Free Food - Blackberries

I can remember picking blackberries as a child during the summer, trying not to scratch my hands to pieces or to drop too many brambles in the process.

As an extension to my thoughts about blackcurrants, I think that brambling should be revived as an annual tradition, saving us all a few pennies on the way.

Blackberries grow wild, and can be found beside pathways and by roadsides. In the interests of safety avoid busy highways, and instead wander off the beaten track in search of untouched bushes. Don’t trespass on private property or farmland which may be gated or fenced off.

The berries are fairly easy to pick, but the bushes are covered in sharp spines, so be prepared to be pricked. Wear sturdy shoes and clothing, such as jeans, but don’t wear heavy gardening gloves as this will hamper your picking abilities. It takes a gentle hand to pluck perfectly ripe blackberries.  

The best and ripest berries will be dark, almost black in colour, and may be plucked easily from the bush using your thumb and forefinger. The berry should come away easily in your fingers, leaving the white coloured hull behind. If a berry does not come away easily with a gentle tug, then it is likely not yet ripe and should be left for a few more days.

Make blackberry picking more fun for the family by turning it into a competition. Each person has their own container, and then everyone competes to see who can pick the most berries in an hour, or in ten minutes if time is limited.

I find that blackberries keep quite well in fridge refrigerator for up to three days, but they also freeze well for use at a later date. After washing (the berries, not myself), I lay the berries out in a single layer on a baking sheet and pop the tray in the freezer. Once the berries are frozen, they can be placed into bags for easier storage in the freezer. I like to use blackberries in with smoothies, or with other summer fruits on top of meringue.

Image by http://www.flickr.com/photos/didbygraham/