| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| cab |
Blackberry harvest...Thats the back broken on the blackberry harvest. Got a little help from my better half and another friend (in return for dinner, he's not stupid) and came home yesterday with 16 1/2 lb of blackberries. Wine is on, 6lb stewed down for jam, some frozen, whisky about to go on, blackberry crumble yesterday and blackberry fool today
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| ariana |
I searched high and low on Saturday. Found one place where they were just starting to turn red. Rest are either still flowering or hard n green.  I guess we're just a bit backward up here in the back woods 
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| cab |
Its more like Cambridge is near tropical. Loads of blackberries ripe here now. | ||||
| Jonnyboy |
We picked two handfuls at the weekend, all that is ripe so far.
Should be overwhelmed in a couple of weeks though, If i can keep the goat away from them. |
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| marigold |
I must get out and pick soon, haven't had a chance yet. From what I could see driving to Henfield yesterday there are plenty of ripe ones here. | ||||
| gnasher |
We picked some at the weekend along with some lovely apples and I made 5 and a bit lb of blackberry and apple cheese. | ||||
| BahamaMama |
Can you share the receipe? Is cheese made the same way as jam but boiled down more? |
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| vegplot |
Re: Blackberry harvest...
That sounds like you only have two friends. Blackberries are out but not in any great quantity yet. I'll make some wine this year. |
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| gnasher |
Exactly the same way as jam - Twice the weight of blackberries as apples (although I think I had more blackberries but thats ok) stew for 20 mins with enough water to reach half way up the fruit. Pass through a sieve. Then put the resulting puree back into a pan with 14 oz of sugar for every pint of puree. Let the sugar dissolve on a low heat, then increase the heat and cook for about 40-50 mins until you reach setting point. Pop in straight sided jars or oiled moulds and leave for 2-3 months to dry. I don't know what it will be like as I have never made it before but it set beautifully and it tasted delicious when I licked the spoon! |
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| Green Rosie |
Blackberries here are really late at ripening - and I have to say rather insipid tasting.
But I have just found a large bag of last years in the feezer so I might add some other fruits and make a batch of mixed fruit jam. |
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| dottyspots |
There seem to be quite a few round here atm - we had some lovely sweet ones on Sunday and I told dd that we'd go on Monday with some tubs to pick some properly. Of course it's spent the last couple of days pouring it down
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| 2steps |
wow I got 3 1/2 lb a few days ago but that's it so far | ||||
| gil |
And there's a section at the end on making (damson) cheese in the Article about Preserving Wild Fruits | ||||
| cassy |
[hijack thread] Thanks for that link, I've just seen some damsons hanging over the garden wall from next door. [/hijack] Haven't seen any blackberries around here yet, but lots of wild raspberries, nearly gone over now. |
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| gil |
You''ll note that I wasn't too impressed with the end result for the amount of effort. I reckon fruit cheese is something to make only after you have exhausted most other possibilities of the fruit : jam, gin, wine, frozen for use in puddings, and of course, jelly, which can be the stage before the cheese. Damson jelly is OK, BTW. |
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| cassy |
Grand, I was thinking of giving damson jelly a try, then using the pulp. Ta! |
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| skedone |
hi cab i have tons my way to nice and big and juicey could u send me your wine/whiskey recipes please mate that would be great | ||||
| sean |
Blackberry Whisky
Blackberry Wine |
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| Kinnopio |
Plenty of elderberries too. Blackberry and elderberry wine soon to go on! | ||||
| Sherbs |
Took the Sherbling picking blackberries this evening in a rare non-rainy half hour.
Not really very good round our way this year, either they're still green or they're gone brown and crunchy but we managed to get enough decent ones for her to have for tea. She was pleased at any rate thought they weren't exactly the nicest I've ever had. |