Blackberries

[sojourner]

There were tons of them at Carr Mill Dam when we went for a walk on Sunday. They'll be spot on in a week or two - but I've got two bloody busy weekends coming up and won't be able to go

 

[farmerbarleymow]

we thought there was a short cut to the other side of the tracks - it is just a maze of walkways through the bramble with the odd clearing - took us a while to get out after walking into a wooded bit and walking straight out again after disturbing some man love we followed the voices of a swedish family we had seen coming in - the mother had stumbled upon manlove as well

But did you do the proper English thing of saying 'terribly sorry', and move swiftly on?

 

[farmerbarleymow]

They're also very good for making big boxes full of mould in your fridge.

Reminds me of Blackberry Picking by Seamus Heaney which we did at school.

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/blackberry-picking-3/

 

[tim]

I had some straight from the bush yesterday but it was slim pickings. Found a massive amount of them nearby which were all red and hard. I'm going back in a few days and then I'll be blackberry king of Leeds.

I've always preferred them red.

 

[Fez909]

I've always preferred them red.

I meant red and hard and not even close to ripe! I don't mind the ones where they're just about to turn black.

 

[IC3D]

Tons in Ally Pally even after the little old ladies in headscarves and their grandchildren had filled shopping bags full of them. I ate myself stupid with really sweet juicy ones on the way home. Bumper crop this year y'know.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

I have harvested about 7 lb at mum-tat's place in SE London today (and must have done similar about 2 weeks ago)

anyone want some?

 

[marty21]

But did you do the proper English thing of saying 'terribly sorry', and move swiftly on?

yep, I did say Sorry

 

[Psychonaut]

frosty blackberries straight out the freezer are a heavenly snack, no need for any fancy messing about, imo.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

yep, I did say Sorry

Good show old chap.

If I've got a glut of shop bought soft fruit I just wash it and chuck it in the freezer. Great for making ice cold smoothies.

 

[fakeplasticgirl]

blackberry crumble...mmm *salivates*

 

[DrRingDing]

Just made blackberry, gin, vanilla & coconut slush. I couldn't wait for it to turn into ice cream so we drank it out of glasses.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Just made blackberry, gin, vanilla & coconut slush. I couldn't wait for it to turn into ice cream so we drank it out of glasses.

Sounds like my kind of smoothie!

 

[Epona]

We had a cold spring, so berry fruits didn't get going as early as normal, but with a hot and well-watered summer they have produced massive amounts of fruit all in one go.

As I said in another thread, if wild-picking, do something with them as soon as you get home because they could go mouldy overnight even in the fridge. I'm a bit of traditionalist and I really like crumbles or pies or jam, but if at a loss just stew them lightly and put them in the freezer - they will be good for about 3 months in there (although go a bit mushy, hence the stewing them first so they're more of a sauce), and a simple dessert involving blackberry sauce out of the freezer can be a perfect reminder of summer once the days are short.

Or as others have mentioned, there are plenty of ways to either preserve them in alcohol or use them to make alcoholic beverages.

If you live in an area where people have apple trees and put boxes of apples out front for people to help themselves (and there's also a good crop of apples this year), then I'd suggest a job lot of blackberry and apple crumble which can be divided into portions and frozen. My parents often make crumble using a glut of late summer fruits from their garden, which goes in the freezer as fruit crumble - 30 minutes in the oven on 180C from frozen, serve with cream or custard or ice-cream - late summer dessert in winter (I was still scoffing home-grown and home-made plum crumble in the middle of January) - can't be beaten imo.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Reminds me of Blackberry Picking by Seamus Heaney which we did at school.

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/blackberry-picking-3/

And he has just died.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23898891

 

[mog1976]

Ive done loads of blackberry wine in the past. It works best if u freeze them first

 

[BoatieBird]

Made loads of blackberry vodka today.
Made one (small) batch with just blackberries, sugar & vodka and added star anise, allspice & cinnamon sticks to the main batch.

There were loads of berries just out of reach over the back fence of our garden so the boy made me a contraption with 2 bamboo sticks and some string so we could hook the plants and reach the lovely ripe, juicy fruit

 

[Saffy]

Managed to pick 2lbs worth this afternoon, have made blackberry vodka and stewed and sieved the rest and popped them in the freezer for ice cream sauce at a later date.

There's loads more to be had but they need a little while to ripen up. I fancy making a chutney for christmas and on Facebook someone's posted that she has a massive apple tree and the apples are going for free so long as you go and pick your own.

 

[kittyP]

My parents and I walked five miles through the Kent countryside on Thursday picking blackberries and sloes from the hedgerows as we went.
We got six boxes of huge blackberries.

We have kilner jars full of blackberries. Some with sugar, cloves, cinnamon sticks, ground ginger and brandy and some with sugar and vodka.
Will be shaken weekly and strained and decanted for Christmas tipples.

I have sloes in the freezer for sloe gin too

 

[farmerbarleymow]

I picked up a couple of pounds of blackberries from the tramps buffet at Sainsbury's today. Washed them and chucked them in the freezer for future use.

 

[diond]

I am moving house this Friday coming so will not have the opportunity to pick any blackberries this week. My question is, will there be any left come mid September, what with nature and pillaging diminishing my chances considerably?

 

[kittyP]

I am moving house this Friday coming so will not have the opportunity to pick any blackberries this week. My question is, will there be any left come mid September, what with nature and pillaging diminishing my chances considerably?

I can't guarantee but when I was picking there were loads far from ripe so there could be.
Also they may just not ripen.
Worth having a look I reckon.

 

[pinkmonkey]

I made 22 jars of blackberry jam (with either wild plum, pear or apple) this year plus 9 jars of cherry - a record. I haven't stopped yet. Neighbour just gave me 1/2kg of redcurrants and Ive just spotted another tree of apples and a bush of blackberries that is just getting ripe.
I don't tend to make fruity booze coz I can't be trusted with spirits. It is, a very bad idea indeed.

 

[Onket]

I tried to make blackberry jelly tonight but I think I have made a big boiled sweet sealed in a jar.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

29 jars of jam!