FIY- Forage It Yourself

The Blackberry Edition

The best Blackberries available are the ones you forage yourself; I don’t know if it’s the self- satisfaction in picking them or if it comes down to knowing that they have grown completely naturally, without cultivation or tending to that makes them all the sweeter, but for me, the best Blackberries cannot be bought.

Follow these handy tips when Blackberry picking in your area

Venture Off The Beaten Track

As always, when foraging, steer off well worn hedgerows that get a lot of passing traffic – from walkers, dogs and importantly traffic.  This will help you to avoid picking fruit that might be contaminated by pollution and pee!

Protect Your Hands

By wearing a pair of gardening gloves when foraging Blackberries, you can protect your hands from nasty thorn pricks and the sting of lurking nettles, which are never to far away.

From The Waist up

Remember that we are not the only ones who use the space around us. Our neighbours are full of secretive woodland creatures that rely on fruit from bushes and shrubs for sustenance.  Keep the little guys in mind as well as birds who will be prepping and bulking up  for Winter. 

Zero Waste

There is nothing more offensive to nature than simply taking and not using. If you are planning on making a jam, you will know the general weight of berries you need. Bear that in mind before picking a glut and not using your haul. A little from each bush is the best rule of thumb, as opposed to stripping a single bush of all its fruits

Enjoy your bounty! Check out my delicious Blackberry recipes for great ideas on how to make the most of your foraging haul.