To wonder if I'm the only weirdo still picking blackberries?

[DrSeuss]

I grew up in a village forty years ago where it was perfectly normal to go blackberrying, now I live in a suburb where there's a massive bramble patch about fifty feet from my door and another two a short walk away. Every time I go out to pick them, firstly it's clear from the volume that no one else is bothering and secondly I get lots of comments from passers by about what will I do with them. Not unfriendly comments, more surprised and unclear as to why I would bother! I suggested to several that they should combine dog walking and foraging but they never do. Most years I get a freezer shelf full. One year I made blackberry vodka for people as Christmas presents and had requests for more. This evening's haul are in the microwave right now turning into jam. Am I the only weirdo or do others do it too?

I do when I'm out riding perfect height for good ones, I scoff a load and horse comes back with purple lips where she's been secretly tucking in

Blackberries are nice but raspberries are better.

Do raspberries grow wild? I never found them. Blackberries grow wild in the hedgerows in the lanes in the country where I grew up. We picked them. Never encountered wild raspberries.

Yes you can get wild raspberries occasionally.

No you are not alone. I will be out picking some tomorrow. Saw a dad and son picking when I was driving home from work today and it took me back to when I went with my kids.

Oh thanks, Alpacalypse i do see them growing by the roadsides but when it comes To actual 'spots' and proper places to rummage around for picking then thats when I draw blank.
Im rather introvert and shy, so the thought of collecting fruit in full view of morning commuters and full buses makes me think sod it, I'll buy fruit from Aldi!
I'm racking my brains trying to think of where I've seen some country paths or lanes. I reckon I'll have success there.

Ha, yes if I'd planned in advance I would have saved all my jars & not have a problem, but they've all been recycled, so have none apart from the jam waiting to be finished in the cupboard. But I will try home bargains & idea is a great thought!

Thanks for reminding me to do this when I go to my mum's next week. There is a lovely blackberry bush in the back garden some of which is out of her reach. The thought of apple and blackberry pie even at this early hour is a pleasant one.

Nope. DH is making jam as I type with blackberries and apples from our garden.

I have also made this cake for work a few times. It goes down a treat with a cup of coffee or tea and slices beautifully.

We pick them and could persuade dsd to come unti she hit teenage. And she doesn't even like them.

Make vodka, jelly, jam and apple and blackberry crumble. Only pick a few know though as have an allotment that produces pounds of blackcurrants got the jam and the vodka instead.

But don't see that many people collecting and get a bit of a raised eyebrow from friends.

Also pick sloes and bilberries.

None have been worth picking so far this year, horribly bitter and seedy, but my labrador seems to enjoy them (not a ringing endorsement as he enjoys cat poo as well...). He carefully eats all the ripe ones and wees as high as he can manage over the rest.

We do, except our season hasn't reached its peak yet. A few years ago when we had an utterly fantastic bramble year I made every bramble jam version I could think of, rum and black pepper turned out to be everybody's favourite.
This blackberry+coconut squares recipe is very good.
The wild raspberries were great this year.

LBOCS2 - elderberry syrup / wine/ liqueur

Things we do with elderberries: blackberry and elderberry jam, elderberry wine, blackberry and elderberry wine, pontack sauce.

Also collect crab apples (for wine and jam), sloes (for gin and chutney), blackberries (crumble, wine, jam), elderflower (wine), sweet chestnuts...

No longer know anywhere to find damsons, or wild raspberries, sadly.

There are a few odd apple, pear and plum tree in local parks but hard to get many.

Being in a town I've had random people heckle, and even insult me etc if they see me picking, but they are the ones walking past full blackberry bushes to buy overpriced ones from the shops, so I just ignore.

No brambles in my area in Belgium that I have found, so I have to buy them. However, I get a lovely crop of medlars every year, and we have fruit trees with pear and apples, that aren't quite ripe yet. We even have a few walnuts, unless the squirrels have got them.

Was one of my favourite things to do as a kid. There is a massive bramble untouched at the forest near me. I may take DC foraging tomorrow

"Do raspberries grow wild?"

Yes, but the raspberries in our local park grow at the former site of the estate owner's mansion, so I'm guessing they were originally cultivated.

We do! It's my bribe to get DD1 home from nursery as we walk up a big hill. There's an old sandstone wall which captures the heat and brings them on weeks earlier than other brambles. The hill also has damson, sloe and crab apples so it must have been planted up at some point but it's always been a right of way so I don't know who did it. I remember reading that medieval farmers/landowners used to plant fruit trees on the borders of woodlands and field boundaries to provide a little extra free fodder for people and animals.

Went out and picked about a kilo the other night. Had blackberry and apple crumble last night for upper - yum! Four more in the freezer.