One of my favorite outdoor activities (aside from fishing) is berry picking. Throughout my life I have very fond memories of bringing a load of berries to the cabin. It’s not the easiest way of harvesting food but it’s very rewarding.
While being an exchange student in Iceland, I spent many hours picking blueberries in the countryside after class. Iceland is really expensive when it comes to groceries so some berry harvests were needed to supplement our food stocks.
I will mostly talking about my experiences with blueberries since those are the most common berries around my cabin in the Whiteshell. I also pick raspberries and saskatoons which I find tastier but harder to obtain near my cabin. Saskatoons seem to have a relatively short season. Raspberries are not so abundant and picking them with blueberries causes them to get crushed which is not good for long term storage.
Preparing for the Picking
Berry picking is a cheap activity that requires very little outdoor experience. However there are a few measures you can take to ensure a comfortable outing.
Often berry picking means going into the bush. A combination of bug spray and sunscreen is required to handle the elements. Long pants and long sleeved shirts also offer protection from the bugs and irritating plants. A good pair of outdoor shoes is useful as you will do a decent amount of walking. Water is good to have if you’re going to spend lots of time in the hot sun.
Getting lost is a real possibility especially when exploring a new area and venturing far off the road. There have been cases of berry pickers getting lost and requiring rescue. Most phones have GPS which do allow you to get back to your vehicle. Make sure it’s charged enough before going into the woods.
To collect berries, several sealable tupperware containers are good to take. Usually at the cabin we save old yogurt containers for this purpose.
The Search for Blueberries
Generally blueberries are not hard to find during the summer season when they are ripe. At my cabin we simply climb a hill where there are tons literally a couple hundred meters away.
Areas that are easily accessed tend to be picked fast. Like many outdoor activities, quality is achieved by going off the beaten path. Some of the best patches are found when hiking, biking or offroading. Filling a yogurt container full of berries can mean hitting up several patches so you will be covering ground.
Generally blueberries grow in acidic soil with a lot of exposure to the sun. They are small plants so they cannot really compete for sunlight in a dense forest. Generally rocky granite outcrops are some of the best places to find patches.
The Backbreaking Work
Like any activity, if it were so easy, everyone would be doing it. The reality is you will be squatting in bushes for hours in the hot sun. I have brought non-outdoorspeople berry picking and they quickly cannot handle it. This isn’t an activity for those who can’t stomach the thought of a bug crawling on them.
I find the best way to harvest berries quickly is to place your container underneath a bush and gently run a branch through your fingers. Generally the ripe berries will push off easily and fall into the container. Unripe berries have harder time coming off and are less likely to be harvested. I find this method more efficient than picking berries one by one.
After berry picking is done, it’s time to do some quality assurance. What I like to do is to take a handful of berries and put them on a plate. Sort out any bugs, leaves and poor quality berries. Once the obvious rejects are thrown out, take the plate, swirl the berries around and let them roll down into a receiving container. Oftentimes berries that are squished or damaged will stick to the plate which at that point you can just eat them on the spot since they won’t last.
Put the berries in a sealable container and put them in the fridge. Do not wash the berries unless you intend to eat them. Moisture will cause mold. Generally they should last a week. If you really want to save them long term, they can be frozen.
Eating Blueberries
There are many different ways to eat blueberries. My family generally makes pancakes with them or we eat them with ice cream. Lots of people turn them into jam but I haven’t tried that myself.
Berry picking is pretty labor intensive so you should definitely reward yourself with a tasty snack. All the effort that you put into picking berries will make them always taste better than store bought ones in my opinion.
Final Words
Berry picking is a simple activity so it’s a great way to introduce people to the outdoors. Like fishing and hunting, it’s an activity where you harvest food with your own strength and willpower, making the rewards feel so much better.
There is a reason people buy berries from the store. It’s not efficient in terms of energy as you need to put the effort into it. However being in touch with nature is what really makes the activity fun and relaxing.
