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AIBU?

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Original poster

If blackberries were growing in your garden…

93 replies

hugebuyersremorse · 12/08/2024 21:36

Would you pick and eat them? The actual bush they’re growing on nobody owns and it’s behind our back fence, but it’s overgrown and has curved over our fence. I’d say there are probably easily 50 or more ripe blackberries within reach.

DH has said a dog might have done its business on the roots of the bush… (😂) so he’s not so sure about it. I can’t see a problem, surely no different from fruit that you buy from the supermarket.

YABU - don’t eat them
YANBU - pick them and eat them!! winning

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aodirjjd · 13/08/2024 16:14

HappyToSmile · 13/08/2024 11:52

Your OH might want to look at how the farmers spread their manure before planting crops. Crops that are then sold for food......

Exactly. It’s a bit shocking sometimes how far removed people are from their food.

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 13/08/2024 16:11

hugebuyersremorse · 12/08/2024 21:36

Would you pick and eat them? The actual bush they’re growing on nobody owns and it’s behind our back fence, but it’s overgrown and has curved over our fence. I’d say there are probably easily 50 or more ripe blackberries within reach.

DH has said a dog might have done its business on the roots of the bush… (😂) so he’s not so sure about it. I can’t see a problem, surely no different from fruit that you buy from the supermarket.

YABU - don’t eat them
YANBU - pick them and eat them!! winning

I've been doing this all week!

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 13/08/2024 13:31

I was always taught to soak blackberries in salty water before use, then rince thoroughly. Gets rid of any little bugs but also anything else that can be lurking. Pollutants being key here as we’re in London.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 13/08/2024 13:31

I live by a disused railway and I along with many other go black berry picking all the time. I usually do it when I’m walking my dog.

Durdledore · 13/08/2024 13:28

Hoppinggreen · 13/08/2024 11:47

Rude, no need for that

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I stand by my assessment 🤷‍♀️

GingerPirate · 13/08/2024 13:26

Yes, they are. Tonnes of them.
Prickly, fluffy.
Thank you very much 😁

LemonySnickets · 13/08/2024 12:51

Agree with anything above waist height being fair game! I pick and eat them all the time when I can. 😋

Blackberriesandcobwebs · 13/08/2024 12:49

As per username - go for it, but always pick above dog wee height! Dont pick kerbside either (car exhaust). Rinse well before enjoying!

Have made blackberry and apple crumbles for the freezer, juice, jelly etc. Love blackberries and free harvest!

StoneColdAlibi · 13/08/2024 12:46

HappyToSmile · 13/08/2024 11:52

Your OH might want to look at how the farmers spread their manure before planting crops. Crops that are then sold for food......

To be fair there is a huge difference between manure and dog shit.

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 13/08/2024 12:40

Does he eat mushrooms?

Tisfortired · 13/08/2024 11:53

We have raspberry and blackberry bushes behind our house
and us and neighbour eat them. I do wash them first though by soaking in water and lemon juice - I know some people are not squeamish about the bugs but the thought of eating the little worm things that come floating to the top of the water after the soak give me the boak.

MereDintofPandiculation · 13/08/2024 11:52

BeachParty · 13/08/2024 00:59

I live on the edge and just wash them well under cold running water 😁

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I don't even do that, except for guests, Mind, I might not be he best example, having just gone down with an almighty tummy bug - but it is my first 35 years, and I put it down to undercooked meatballs, not the odd insect in my blackberries.

HappyToSmile · 13/08/2024 11:52

Your OH might want to look at how the farmers spread their manure before planting crops. Crops that are then sold for food......

HappyToSmile · 13/08/2024 11:50

I won't pick any lower than great dane height, but anything else is fair game!

NeedthatFridayfeeling · 13/08/2024 11:50

I don't like them but my daughter would have them! I pick them to make blackberry and plum gin 😁(i have a plum tree)

GasPanic · 13/08/2024 11:47

Depends on whether they are likely to have grown on ground containing chemicals/pesticides etc.

That's always the problem picking random stuff. You don't know what is in it.

Hoppinggreen · 13/08/2024 11:47

Durdledore · 12/08/2024 21:43

He is a bit thick though. To even joke about not picking fresh fruit. It’s a bit…eh??

Edited
Show quote history

Rude, no need for that

EBearhug · 13/08/2024 11:35

I was taught always to pick them above dog/foxleg-cocking level, but otherwise, go for it.

I do try and remove brambles from the garden itself, though.

eurochick · 13/08/2024 11:21

If you have an ice cream maker (or patience) this is easy and delicious.

www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/blackberry-sorbet/

ComealongMartha · 13/08/2024 10:03

I’m surprised that you have never done this. Of course you eat them, why wouldn’t you?

Twitchyeyebrow · 13/08/2024 10:01

I'm so shocked by how removed some people seem to be from nature, natural food, and foraging instincts!

It always amazes me people pay for Blackberries when there's an abundance of them for free.

Same goes for the two huge jars of foraged hazelnuts I have in my kitchen.

Even living in a city there's free food growing, and it's organic too. Walnuts, hazelnuts, brambles, elderberries, apples, plums, dandelions, pine cones for the seeds (and the cones themselves are great firestarters), mint, etc etc. I even spotted some Morrell mushrooms growing in my local park last week!!

I give brambles a soak and a rinse but other than that I don't worry too much.

Helloworld56 · 13/08/2024 09:53

Pick them, wash them and eat them. Make blackberry and apple pie, totally delicious.

BrioNotBiro · 13/08/2024 09:51

Wild blackberries have so much more taste than the ones you buy in the supermarket.

Summertimer · 13/08/2024 09:50

I wouldn’t normally buy blackberries in a shop. There are plenty available in over fence and hedge situations.

Nolongera · 13/08/2024 09:45

Blackberries have come early this year despite a poor start to the summer.

Lots of old waste land round here with tons of bushes, we got 50 lb of fruit in 2 trips, made a nice crumble and 50 litres of wine.

Free food and fulfills a basic need we have to gather,what's not to like?