Iqaluit (Sep 15/03) - The landscape may be vast, but it's certainly not empty.

At this time of year families head to the hills to pick wild blueberries and blackberries.

On any given day in the late summer, people with buckets in hand scour the hills looking for tiny berries.

For Eulalie Ell and Rhoda Tremblay, berry picking is a big part of their lives.

"Every year when the berries are ready, we come out here to pick," said Ell. "I have three girls who just love to eat blueberries."

They have it down to a science -- when the berries will be ready, and on which hill.

"Each hill ripens at a different time," said Tremblay. "It depends a lot on the weather, how much sunlight and rain they get."

It also takes great skill and sharp eyes to find the small berries that grow within the moss.

The two admit because of the weather this year's crop isn't as good as the previous year's.

"They are kind of small compared to last year," said Ell.

For the two women who spend most of their evenings berry picking, it is a great way to get outside and enjoy nature.

Both Ell and Tremblay will spend a few hours picking after work and on the weekends.

"It's so quiet out here. It's a way for us to relax," said Tremblay.

"It's better than sitting at home doing nothing," added Ell.

Once they have collected enough berries Ell and Tremblay will head home to share them with their family. Some will be eaten right away, and some will be stored for winter.

Tremblay jokes that it's hard to store the berries for the winter because everyone eats them so fast. The women said the best way to eat the berries is with a bowl of ice cream topped with whipped cream.

"Blueberries are good with anything," said Ell.