7/29/08

Much of my gardening is reactive. Between Mother Nature’s surprises, and living where several generations have gardened before me, there’s always something cropping up that redirects my plans.

This time of year, it’s berries. Some previous resident planted a border of blackberry bushes around the backyard. The same person, perhaps, or another one decades later, planted three high-bush blueberries in a corner of the yard. And all over the property — back side of the field, corner of the pond, behind the barn, under the pine trees — somebody put red and black raspberries, or else they planted themselves. All four types come to fruit in a rolling wave.

Our berry yield in proportion to number of bushes has been low over the 10 years we’ve lived here. It seems more a result of weather than anything else. At various times I’ve tried following the book on proper berry cultivation and environment; but, as with so many other plants, the berry bushes pay little attention to my attentions. Rather, they seem to respond to the right combination of rain and temperature and pollinating bees.

There have been more lean berry years than lush ones. Last year, however, that trend abruptly changed.

A fence row between backyard and a former hayfield, comprising old barbed wire, collapsed rock wall, prickers, and debris, was an area we ignored from day one. Accordingly, it grew taller and denser for a decade, until last summer my spouse noticed red spots amid the greenery and went to investigate. Behold, a huge stand of raspberries bearing fruits the size of his thumb!

Neither of us had ever seen raspberries so big, even in the supermarket. We gorged ourselves on what was left of the crop.

This summer, figuring last year was a fluke, I again ignored that inconvenient corner. Besides, it’s been a wet year, and usually that interrupts pollination and we get a thin crop. Wrong again! We’ve had a veritable tidal wave of the same gigantic berries — more than I have containers to hold them in while picking, and store them in before they spoil. I finally stopped picking because it took more hours than my schedule could accommodate, and my freezer was packed. Yet I barely made a dent in what was bursting into ripeness around the property. There’s enough for birds, bugs, critters, as well as us. What riches!

Now the blueberries are coming. About the time I’ve picked them clean, the blackberries will be ready. I may have to open the yard to the pick-your-own folk to handle that crop! Or participate in the local farmers’ market. Or just leave them for the birds, and over the winter stock up on containers and block out more time next July for picking and processing. I’m leery of that investment, though, because it almost guarantees Mother Nature will serve up a spring that leaves us devoid of berries in 2009. Well, there’s always the next year . . . so I might as well get ready for whenever the next wave comes.

Berry-bounty tip: If you’re watching your waistline or your blood sugar, try dropping a cup of berries into a blender. In 30 seconds, you’ll have a paste thick enough for PB&J sandwiches, or to stir into no-fat vanilla yogurt for a treat better than ice cream, with none of the sugar overload that comes in commercial or home-cooked fruit spreads (and none of the hassle). Fresh or frozen, same result, so your bounty can last all year!

Carolyn Haley
Author: Open Your Heart with Gardens