Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Berry harvest

Yesterday was a very productive day! We are not usually harvesting berries this early, but spring came early this year, and the warm weather and rain just keep coming, which means everything is happening early. Last year, Jonathan made raspberry-cherry jam on July 1, but cherries are already starting to rot on the bushes, so they will probably only be good for another few days.

We've picked more than 14 pounds of black raspberries, mulberries, and cherries in the last couple days. We've frozen some and made berry tea, mulberries muffins, a raspberry pudding cake, and cherry pancakes. We also canned seven half-pints of what Mike has dubbed "very berry-cherry jam" because it has two types of berries and cherries. I want to call it triple berry jam, because I think cherries are a berry. What do you think?

Sorry the picture didn't turn out better. I can't find my camera, so it was taken with Mike's cell phone. The cherries are a much brighter pink than the photo shows.

Coming attraction -- blackberry harvest is usually about a month behind the raspberries!

10 comments:

melanie said...

Well, technically cherries are a stone fruit...besides, we have a favorite Triple Berry Jam around here which is strawberries, blueberries, and black raspberries...so I'd really have to work to give up the title...

You are so lucky to have the fruit - we are still waiting on warmth and sun...

SkippyMom said...

um...sorry - but "Berry Cherry Jam" makes me smile [a bit more] than Triple berry. Besides I wouldn't want to fight Melanie for the title. ;D [kidding Mel!]

So ealous - we have been trying to get out to pick strawberries but it keeps raining. Hopefully this Sunday. I need to make Jam. :D

Chef E said...

Same here in Jersey- blueberries came a few weeks early, and we are happy about that! I am ashamed to say I left my new camera in my van which was in the shop, so I did not take any photos, but I did get some good ones of a luna moth a few weeks ago with my cell that usually do not come out at all!

I love smoothies, so make a few of those, I am about too!

Oh and you can freeze them in shallow baggies, lay on their side, for future baking needs- keeps them from turning the batter colors, which does not bother me at all any hoo!

Chef E said...

Oh PS the website is up http://wampp.cookappeal.com/

LindaG said...

Sounds like a great berry harvest! :)

Deborah Niemann said...

Of course, Melanie, you are correct! Isn't it funny how we still debate things that could easily be solved by a quick google search?

Chef E, we lay out the berries on a cookie sheet and freeze them in a single layer to that they're not stuck together. Then we vacuum seal them in freezer bags of various sizes, such as 1 cup for berry-granola parfaits, 6 cups for berry crisp, etc.

Candy said...

Our mulberries are just starting to turn. Any ideas for quick harvesting, other than the sheet on the ground? That seems to get more berries in the grass and in my hair than anywhere else. Also what kind of cherries? I'd like to grow some here if possible (SW Minnesota).

Deborah Niemann said...

We just pick the mulberries by hand with a bucket. It's not very fast, but if you eat them while you're picking, the time flies.

We have Nanking cherry bushes, and I've heard they do well in places that are too cold for trees. They do great here.

KimS said...

Deborah, can you tell me what kind of cherries you have? I'd like to get a couple trees (or bushes if that variety is better) asap. (new acreage) The jams sounds mmmmmm, good!

KimS said...

ok, didn't read far enough down, lol. Nanking will be looked into.

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails