Blackberry Jam

Wild Blackberry Jam, Preserving Nature’s Best

It is so easy to take nature for granted and not even notice. But those blackberries draw you in. One taste and you are hooked.

This summer we had a fabulous blackberry season. It was really hot in the Pacific Northwest so the berries came out early. My jam making instincts got the best of me as I drove by the wild berries. The family picked and picked from wild bushes everywhere along country roads. Blackberries are so delicious when picked perfectly ripe in August. Their squishy purple exterior give way to a sweet flavor that is hard to resist.

The busy pace of life can trick us into missing out on slower activities and facets of life, like berry picking. But when I stop to think about it, blackberries really are wonderful, and there is something peaceful about picking (though the thorns are not peaceful!). They are worth the time that it takes to stop the car, clear the schedule, and endure some scrapes and scratches. Blackberries are one of the great natural resources that are so easy to take for granted.

I just love the fact that blackberries are found everywhere!

This summer, we harvested the natural resources around us and brought them into the kitchen for preserving. Initially, we left them on top of the fridge and a couple of days later they began to smell like wine - and not a fine wine.

Note to self: use the berries right away!

The next time we knew we had to act quicker to preserve this wonderful fruit.

After our second picking, we went right to work. We mashed the berries with a meat masher. Squishing them made a really nice paste for jam. At first, we just made freezer jam, but then we busted out and made cooked jam. Cooked jam is the most fun; I think it is the best tasting. The heat of the brew creates such a dense mush of sugar and berries. We didn’t have any big messes in the kitchen this year (though my husband might beg to differ!).

Just plain fun in nature.

Just plain fun in the kitchen.

Plain fun happens to people when making memories and some lasting preserves, bonding with everything natural and with one another.  Countless jars of jam are our prize, along with the memories and the tastes along the way. So take the time to get out and pick some berries, and enjoy the fruits of your labor!