But despite all this I have still managed to make a bit of me time, and one thing I have been wanting to do for the past few years is to take advantage of all the delightful wild fruits and berries that abound here in the countryside. I did a recce a couple of weeks ago, to judge just how far along the bushes and hedgerows were with their harvest, and a then a couple of days ago I set out with empty bags and my doggy companion to plunder nature's harvest.
I was a bit concerned - I had overheard my neighbour chatting about berry picking, and knowing how competitive it can be to get to the right bush at just the right time, I was prepared to wade through brambles to get to the juiciest offerings.
All of these gorgeous fruits are available in the hedgerows around the fields here - all well away from the roads and pollution...
Everyone's favourite - juicy blackberries...
Perfect for puddings - wild damson...
Pass the Gin - an abundance of sloes...
Just fine for wine - elderberries...
Ignore their bad press - crab apples...
But the one thing I wasn't prepared for was the nettles! Anyway, I came home with oodles of crab apples, they are really plentiful this year - and as they are not one of the popular picks, there was masses for me to choose the ripest ones from. The blackberries were fewer and further between - most of the juicy ones had already been stripped from the boughs - but I have noted where the second wave will be ripening, and have planned to go back in a few more days to top up my supplies. (With proper nettle protection this time too!)
Unfortunately, with a tiny kitchen, and even smaller larder, I just can't take advantage of all that is on offer; and it would have been watesful to pick just for the sake of it. So, damsons and sloes are off the autumnal menu for this year; and I will only be picking the elderberries if the village berry mafia get to the blackberries before me.
I am planning to make two recipes... a Hedgerow Jam - blackberries, crab apples and elderberries; and then some delicious sounding Crab Apple and Chilli Jelly...! The great thing about using the crab apples is that they naturally contain high concentrates of pectin - so no faffing about with jam sugar.
Unfortunately I can't show you any results yet - but watch out WI, if I get it right you will be knowing about it!
To help me decide what I was going to do with my harvest, I researched on the internet, and have found these great sites. So if you fancy some free food - get out there NOW, and get picking!
(But if you are unsure what is what - please refer to the last link - and if you are still not sure, leave it be!)
