to wonder why there are blackberries going bad whilst people complain that they don't have enough money to feed their family healthy food.

[froken]

We went blackberry picking today, I was expecting a couple of manky blackberries to be left because I hear so often in the media and on mumsnet people saying how they struggle to feed their dc healthy food and sometimes people saying they have a hard time finding enough money to feed their dc at all.

There was a huge amount of blackberries, we were a 20 min walk outside a major city so an easily accessible place for 1000s of families.

We picked 9 pounds of blackberries.

Aibu to think that it would be a good idea for those struggling to feed their family a healthy diet (and those struggling to feed their family at all) should be out picking the free fruit that grows all over England's public spaces?

[JoinYourPlayfellows]

"The bugger is having to buy the gin in the first place - it seems somehow unfair!"

It really does.

It's like if the main ingredient in cake was a cake.

:o

[VerySmallSqueak]

Yes,I do believe there is a lot less population for a lot more proper wilderness in Sweden,isn't there?

I think you could supplement your diet nicely with elk and wild pig there too.

[LRDMaguliYaPomochTebeSRaboti]

Ah, our poor Yoof.



When I have mine I plan to send them out with a bag and a forked stick until they have a hundredweight. Then I will pop them up the chimney so they can experience that sweet, nostalgic pleasure of oldendays.

[RussianBlu]

wouldnt you be able to see if a bird had done the toilet on blackberries? Maybe its all down to how you were brought up. We were brought up in a rather relaxed fashion.

[teenagetantrums]

right im off out foraging in central London, will let you know how the rat burgers taste, actually as its Friday night if I wait a while there will be half eaten kebabs and chicken all over the place. Don't know why I didn't think of this earlier.

[NoelHeadbands]

"Mum mum why do some people say they can't afford milk?"

"Never you mind son, carrying on sucking that udder before Daisy makes a bolt for it"

[northernlurker]

I don't like blackberries. I mean, a few are ok with apple in a pie but that's it.
Does that make me feckless?

[ArbitraryUsername]

And, of course, blackberry season is extremely long. The poor don't need more than 9lbs of blackberries a year. Well, they might need a rat or two for special occasions. Give the little ones something to look forward to at Christmas.

[LRDMaguliYaPomochTebeSRaboti]

at noel.

It is ancient wisdom, you know. There's a medieval tale called 'The Witch and Her Cow-Sucking Bag', about the womanly wisdom of stealing from udders.*

*This is really true. Honestly, it is.

[coppertop]

So that's the reason they're killing off the badgers! Keeps the farmers happy and feeds the feckless.

[VerySmallSqueak]

It's when the DC's see them in the supermarket and want to buy them,at this time of year,that I nearly faint clean away.

[MissBetseyTrotwood]

Ha ha haaaaa. (The sound of my hollow laughter).

I know, instead of those benefits that are so abundant and easy to get hold of, let's give all The Poor a bit of land. Take 'em back to subsistence farming, then they'll learn the value of money. Problem SOLVED.

Next? World Peace? Just a minute, let me have a little think...

[TheBigJessie]

My children had a blackberry each last week, actually. I carefully picked it from high up (after hissing "not from down there " at husband).

Offspring 1 claimed he was too full to eat the salad in his sandwich later on that afternoon, because of the blackberry.

Obviously the OP is right- blackberries are terribly filling! Or... Alternatively, the OP is as daft as my four-year-old and makes up arguments on the spot that suit what she wants!

[LRDMaguliYaPomochTebeSRaboti]

northern, there are wild apples near me. I shall go and pick you a bagful out of the goodness of my heart, you need only pay me in paypal, bank transfer, the MN secret santa, or the warm glow I shall feel in patronizing you with wormy little bullets of sour.

[JoinYourPlayfellows]

Picking blackberries is fun blackberries are delicious.

And it does save money on fruit.

The one around here are just ripe and still a bit small yet. We've still had a couple of tasty walks.

I can't be arsed to make jam, so there's no point in taking too many.

[froken]

I really didn't mean to offend, I understand that blackberries are a small part of anyone's diet. I just feel that it is a way thay people can get food that is really nutritious and tasty for free and it is a shame that more people dont take advantage of it.

When I was growing up ( with a single mum on benefits) we had experience of taking the food that was available. During tge bse crisis we were given cans of beef that no one else would eat, my mum took food out of supermarket skips to be able to feed us. We also went blackberry picking and sweet chestnut collection. I really have fond memories of those times.

[KirjavaTheCat]

Withdraw benefits, point them in the direction of their local motorway wild blackberry bushes and they'll be fine.

If they complain we'll take their widescreen tellies away.

[bigkidsdidit]

Ubik I'm south Edinburgh so practically not in Scotland at all


LRD you are making me laugh tonight :)

[ArbitraryUsername]

Give them a bit of land? No, no. That will never do. Our lords and masters will just allow them to scrape a subsistence living on their land, provided they keep up with their tithes.

[JoinYourPlayfellows]

"let's give all The Poor a bit of land."

That's a pretty revolutionary idea.

It would never happen, because the people who own all the land know how valuable land is for extracting rents from other people.

[northernlurker]

OP - look, tips on things to do with kids is fine. Wax lyrical about fruit picking and foraging as much as you like. Nobody would have a problem with that. Where there is an issue is when that sort of comment tips into 'therefore the POOR just don't try hard enough'

Frankly the British Government plays that tune atm every day so anybody else trying to strike it up will get a bad reception........

[LRDMaguliYaPomochTebeSRaboti]

'Darling, what are you snorting about on MN tonight?'

'Oh, we're just reversing the enclosure act, returning to hunter-gatherer lifestyle and swapping gin recipes. The usual.'

[northernlurker]

LTD - thanks for the offer

[Bowlersarm]

Blackberries are prolific this year.

But my apple tree......well......I picked four apples to make an apple crumble. There are another, ooooh, 500 apples on the tree. I don't want to make 100 apple crumbles, what the flipping heck do I do with them all?

[VerySmallSqueak]

Oh froken,I think a lot of us do get the gist of what you are saying - of course,given the opportunity it's a great thing to do.
It's good healthy fun and it's brilliant to know it hasn't cost a thing.

My top tip is always dress the kids in purple.