I feel lucky to be surrounded by wild blackberries! I didn't have them where I grew up. Now they are nearly everywhere.
They are the bane of farmers and homesteaders because they creep in everywhere. Into fields, into gardens, around trees, inside shrubs. It can be quite difficult to keep the thorny stalks out! Cut them to the ground and the re-sprout! And if left unattended they will literally turn fields into thickets!
The sweet side of the thorny problem is the delicious berry that is abundantly available for all to savor.
When the blackberries first start ripening it is difficult to resist picking them when they first turn black. They are still tart. Patience for them to plump up till it is hard to pick them without squishing the berries causing juice to ooze onto your fingers and down your palms.
Now they are just starting to come on and ripen enough to pick in quantity. Already there are more than the critters can keep up with. Soon these bushes will explode with black berries.
In 2 minutes I made a makeshift harvest basket out of a milk jug and bailing twine that I can hang around my neck.
In the coming weeks I will be busy drying, jamming, making desserts and stuffing my face with these delicious berries! Hurray for wild blackberries!
I am so grateful for this delicious nutritious berry that is available for all so abundantly that we have to hack it out of our way.
Wild blackberries will become a significant part of my diet this year and I don't have to do anything but walk around and pick them. No composting, no pruning, no planting, no digging, no money. Thank you, thank you, thank you!