wow. Summer is on (finally) around here. We went foraging for berries in the mountains on Sunday with Cass' parents, an aunt and uncle, and a friend of ours. We were out on the trail about 4 hours, all seven of us hunting and picking (this family can forage!). We picked wild mountain blackberries (tiny and far more floral than the ones that grow by the highways); red huckleberries, salmonberries, and thimbleberries (my personal favorite).What to do with all of them?
I made one small pie just of wild mountain blackberries. They are Cass' favorite and he just LOVES wild mountain blackberry pie. I couldn't not do it. 
The rest (mostly red huckleberries because I'd rather stay safely in the forest than scramble down hillsides for the tiny blackberries) I put in a pot...
and yes, made another dozen small jars of jam. Won't this be nice, at yuletide? Tangy delicious, truly wild berry jam for the holidays. Presents from the summer forest.I swear, I do other things than make jam and fruit desserts all summer! Hopefully I'll have another sewing project to show you soon!
4 comments:
I love this idea. Thimble berries are so cute, I love how they fit on your finger. Have you ever tried making anything with Oregon grape? I've heard that with a lot of suger they can make a good jam.
you know, I haven't tried Oregon grape, but as a native Oregonian, I kind of feel like I should! I've also been contemplating salal jam; apparently it's not as sour as Oregon grape and you know it grows everywhere, so I figure I should be able to find an ample supply of berries.
what about you, Tonya? Any berry foraging in your summer?
So jealous! I have been thinking about making jam this year - it's just too hot here (100+). These look delicious.
I made strawberry jam, but for some reason my jars didn't seal so my freezer is full of jam. I have August off from school so I'm hoping to do some jamming, canning, and some dehydrating, well I hope. I didn't know salal was edible. I'm inspired by all your wild berry adventures.
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