Our farm is nestled within the forest, encircled by it on all sides. Our gardens are integrated into these wooded areas. We have named all our garden areas, with some examples being The Yard Garden, East Garden, and Hillside. Others, like The Wood and Forest Garden, are named to reflect either what is or once was within that piece of land.
We strive to cultivate crops in harmony with nature. While we’ve had to cut down many large trees on our property, we encourage new growth and aim to farm within the existing forest rather than opposing it. Our land hosts a variety of native and non-native plants. We actively promote the growth of native species and work to remove invasive non-native ones. Among our native plants is the wonderful, yet often feared, blackberry!
Blackberries, Rubus spp., are remarkable for many reasons. Native to our area in New Hampshire, they thrive when sunlight penetrates the tree canopy to reach the undergrowth. Their brambles protect the soil and the beneficial organisms within, which are essential for cultivating nutrient-dense food. With their rapid growth and substantial size (I’ve seen canes reach 8-10 feet), blackberries can outcompete some invasive species. In one area, blackberry canes are successfully holding back Japanese Knotweed by occupying the space and sunlight. Yay for blackberries!
Blackberries provide shelter and food for wildlife and offer medicinal benefits if we choose to harvest them. And, of course, they provide delicious food for humans and wildlife as well.
Prime wild blackberry season in New Hampshire is in early August. This year, the crop is looking promising, thanks to the rains that have plumped up the berries. In previous years, droughts caused the berries to dry up on the canes, which was quite disappointing. When the blackberries are ripe, we frequently go out to pick and store them. However, we don’t pick them all, nor could we. As we pick, many berries fall off the canes. When we finish picking an area, we often find just as many scattered on the ground. These are for the small creatures that come along and enjoy them, and I know I would, too. Our Border Collie, Bree, accompanies us and loves eating the blackberries as well!
The larger canes are big enough for me to stand under them and pick. I often wonderful if someday, when I turn the bend around the bramble patch I will find another large creature picking right along with me. The one known as Black Bear. I am sure Bree will let me know!
So why is blackberry picking often feared? It can’t just be because of the black bears! If you’ve ever picked wild blackberries, you’ll know the real reason… thorns! Large, clothes-snagging, skin-poking, bloodthirsty thorns. Yes, I’ve ended up with bloodstains on my clothes from these thorns. I’ve lost a hat and even a shirt (thankfully, I had a tank top underneath) to these snagging demons. These aren’t the small fuzzy thorns of raspberries or the tiny bristles of some ornamental cacti. No, these are 2-3 cm thick, sturdy thorns, like claws that can tear clothing, steal your hat, draw blood, and get tangled in your hair.
To minimize these occurrences, there is a finesse and strategy to picking blackberries. First, wear pants and, if possible, long sleeves. Second, have clippers at the ready! Most importantly, move S L O W L Y. I’m serious. As you navigate the blackberry bramble, picking those delicious berries, move slowly into the bramble and reverse direction to exit, continuing to move slowly until you’re clear of the canes. Think of it as performing a slow, careful dance in the brambles.
DO NOT try to move sideways or upward, as that’s when the thorns will snag you. If you do get caught, try to remember the direction you moved to get there and reverse it—slowly! Most of the time, you’ll be released and can continue your berry-picking dance. When you do get stuck (it happens to everyone), don’t panic or yell. Quick movements will only entangle you further. Take a deep breath, count to ten, and slowly cut your way out with clippers if necessary. If you’re picking with a friend who has opposable thumbs, they can help free you.
Meanwhile, your four-legged friends will probably just stare at you, wondering what the problem is. Their fur allows them to move easily through the bramble, picking up the dropped berries. If your friend happens to be a smart border collie, they might even pick the ripe berries right off the vine that you missed—just the ripe ones of course, as they are smart animals!
A note about cane fruit, including the wild blackberries and raspberries that grow in New Hampshire: these plants produce new canes each year, but they only bear fruit on the second-year canes. So, if you need to cut yourself out of a bramble patch, it’s not so bad if you cut the canes that have already produced fruit. Try to leave the newer, lighter green canes that aren’t producing yet. You can always cut them next year if you get stuck again while picking.
If you can overcome the fear of being poked, prodded, and potentially stuck in the bramble, as well as the slim chance of encountering Mr. Black Bear, you will be rewarded with some of the juiciest berries Mother Nature produces. This experience will give you a newfound appreciation for what it takes to earn the delicious reward of those berries.
When thawing the berries in February in New Hampshire, you might recall the dreaded thorns. However, the taste of the berries will quickly turn that memory into sheer delight, making it all worthwhile. Hold onto that thought for the next season! You never know if the weather will bring plump, juicy berries or withered, dry ones. Enjoy them while you can and savor the delightful taste until next time.
Oh, and if you encounter Mrs. or Mr. Black Bear—leave them all the day’s berries!
