Urban Foraging in Gävle

Aronia Melanocarpa, growing in Gävle (own photo, shot with Nexus 5)

I was biking from the train station this afternoon, heading home, when I decided to stop by the spot where black chokeberry bushes grow and help myself to that sweet natural snack. I live on the edge of the city, close to a large city park and within a short walking distance from forest, fields and meadows. The nature is very accessible to me, which is one of the reasons why I love living where I am. But even within the city limits there’s plenty of edible stuff, just growing in the open, being ignored by most people.

Black chokeberry, or Aronia melanocarpa, has a number of valuable health-improving qualities. For example, it is great for strengthening one’s cardio-vascular system and for improving the functioning of the liver. It is most sweet and delicious in the fall, starting in late September and throughout October (if you are in the Northern Hemisphere, of course). One can eat it straight from the bush, one can store the dried berries or make a drink or a jam out of it. My dad used to produce his own chokeberry wine, because we had a few bushes of it growing in our garden. Maybe that’s why I am familiar with it and recognised it so easily.

Delicious black chokeberries, growing by the sidewalk in Gävle (own photo, shot with Nexus 5)

I am puzzled why no one ever collects or eats it here in Sweden. Even Hive account@surudoi was a little sceptical at first, when I introduced him to this wonderful berry during his last visit to Gävle. In his defence, he correctly identified it as aronia. I had no clue it was called that (and I had to check the Wikipedia to learn its English name). When I used to live in Lund, in the south of the country, it was the same story there. I was the only one eating berries straight from the bushes, catching strange glances from the passers-by. No one ever stopped and asked me about it. I guess it is simply not in the reserved nature of Swedish people to do that. Today was no exception: as I was feasting on the berries – they were truly delicious, I assure you! – people were walking by, observing me discretely, or staring in wonder, or smiling at my seemingly strange behaviour, or looking concerned. Maybe some of them thought that I was poisoning myself, knowingly or unknowingly. But no one stopped to question my actions or to enquire about this berry that I was enjoying. Oh well… more berries for me then!

And I paid no mind to the strange looks people were casting in my direction. I was enjoying the Mother Nature’s own candies. All natural, healthy and free – the best offer on the market!

I will probably collect some more chokeberries this weekend and dry them up for later use in the winter. Hive account@surudoi is planning to come to Gävle for another Bitcoin meetup this Saturday. Maybe he will be interested in picking some berries with me too.