Adventures in Blackberries

I know someone who does not recognize a blackberry’s right to exist. He thinks they must be obliterated by spraying them with some weird homemade concoction involving Crossbow. Granted, I would personally appreciate if my blackberries did not try to take over the world. However, to me they are the perfect food.

I tried working with my local soil and water conservation board. They too tried to convince me to spray my blackberries with some sort of weird chemical concoction involving Crossbow.They told me that if I was uncomfortable spraying that we could wipe the weeds. I pictured myself standing in the pasture with fabric wipes gently wiping the weeds and having them magically die. But apparently weed wiping is using a giant sponge on the end of a tractor rather than spray. Somehow it is magically supposed to be better for the river that borders this pasture. I’m not quite buying into the story so my blackberries stand there still.

Soil and water also told me that I need to eradicate all my blackberries because they aren’t holding the bank up. I was told that I only think they are preventing erosion but in reality their roots are not deep enough to do so. After five years of observing and living with the river I can tell you that the blackberries are my only saving grace preventing erosion.

Beavers.

Cute little things. A homeschool project for everyone could be to look up the different types of beaver homes. They do not always dam rivers. They can build lodges in banks as well. We live in……wait for it……the Beaver State. Beavers are a natural and very wonderful addition to my local ecosystem and I can’t be mad at them, except they erode my bank and cause trees to topple. That is, every section of the bank except where the blackberries are.

So this year’s adventures with blackberries led to an adventure in pie baking. I made a gluten free double crust pie that didn’t spill it’s innards out when you cut into it. I usually avoid top crust pies at all costs and my pie’s innards usually spill. So although it was lacking somewhat in sweetness, I call it a success.

I would love to hear about your adventures with blackberries, invasive weeds, or even beavers.