Blackberry score!

[velochic]

Canning season has begun!

My mom got her hands on 10lbs.+ of blackberries a few days ago. She loves seeded blackberry jam. I don't eat it, but dd sometimes likes it on her PB&J sandwiches. We still have 4 half-pints from last canning season.

I put up 36 half-pints yesterday. That will probably last 2 years unless dh and I start eating it, too.

This weekend I'll put up some asparagus from a friend who is overwhelmed with it.

Anybody else putting anything by yet? I know it's still early in the season.

[cristeen]

great score! We've discussed going blackberry picking w friends this year - they have a spot they go to.

I've put up asparagus pickles. When it hit 99 cents a pound I bought a bunch. It's still too early here for most things.

[velochic]

Originally Posted by cristeen

I've put up asparagus pickles. When it hit 99 cents a pound I bought a bunch. It's still too early here for most things.

Oh, sounds yummy! I've never put up asparagus pickles. Do you do something special other that just use a typical pickling process?

[Magelet]

We're going strawberry picking for my birthday, so we'll put up some strawberry jam. (I'm thinking possibly some strawberry ice cream may go into the freezer as well...)

[cristeen]

Originally Posted by velochic

Oh, sounds yummy! I've never put up asparagus pickles. Do you do something special other that just use a typical pickling process?

Blanch the asparagus first, that's it.

[cristeen]

Originally Posted by Magelet

We're going strawberry picking for my birthday, so we'll put up some strawberry jam. (I'm thinking possibly some strawberry ice cream may go into the freezer as well...)

Is there an organic Strawberry U-Pick around here? All the U-picks I've found have been conventional.

[Magelet]

swanton berry farm is organic. It's just off highway 1, south of half moon bay by quite a bit. I think it was... 2 hours drive each way? Maybe a little more. They say the farm is 1.5 hours south of the city. We went last year for my birthday, and it was good prices, beautiful, and tasty berries. (and we had a lot of fun picnicing on the beaches on the way back home.)

[KristyDi]

Not yet. I have my garden mostly planted though and I'm planning on canning a lot of tomatoes this summer.

Next week I'm planning on going strawberry picking at a local organic farm I just found out about. Then I'll be busy making and canning strawberry jam. And when my DH's grandma's blueberries get ripe I'll make and can some plain blueberry jam and some blueberry lime jam.

[JessicaS]

We still have a bit before the pick your own places start. I am looking forward to it.

One can find local places at

http://www.pickyourown.org/

[cristeen]

Originally Posted by abimommy

One can find local places at
http://www.pickyourown.org/

Thank you for posting this link! I found a few more places - not certified but pesticide free at least relatively nearby. And a place that has sour cherries (not organic)!

Magelet - maybe we should get together and go pick together... I'd love to get apricots this year.

[velochic]

Originally Posted by abimommy

We still have a bit before the pick your own places start. I am looking forward to it.

One can find local places at

http://www.pickyourown.org/

That site is also an excellent source of information for the beginning canner.

[velochic]

Originally Posted by KristyDi

Not yet. I have my garden mostly planted though and I'm planning on canning a lot of tomatoes this summer.

Next week I'm planning on going strawberry picking at a local organic farm I just found out about. Then I'll be busy making and canning strawberry jam. And when my DH's grandma's blueberries get ripe I'll make and can some plain blueberry jam and some blueberry lime jam.

Blueberry lime jam sounds delicious!

[velochic]

Originally Posted by cristeen

Blanch the asparagus first, that's it.

Thanks, Cristeen!

[Magelet]

Originally Posted by cristeen

Thank you for posting this link! I found a few more places - not certified but pesticide free at least relatively nearby. And a place that has sour cherries (not organic)!

Magelet - maybe we should get together and go pick together... I'd love to get apricots this year.

We most definitely should get together and go picking. This weekend is a special birthday date for DP and me, but on list of things I'd love to pick this year: cherries, olives, tomatoes, blackberries. apricots sounds fun too.

[KristyDi]

Originally Posted by velochic

Blueberry lime jam sounds delicious!

I actually don't like it but several people on my Christmas list love it. The recipe is in the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving.