Grow Your Own Magazine

I work on a large rural university campus, and have noticed that near where I park are oodles of blackberries (in the woods/green areas)

Despite the fact that it is absolutely pouring down, I am very tempted to take a carrier bag and go and pick some in my lunch break.

I know that one of the students who works in our department has picked them before (recently), so it should be OK?

Should I do it??

Go on OWG, give it a go. Just be careful to pick the best looking ones as some of them might be a bit past their best now & might have a few grubs in them! My mum used to soak them in salty water before rinsing them to drown/kill off any bugs. If they are not right next to the car park or road they shouldn't be affected by car fumes etc. but that doesn't seem to put off people round here who just park up & start picking from bushes which look like they've gone through a nuclear fallout!

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Into every life a little rain must fall.

I have to be honest, unless it was definately someone's ground and they'd be unhappy I'd have a pick. If it's Uni ground, I'd probably not think twice. I pick loads round by us in our back alleys etc but am careful not to pick them too low down incase they've been used as a toilet by local dogs

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Shortie

"There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children; one of these is roots, the other wings" - Hodding Carter

pick them, they'll only become a problem if too many seed.

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Yo an' Bob
Walk lightly on the earth
take only what you need
give all you can
and your produce will be bountifull

OWG
Take two carrier bags - they are growing wild so they are free (not to mention they make an absolutely delicious jelly). The brambles up here won't be ready for another week at the earliest but have been searching out the best places to pick for the last fortnight.

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Rat

British by birth
Scottish by the Grace of God

Blog updated Wednesday November 13th

Of course you should.
It's criminal how little use is made of wild food these days. Most people don't even realise what's edible ( and delicious) so it all goes to waste.
My recent foraging has produced 15 pounds of wild apples. 3 pounds of wild Damsons, loads of Blackberries, Rosehips, Sloes, Haws, Dryads Saddle tree Mushrooms ( now frozen down as quorn) wild garlic, red clover....
So far I've got vats of frozen fruit for pies and crumbles. 25 pots of jams and jellies, chutneys yet to be made and several bottles of Sloe Gin and Vodka on the go. Get picking. Nobody else will sadly. Even 10 years ago you'd be fighting to get a look in. Now nobody seems to bother.

Agree PT - where did you pick the gin and vodka from? dexterdog

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Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things

[quote=pickledtink;29998]

Wooooooooooow Pickedtink -
Have just read your post from back in June the bit about Dryads Saddle tree Mushrooms which you have frozen as quorn - i was amazed that this is possible to make at home.
PLEASE PLEASE tell more, would be great to be able to make this
How do you know it's a Dryads Saddle tree Mushroom that you are picking? I would'nt want to poison him in doors (well not today at least;-))

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Denise xox

Learn from the mistakes of others because you'll never live long enough to make them all yourself.
-- Alfred E. Neumann
http://irchesterplot.blogspot.com