
Wild blackberries. If you are fortunate enough to have wild blackberries on your property you are most fortunate. They are delicious as a juice or jelly but much too seedy for jam or pie.
We have lots growing along the trails, some years being better than others. Blackberries can be picked over a period of over 3 weeks. At the end of the season you really need to look carefully as all the berries are black and sometimes hard to spot hiding under the leaves. Never go picking with short sleeves or shorts as be will find yourself all scratched up.
I start off by making a juice. I use four cups of blackberries to two cups of water and cook this slowing for about 30 minutes, then I strain through a jelly bag, let it cool and then wring out the jelly bag to get as much as I can. I then add 2 cups of sugar and boil down to 210 to jell naturally. To can read all about jelly making on google.
We have lots growing along the trails, some years being better than others. Blackberries can be picked over a period of over 3 weeks. At the end of the season you really need to look carefully as all the berries are black and sometimes hard to spot hiding under the leaves. Never go picking with short sleeves or shorts as be will find yourself all scratched up.
I start off by making a juice. I use four cups of blackberries to two cups of water and cook this slowing for about 30 minutes, then I strain through a jelly bag, let it cool and then wring out the jelly bag to get as much as I can. I then add 2 cups of sugar and boil down to 210 to jell naturally. To can read all about jelly making on google.