Harvested 1792 Blacks this afternoon

It's that time of year again.  This year's wild blackberries have come on early.  Usually starting in late May to mid June, this year's crop is about to hit peak season, and I've already got 10 quarts put up in the freezer.  These are NOT Himalaya blackberries, which come on later and are much larger and more abundant.  These wild berries often only average raisin-size, don't grow in huge bunches, and are packed with tartness and flavor that makes a difference in pies, cobblers, muffins, jam, smoothies and other applications.  We mostly use these berries out of the freezer, but we also enjoy lots of fresh berries this time of year - gotta get your superfoods.     All of the cobblers we've made for the GS potlucks come from these berries, and I'll put up about 10 gallons for the year - that will have us in berries year-round.  Picking the berries over the past couple of decades has provided another annual Humboldt tradition that I have enjoyed developing and sharing with others.  In the past few years I've taken to counting the berries as I pick them, and it usually takes six hundred to a thousand to fill a quart!  I do much thinking while picking too, and I'm convinced that thinking while counting is a good exercise for my brain.   

The ocean's been a mess, so I'm getting as much berrying done as I can while the gettin's good.  Get out there and find some of your own - you won't be disappointed.   

Awesome!  I just brewed up a Mixed Berry Cider and an Irish Red Ale today.  The Mixed Berry Cider features Blackberries prominently and I am psyched to try it!  Blackberries are the bomb!

Any specific cleansing procedures other than rinsing them off before bagging? I LUV blueberries. 

Oh ya yummy goodness!!!!

Right on Eric, I didn't know the difference in varieties.  A buddy and I usually hit a spot in the delta for Bass n' Berries come late July.  There are some huge spiders on those bushes.  Good stuff man, thanks for the berry report!

One more thing.  That is incredible of you to use those berries for potlucks.  All the work that goes into collecting those berries is no joke, and for you to offer them up to people like that, thats remarkable.  You're a good man, Abking.

Whether its fish or some other edible source from Mother Nature, you are killing it!! Great post and pics, thanks for sharing.

1792     
Just might have to get after it tomorrow. Will have to do it early as it's going to be a scorcher.

Awesome!  I just brewed up a Mixed Berry Cider and an Irish Red Ale today.  The Mixed Berry Cider features Blackberries prominently and I am psyched to try it!  Blackberries are the bomb!

Right on, Aaron!  Sounds tasty.  Blackberries are indeed the bomb!   

Any specific cleansing procedures other than rinsing them off before bagging? I LUV blueberries. 

If they're rinsed they're ruined.  They are too delicate to handle that and actually juice up in the bag after only about 30 minutes.  I pick carefully, pulling out any little bugs, leaves, briars...etc. along the way.  It becomes a science, like fishing.   

  All the work that goes into collecting those berries is no joke,

Thank you, Jeff.  It's similar to the amount of work that goes into filming a salmon catch on the yak.  Love both experiences and shares equally.   

Whether its fish or some other edible source from Mother Nature, you are killing it!! Great post and pics, thanks for sharing.

Thanks, Bill.  Thinking about the dive we did on 5/16 at Abalone Point will be a great motivator for a long time to come.   

1792     

2300 the other night...   

They are early this year. My wife made a cobbler last week Can't beat the little wild blackberries!

NotaSeal

Awesome!  I just brewed up a Mixed Berry Cider and an Irish Red Ale today.  The Mixed Berry Cider features Blackberries prominently and I am psyched to try it!  Blackberries are the bomb!

Awesome ! I did a black/raspberry cider last summer which was very tasty. I'm harvesting the goods for an all boysenberry cider right now and will get it going as soon as the yeast arrives. Summer brew season is here !

These are NOT Himalaya blackberries, which come on later and are much larger and more abundant.

That's really awesome ! I know of a few places where California Blackberries grow around here but they either don't set fruit or when they do, someone else beats me to them. That's a nice score and you're right, short of maybe a 'Triple Crown,' there's no blackberry that tastes as good as those wild California.

My wife will hopefully be harvesting soon. The most she ever picked was 37+ lbs in one day. But that was crazy & I hope she doesn't bring that many home again.

Eric,

Janet and I still talk about that jam,,,,,,,,

Thank You Much,

Dale

Do you wear anything special when picking them.
I made the mistake one year and wore shorts. Realized the mistake as soon as I hopped into the shower.
Seems no matter what I wear those thorns snag the hell out of me.