 Mountain Road, Concord, 224-8862, applehillfarmnh.com
What: Blueberries and raspberries
Picking hours: Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon

Berry Good Farm
234 Parker Road, Goffstown, 497-8138, find them on Facebook
What: Blueberries
Cost: $3.09 per pound (cash or checks only)
Picking hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Berrybogg Farm
650 Province Road, Strafford, 664-2100, berryboggfarm.com
What: Blueberries
Cost: $2.75 per pound ($2.65 per pound for seniors)
Picking hours: Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Blueberry Bay Farm
38 Depot Road, Stratham, 580-1612, blueberrybayfarm.com
What: Blueberries and raspberries
Picking hours: Daily, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Blue Moon Berry Farm
195 Waldron Hill Road, Warner, 410-9577, find them on Facebook
What: Blueberries
Picking hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Brookdale Fruit Farm
41 Broad St., Hollis, 465-2240, brookdalefruitfarm.com
What: Blueberries and raspberries
Cost: Blueberries are $3.25 per pound; raspberries are $5 per pint
Picking hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Carter Hill Orchard
73 Carter Hill Road, Concord, 225-2625, carterhillapples.com
What: Blueberries
Picking hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., when blueberries are available; calling ahead is recommended.

Durocher Farm
157 Charles Bancroft Highway, Litchfield, 494-8364, pickyourownberries.com
What: Blueberries
Picking hours: Daily, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Thursday, 5 to 7 p.m., now through mid-August.

Grandpa’s Farm
143 Clough Hill Road, Loudon, 783-4384, grandpasfarmnh.com
What: Blueberries
Cost: $2.75 per pound
Picking hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to dusk

Grounding Stone Farm
289 Maple St., Contoocook, 748-2240, groundingstonefarm.com
What: Blueberries
Picking hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Kimball Fruit Farm
Route 122, on the Hollis and Pepperell, Mass., border, 978-433-9751, kimball.farm
What: Blueberries
Picking hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Lavoie’s Farm
172 Nartoff Road, Hollis, 882-0072, lavoiesfarm.com
What: Blueberries
Cost: $3.99 per pound
Picking hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Norland Berries
164 N. Barnstead Road, Barnstead, 776-2021, norlandberries.com
What: Blueberries
Cost: $2.50 per pound ($2.25 per pound for seniors)
Picking hours: Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m

Pustizzi Fruit Farm
148 Corn Hill Road, Boscawen, 496-1924, find them on Facebook
What: Blueberries
Picking hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Rossview Farm
85 District 5 Road, Concord, 228-4872, rossviewfarm.com
What: Blueberries
Picking hours: Opens daily at 7:30 a.m.; closing times vary depending on the crop and the weather conditions

Saltbox Farm
321 Portsmouth Ave., Stratham, 436-7978, find them on Facebook
What: Blueberries and raspberries
Cost: Blueberries are $4 per pound; raspberries are $5.65 per pound
Picking hours: Tuesday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Stark Farm
30 Stark Lane, Dunbarton, 854-2677, starkfarmblueberries.com
What: Blueberries
Picking hours: Sunday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; calling ahead the day of or the night before is recommended.

Sunnycrest Farm
59 High Range Road, Londonderry, 432-7753, sunnycrestfarmnh.com
What: Blueberries and raspberries
Picking hours: Daily, 7 a.m. to noon

Featured Photo: Blueberries from Berry Good Farm in Goffstown. Courtesy photo.

Blueberry balsamic salad dressing
Courtesy of Diane Souther of Apple Hill Farm in Concord

1 cup blueberries
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons honey
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Pinch of salt and pepper

Slightly simmer the blueberries in the water. After they soften up, whip them slightly and add in the remaining ingredients. Stir together and store in the refrigerator until ready to use. Drizzle on fresh green salad, or use as a marinade on grilled chicken or fish.

Big Nana’s blueberry buckle
Courtesy of Rich Bailey of Berry Good Farm in Goffstown

¼ cup butter or margarine
¾ cup sugar
1 egg
2 cups sifted flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ cup milk
2 cups blueberries
½ teaspoon salt

For the crumb topping (ingredients blended together):
½ cup soft butter
½ cup sugar
⅓ cup flour
½ teaspoon cinnamon

Cream butter, add sugar and beat until light. Add egg and beat well. Add dry ingredients alternately with milk and beat until smooth. Fold in blueberries. Pour into a greased 9x9x2 pan. Sprinkle with crumb topping. Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes.

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