 Wild Blueberries |
Wild Blueberries |
August 8, 2011Arcticulates ®Focusing on Alaska's BeautyAuthor: K. FieldsWild BlueberriesOne of my most favorite wild berries that grow just about everywhere in Alaska is the Wild Blueberry. During the months of July and August is when they are ready for harvesting. Most who love to gather the berries, look forward to the challenge of picking berries without a bear incident. Bears are always out searching for the ripe berries that grow in abundance on the hill sides and along the roadsides of Alaska. Right now between the Fresh Salmon in the local Streams and Rivers, and the ripe harvest of berries, this is when the bears of Alaska gain most of thier fat layers for the long winter hibernation. Wild Blueberries
Looking at the areas where Blue Berry bushes grow, it looks like nothing but weeds and wild flowers. The blueberry bushes grow close to the ground. They are easy to find when walking around moving brush aside. Besides it's really good exercise to get out there and hike around looking for the perfect Wild Blueberry spot. Perfect Wild Blueberry Spot
The little blue berries are easily located in the green folige. When looking at the picture below you can see the little berries near the ground. I love taking the grandkids with me when I go berry picking, they fill up on berries and run around getting lots of exercise, and I have company. Plus they get excited when they have donated some of their berry treasure towards making a delicious dessert using Wild Blueberries on top of Angelfood cake and whipped cream. Close-up View of Wild Blueberry Bush
The thing I like the most about picking wild Blueberries, are that the plants are very distintive, they have their very own color and shape, so it's pretty easy to find them, some areas are thickly covered, you can pick gallons in just a day's worth of picking.. other areas they are more sparce and harder to find. I think a lot of Alaskan wild berry pickers have their own secret spot where the plants are plentiful. Some will gladly share where.. others won't. I have a few places that I know about that I can get plenty of Wild Blueberries my problem is finding the time to go and pick them. Wild Blueberries in Hand
Wild Blueberries is considered a antioxident superfruit — in fact they have the highest antioxidant capacity per serving, compared with more than 20 other fruits. This helps in fight Aging, Cancer and Heart Disease, Urinary Tract Health, Vision, and Metobolic Syndrome, and countless other maladies. Which is all wonderful to me.. but the main fact is they taste so good. They can be mixed into just about anything, made into jellies and jams and sauces, they make amazing syrup. And there is nothing like a handful of frozen berries for a snack to cool off with in the summer time, or dropped into a tall glass of lemonade. Black Bear Searching for Wild Blueberries
There are a few precautions we need to take when out on a Wild Berry Picking hike and that's being on the look-out for bears, as it is their favorite berry too. They usually can be found in the most popular berry spots, and generally if there is a bear in the area, we avoid it and go find another spot. Most of the time, bears will graze and eat berries and not bother you.. but why take that chance on finding the one bear in all of Alaska who hates sharing. Bright Blue Blueberries are Easy to Find Against the Green Bushes
I usually make Wild Blueberry Jams and Jellies to give to family and friends at Christmas, not to mention keep some for myself. It is the best tasting stuff ever... Tho mixing the Blueberry with other wild berries, like Strawberries and Wild Rosehips make an amazing tasting jam too. Black and Ginger Color Bears searching for Wild Blueberries
So move over bears, cuz there is nothing like eating some homemade Wild Blueberry Jam on toast on this -30'F, snowy, cold winter morning which brings back that feeling of warm sunny summer days. Later... K Fields See Also: Homemade Wild Blueberry Jam
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