where have all the elderberries gone?

[kgradow1.livejournal.com]

Anyone know the best spots to pick elderberries in Somerville?   Crab apples, cherries, and other assorted fruits and berries appreciated too -- I know they've been planted in many of the public parks, but I don't have a good sense of where to start looking, and there are plans afoot for a grand bike ride to go make jam out of them.

If you have fruit trees on your street that you don't mind foragers, please drop a line and point me in the right direction!

Comments

[turil.livejournal.com]

There is a small apple tree (in both senses of the description) in front of the main library. I'm surprised that I never noticed this before, but it's kind of innocuous, I guess. It's on the driveway/parking lot side, right at the front of the yard, at the corner near the street. The apples were ok. Not amazing, but edible.

I'm looking for grapes, since the ones I got last year, in the little park at the top of Lowell Street got cut back to the extreme last year (by a well-meaning person) which put it into shock, and there are no grapes on it at all this year.

There are some grapes in the Davis Square playground, on the big fence next to the public parking lot behind the liquor store.

[pekmez.livejournal.com]

I hear that there are elderflower bushes somewhere in Fresh pond park (in neighboring Cambridge, but close enough.) We didn't wind up making an exhaustive search to find them this season - if you do find them I'd love to hear it, though we're after the elderflowers (in May/Juneish) and not the berries. (I'm pretty sure it's the same plant though) Probably technically not meant for harvesting by the general public, FWIW.

Cherry season ought to be over by now, btw...

This is the 2nd time I've seen mention of foraging around Somerville and I have to say it makes me a little concerned for my much-awaited sour cherry tree in our front yard (which bore fruit a month and a half ago, and which I successfully turned into the best. pie. ever. but still.) What exactly do "foragers" aim for when looking for fruit trees on peoples' streets in somerville? grabbing fallen fruit off of peoples' lawns? asking permission from neighbors whose fruit looks abandoned? or what?

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

If the fruit is hanging over public space, they are free to the public and I don't really think I would ask for permission from anyone. Even if the tree is owned by a property owner and on their property, any fruit overhanging the sidewalk is fair game. Though, I generally would refrain from scavenging much of such fruit (there are tons of pear trees in cambridgeport and sometimes I will take 1 if I really want it, but that's maybe a twice a year event)

At the same time, I don't think you have much to worry about, at least not from ppl--birds will strip those suckers bare pretty quickly though :)

They definitely should not go *on* your property though and most ppl wouldn't (but it only takes one jerk)

As for forage: I mentioned cambridgeport in general, but I'd be wary since folks there are generally a bit more territorial. There are grape vines and some crabapple trees along the minuteman trail, but this is a long way from the alewife side and hard to see just by biking through. I'm actually more interested in what other folks have to chip in.

[pekmez.livejournal.com]

I heard that "overhanging sidewalk" rule before.. in another country. (Where I used it copiously to eat figs.) Willing to believe it's true here too though, or at least part of the folklore of foraging everywhere.

Sadly, being Somerville, it's gonna take work for us to prevent bits of our cherry tree from overhanging the sidewalk eventually. There's only so much room between the house and the sidewalk to plant a tree. ;-) At least when it gets big enough it will make more than a single pie's worth of fruit.

Birds got our whole 25 cherry crop last year. This year with netting I made it to a full quart container.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

well, there's nothing wrong with sharing a little. Plus, since you are like right there it's more likely you'll beat folks to it. Especially when it comes to the higher fruit.

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

"scrumping" - ancient and revered tradition regarding apples :) http://ask.metafilter.com/58105/Does-scrumping-happen-outside-the-UK

PICKING fruit is/was typically a forbidden thing... but if it's on the ground (as with apples), fair game.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/usufruct

one problem with taking fruit you don't know well (it's care and raising) are potential issues with pesticides, and such. wash well...

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[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

also, much of somerville's soil is contaminated with heavy metals, which can't be washed out.

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

if you pick your own grapes, you can make a PB and J

probably a lot of the water pipes are made from lead too! bonus...

perhaps related: http://www.lab-initio.com/screen_res/nz015.jpg

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[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

> if you pick your own grapes, you can make a PB and J

squeeeee :D that's the best thing I've seen on LJ in *weeks*

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

I have an apple tree (crabapples, I assume), a pear tree, and grapevines in my back yard. I haven't looked recently so I don't know what's ripe, what has been thoroughly eaten up by the wildlife, etc., but you're welcome to come and have a look. You can email my username at gmail.

[pearlythebunny.livejournal.com]

Greenhorn's Elderberry and Crabapple Bike Forage Event in Cambridge

Time: Sat Sept 18 2--Dusk

Meet at: Parts & Crafts, Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church, 155 Powder House Boulevard, Somerville, MA, 02143

What: The elderberry bike ride is a simple and beautiful one. We gather food, foraging, with farm enthusiasts on bikes, harvest elderberries, crabapples, and other autumn foragibles, and pedal them back the kitchen to create recipes together. After the biking there will be cooking and debriefing, with an ethics of foraging talk and an elixir mixer.

Hosted by: The Greenhorns, in partnership with Parts & Crafts, Taza Chocolate, and Bikes Not Bombs.

Who are the Greenhorns?
The Greenhorns take on many shapes. We are a non-profit, grassroots organization based in New York’s Hudson Valley – that fecund slice of land running along the Hudson River – that works (hard!) to promote, support, and recruit young farmers nationally. “The Greenhorns” is also the title of our documentary film, due out in early autumn 2010, which explores the state of farming in America today. We put on events and produce new media and resources for and about young farmers. Our endeavors include a blog, weekly radio show, wiki, guidebook, young farmer mixers, and our upcoming film. Please visit our website to join our mailing list and keep your ear to the ground.