Blackberries!

There are so many beautiful berries in my new state that I feel personally responsible for the preservation of at least SOME of them.

Yesterday I picked 10 pints. When gathering, if they didn't fall into my hand, I didn't force it. Perhaps it wouldn't matter if I were just slightly less selective...they still needed sugar after all!

I wanted to get deeper into the thickets, so I fit a 3'x8' piece of plywood into the kiddie bike trailer. Throwing the board into the bushes did let me wade in, surfboard style. And I was pretty pleased about the whole arrangement till a few brambles shifted, allowing the board to scoot forward and down. I fell backwards. On a few branches, but no matter, at least I fell Backwards. Today I'll just strap a few tupperware to the bike rack. Berry surfing might not be a solitary activity. I'll wait till I have an audience for very first berry bush face plant.

Totals so far:
13 cups of seedless, slightly sweetened blackberry liquid in the freezer
3 cups of berry paste in the fridge
2 cups of seeds in the compost