Foraging On My Own Property
by Sarah W. Caron • July 27, 2009 • garden, green living • 5 Comments
That is a palmful of some blissfully juicy, sweet-tart wild blackberries. So tasty.
Last week, I noticed something red in a bush along my driveway while pulling out to go to the store. I didn’t stop at the time, and I mentally wrote it off as some inedible red berries like the perfectly round and frosty-exterior ones I used to squash between my fingers growing up.
Then, while I was walking up the driveway to get the mail yesterday, the spots of red caught my eye again. Except this time, I had the wherewithal to actually take a closer look. Those red berries that I wrote off? Turns out, they were not-yet-ripe blackberries. Wild blackberries.
I couldn’t be more excited. A few years ago, I discovered black raspberries at a family member’s house and made a delightful jam from them. I cannot wait to transform these blackberries into blackberry butter (food mill recommendations, anyone?).
Triumphant, I picked a few ripe ones to sample, sharing with the kids and Shawn. They’re pretty stoked too.
Honestly though, there is one thing bugging me. I have lived here for quite a few years, and this is the first I have ever seen of these bushes of blackberries. This isn’t one little bush, this is many bushes. They will produce pints and pints of berries this season. But why have I never seen them before? Was I so blind to my surroundings for all these years? Seriously?
Have you ever discovered something unexpected on your property? Maybe it’s time to go looking …
What a great story and a nice find. We have a lovely pear treein our garden which produces nice fruit so looking forward to eating some.
Have you seen Living in a Local Zone – another CT food blog? http://livinginalocalzone.wordpress.com/
You both showed us your yards this week! Is this a coincidence?
Thanks for the comment, Zoe. I showcase my garden every Friday (and have since I started this growing season). Feel free to search “Fertile Fridays” in my archives for a full list of garden posts.
Blackberries in CT – I’d be shocked too as I’ve been told they are very hard to find here (I’m from CA where they basically grow like weeds). How exciting!
Turns out these black gems are a close relative of the blackberry, called the dewberry. A friend looked into it for me! Thanks for making me wonder, Jessica!