It's Berry Picking Season here in California! The best and freshest berries are typically in season from April through June (depending upon current weather patterns). So, this is the perfect time to go berry picking, and to make pies and preserves! To learn more about this, and to get some great recipes, check out our selection of books available at the San Jose Public Library.
Books About Berries:
Make Some Pies:
The Norske Nook Book of Pies and Other Recipes
Jams and Preserves:
The Jam Maker's Garden : Grow Your Own Seasonal Preserves
The River Cottage Preserves Handbook
Better Homes and Gardens Jams & Jellies
Final Thoughts:
- I used to go berry picking on my grandparent's land up near the tree line. My Grandpa would give me a berry bucket and a wooden spoon to strike the bucket with, in order to keep the bears away.
- There used to be traditional songs/chants that were used while berry picking but we didn't keep those going in my family, so I'd be out there gathering berries and singing Madonna and Duran Duran songs. "Hungry Like the Wolf "by Duran Duran is particularly effective in keeping the bears away. Give it a try sometime. Make sure to sing it really loud.
- I would gather the berries and bring them back to help my Grandma make pies and preserves, and we would also have them on top of homemade ice cream.
- Yes we would make homemade ice cream with a hand cranked ice cream machine. It was delicious!
- The author of this piece is probably making some small pies and tarts with handpicked berries as of this publishing. She is also (quite possibly) singing "Hungry Like the Wolf" while she does so.
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