Gathering Mulberries

one day's bounty

This will be slow going to gather enough for anything. The tree branches hang from the neighbor's yard. It is difficult to allow them to remain low enough because low branches mean I cannot get to the hens' pen. So, for the last few years, I have had to trim the branches that hang to the ground. I must have done a good job last year because I have to reach above my head to pull down a small pencil-sized end of a branch and keep pulling it hand over hand to gather mulberries.

 

Of course, I am stepping on berries that fall on the ground right in front of the chicken's pen. I will fore go eating any on the ground, actually dirt.  I am considering eating the ones that are on the St. Augustine grass away from the chickens. But, they might have ants on them! Would you? Never mind. I did not.

 

If it is dry enough tomorrow, I will spread a sheet or piece of plastic on the ground and shake the limbs I can reach to harvest the ones up really high. The hoe will reach much farther! I am so tired of getting a dozen at a time to throw in a bowl in the freezer in order to have enough to do anything with--like jelly. Has anyone ever made mulberry jelly? What else?

 

The hens absolutely refuse to eat the ones on the ground. Why? I thought that chickens liked mulberries.

 

Maybe there is a mulberry tree growing on my side of the fence. If so, I will find someone to dig it up for me. It is too bad I don't have some silk worms to feed.

 

 

Your turn

Do you have a mulberry tree? Do they always have limbs growing so low to the ground?