August 1, 2009
Backyard Berry Garden
Alaska is a land of abundance. There are so many delicious wild berries and plants that can be used for pie, jam or jelly, syrup, and tea (among other things). Here’s just a few of the goodies we find in our backyard.
Rosehips – These pods are full of tiny seeds, but are loaded with vitamin C. They make an excellent jelly or syrup.
Highbush Cranberries – These delicious berries are great for making jams and jellies. They do have a seed, so they’re not ideal for raw use.
Lowbush Cranberries - Because lowbush cranberries don’t have seeds, they’re great for raw use. They are easy to find and gather with a berry-picker and are a great source of vitamin C. They are small but they pack a tangy punch.
Berry-pickers are a must-have tool to make gathering berries a more efficient process. The teeth allow you to pick a lot of berries at once without taking the stem and leaves with it.
Labrador – The aromatic leaves of this cold-loving plant can be used to make a tea to relieve colds, asthma, and stomachache.
Yarrow – Not only is it an attractive, fragrant flower used for dried arrangements, but it also makes a great tea infusion that fights colds, fevers, and high blood pressure.
Fireweed – The beautiful pink blossoms of the fireweed plant can be used to make one heck of a delicious jelly! Fireweed tends to grow in burnt areas (hence the name) and open clearings. The peak season is mid-July and when the blossoms are finished doing their thing, it’s pretty much Fall in Alaska.
YUM!
- Angus
Wow, you really are living the good life, fishing, hunting and foraging! I’m off this weekend to my parents’in Wales for my own spot of fishing and foraging and I am intrigued by your fireweed jelly. We get fireweed in the UK (we call it rosebay willow-herb) and I wondered what your Jelly tastes like and have you got a recipe I could have? I’d loved to give it a go.
Thanks and loving the pup pics.
Angus
- alaskanarcticexpeditions
Hi, Angus. Here’s the recipe I use. Good luck and let us know how the ‘rosebay willow-herb jelly’ turns out!
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Fireweed Jelly
8 cups fireweed blossoms
1/4 cups lemon juice
4 1/2 cups water
2 packages of pectin
5 cups sugar
Instructions–
Boil blossoms for 10 minutes in water and lemon juice. Strain and cool to lukewarm, then add 2 packages pectin and bring to a boil. Add sugar and bring to full boil. Boil hard for 1 minute. Pour in jars and seal. Boil in jars for 10 minutes.
- Angus
Thanks Andrea, I’ll let you know how it goes.
