The lengths I go to for blackberries

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Nettle stings, bramble scratches and sunburn. Ow. I don't even really eat them myself although blackberry vodka at Christmas is nice. I'm convinced there is some weird evolutionary thing where I see them hanging there and have to get them.

Why do I do this to myself?

You are my people!

I've got a garden full of apples and rhubarb, and wild brambles are perfect at this time of year. I've been making no end of jam, crumble mixes, cordials and flavoured gins.

Next year I'm going to try making elderflower champagne

Handy hint: take some secateurs or kitchen scissors with you to cut away the nettles from around the blackberries you are picking - it really helps.

I’m the same - this year the blackberries are amazing, so I’m covered in stings and scratches!

@LaBelleSauvage123 Ice cream recipe immediately please!

I always take a spaghetti server with me. I use it to hook the branches and it massively increases my reach.

I cut back the stems as my little male cat scratched his eyeball on something a few years back ( I know he could’ve scratched his eyeball on many things but an £85 vet visit and the fact he never learns from mistakes……)

I let the birds have the high up berries and they thank me by leaving purple pooh on my washing 😫

What about Gooseberries. I used to pick loads as a kid (although a bit sour tbf) but don't think I've ever seen them growing wild as a adult, where have they all gone?

Bollocking marigolds.

I need to know about no churn ice cream, nettle seeds and ice lollies. Please!

I will admit to taking tongs... someone near me used a ladder one year. Unsporting I call that.

No churn ice cream. They make one on “Sorted” food
600ml double cream whisk till soft peaks, then add half a tin of condensed milk , vanilla extract folded in . Freeze.

Its a bit like White Chocolate Ice cream in sweetness , would go well with blackberries

I’m another slightly obsessed. We are in the north so they are only just becoming ready. I’ve got quite a lot in the freezer from last year but I know I will come back with poo bags full of them soon as I can’t resist. OH used to moan but he was picking them yesterday too. Here for recipes, I often make bramble and apple jelly, and bramble gin, in addition to crumbles etc but always keen for new recipes!

Oh god, it's compulsive. Our freezer is full and there's a massive blackberry and apple crumble in the fridge, but I still picked another tub full on my walk this morning 😳

I even know which bushes in our village ripen first 🙈😂

Sunburn? In the UK? Okay I'll swap you a tub of blackberries for some sunshine! I've got a cardi on, it's pissing down and windy here...all my apples are going 'thunk' as they drop off the tree and onto the ground.
I feel very sorry for all the Holliday makers camping next door. Brave lot that's for sure!
Anyway you do it because despite the nettle rash, the sunburn <jealous> and thorn injuries, you know it's a very wholesome and satisfying pastime, and you'll enjoy your vodka tipple in the winter gloom, with rose tinted glasses and forgetting the pain of blackberry vodka

I was on MN creating a thread about my enormous apple tree which is dispensing up to 30 apples A DAY onto the lawn. And then yesterday I discovered we have blackberries as well!!!!! I am following this thread 😆

Its a very primal instinct that I also cannot ignore! I'm slightly concerned my 15mo is going to turn into a blackberry though- she is excellent at spotting them, not so excellent at leaving them in the tub

Sunburn? In the UK?

South East and I'm a daywalker. It's gone away now

Those of you with gardens, squish a couple of blackberries (brambles) on a tissue. Plant tissue in a pot. When big enough, plant out. Probably next year, now.
Do not blame me when you live in a sleeping beauty type thicket.

I'm enjoying blackberries for the first time ever since moving out to a Surrey village and discovering a number of blackberry bushes in the garden. 4 yo is delighted! Have made both blackberry pie, crumble and have been using them in smooties. If anyone has a simple blackberry jam recipe do share. The one I found seemed far too complicated.

I miss picking blackberries. We used to have them growing in our garden when I was a child and I'd gorge myself on them every year. Once I ran past the brambles without being too careful and got a branch across my face, just missed my eye.

Now I don't see them grow anywhere and they cost 6 euros for a tiny punnet in the shop so I've not had blackberries in years. I'm starting to consider buying bramble saplings so I can grow them in my garden!

I have them growing in my hedge. Delicious!

There's something nostalgic about it, I think. I used to pick them as a kid. My kid enjoys picking them. I don't like eating them though and they are often full of worms. Ew.

I'm suddenly obsessed with this too 😳

I've found my people! So many this year even though it's early (I'm in Scotland). I've got a crumble ready to cook for DS2's birthday later.

They grow by the river near us and we pick them (and elderberries) every year. I spotted a demijohn in one of our local charity shops so might buy it and go and pick some more to make blackberry wine 🍷
Blackberry and apple crumble, elderberry and blackberry syrup (great in winter), blackberry, yoghurt and banana smoothie for breakfast, bramble jelly, blackberry vodka - I may run out of ideas soon - or turn purple! 🍇

Snap but I've gone one further! Blackberries steeping in cider vinegar for winter and an old ginger preserve jar full of dried nettle seeds