REMEMBER

BERRY PICK’EN TIME

When the dog days of summer (as the end of August used to be called) rolls around; we knew it was berry picking time. Back before paved roads and government road crews that spray to kill vegetation, the ditches were filled with berry bushes. There were blackberries, elderberries, and gooseberries, free for the picking. Mom would load tubs into the back of her pickup and all us kids. Our pants bottoms stuffed into our soaks and dabbed with kerosene to keep chiggers and mosquitoes from biting us.

Then off we would go after morning chores were done to pick as marry berries as we could before it got to hot. We would fill as many tubs as we could with each type of berry we came across. Then we would take our find home and make jam, jellies or can some to save for pies in the winter. When mom got a home freezer it made preserving the berries faster and easier.

We were new to farming so when we got to know other farm families in the area the women would get together and share produce and recipes. If one had an extra large patch of berries on her place the other would come help harvest then all would share in the bounty. That is the way things were done back then.

 Elder berries grow on shrubs that can get as tall as houses and trees. This is when agile youngsters were sent up into the bushes were pruning shares to cut the fruit and drop it down for others to catch. Bigger kids were able to reach into the blackberry bushes to get the biggest and sweetest berries.

Gooseberries can be picked in all stages of growth. Some people like them when they are green and still hard, others to the point when they are purple and soft. Mom had us pick any we found, she liked them anyway they grew.

It was hard, hot, and dirty work but in those days we didn’t have what mom called store bought. You used was God provided no matter the effort it took to get it. We got to be with our friends in the area and our mothers got to socializes with neighbors. Friends helping friends, we would be better off today if things were done the way they used to be. If this brought back memories of your childhood my job is complete.

GOD BLESS