Blueberries are here

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Beer
Date: 11 Aug 12 - 10:09 PM

About a mile from where I pick the wild ones are farms upon farms of blueberry growers. They can sell them to whom ever they want but I won't be a buyer.
Bobad, it was just over a week ago that my 13 year old grand son showed me a caterpillar and informed me that some of them bite. I didn't know this as well. Then when I was bit/infected/ stricken or what ever a few days ago I immediately looked close to remember its markings. It was like a running type of burn, if that makes sense. Lasted about 10 minutes. Then my bad blood took over and neutralized it.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: gnu
Date: 11 Aug 12 - 07:04 PM

I was shocked and pissed today. Blueberries from BC distributed by a company in Florida in the Sobeys just up the street. If I drive 20 minutes to the south I am up to my ass is blueberries in the hills of Albert Co., NB. We grow a shitload of blueberries in NB. And, NS is a spit away and they grow massive amounts of blueberries. BC??? FLA??? WTF!!!???

Just like the cranberries. We got em up the ass here but the NB government decided Ocean Spray needed a whack of NB land real cheap for cranberries... fuckers are gettin greased fer sure. Oisses me off and I am sure it pisses off the NBers who have toiled for years building the cranberry industry.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 11 Aug 12 - 06:51 PM

The stores here in western Canada have large fresh blueberries at present, the taste is rather bland (high bush).
Frozen "wild blueberries" are also available and have good flavor, we put them in pancake batter or make pies. The color is strong and leaves stains if the bags are porous. We can't get these fresh. They are also called "low bush.". If we can get to acidic wooded areas in southern B. C., we can gather them.

I presume our large blueberries available fresh here are grown in British Columbia and the small wild blueberries mostly are processed in eastern Canada.

Several berries are called blueberries, that name is rather meaningless unless one sees them.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: bobad
Date: 11 Aug 12 - 05:32 PM

Wow Ad, I'm blown away by your generosity - I must get something together to give you in exchange.

As for the caterpillar, from what I see it is the hairs of the caterpillar that cause a reaction upon contact with the skin which is called caterpillar dermatitis. This is the first time I've ever heard of this.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Beer
Date: 11 Aug 12 - 04:34 PM

Well your lucky Bobad. I managed to pick you about 4 litre's of those cherished berries. Got bit hard as well. Have a look at the culprit that did it.
http://www.dermnet.com/images/caterpillar-dermatitis/picture/12802


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I should be up your way come September and will deliver them. Otherwise you'll have to get your butt down here.
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Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: GUEST,999
Date: 27 Jul 12 - 12:25 AM

"If there are bears, one usually wears "bear bells" - a tin can with pebbles in it tied to your belt so it makes noise as you walk and lets the bears avoid you."

Yeah. They did that in Alberta, what with both black and grizzly. End of the season they could the audio-track the bears by the tinkling sounds in their stomachs.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Beer
Date: 27 Jul 12 - 12:09 AM

From where you are living you should be able to smell them. The blueberries I mean. As far as a protective method for bears are concerned i prefer to use a silent mode. No explanation to be given.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Jul 12 - 09:21 PM

Beer! No one told me there are bears down here! And I have not even SEEEN a wild blueberry!

If there are bears, one usually wears "bear bells" - a tin can with pebbles in it tied to your belt so it makes noise as you walk and lets the bears avoid you.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Beer
Date: 25 Jul 12 - 09:59 PM

It sure is.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: gnu
Date: 25 Jul 12 - 09:45 PM

Thanks... even tho I ain't got a clue what a Huckleberry is. Google says it's a good jam berry.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Beer
Date: 25 Jul 12 - 09:30 PM

I didn't start this thread Lighter, but i like your comment very much.

Gnu, picked some Huckleberries and will send you some as well. Separated from the blueberries of course.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: gnu
Date: 25 Jul 12 - 04:26 PM

maeve is a trooper! She sent me these links re planting blueberries and I am sure she won't mind me posting them...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCMKfXdRiV4

http://umaine.edu/blueberries/factsheets/home-garden/growing-blueberries-from-seed/

http://www.ehow.com/how_7764277_dry-blueberries-seed.html

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Seeding-Propagation-733/Blueberry-bush-seeds.htm

Right... I am off to look at the links.


THANKS MAEVE!!!

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: gnu
Date: 25 Jul 12 - 03:35 PM

Thanks, Beer!

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 25 Jul 12 - 03:26 PM

After all the political and crazed-killer threads, I find just the *title* of this one refreshing.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Beer
Date: 24 Jul 12 - 11:14 PM

Gnu,
reached way up this evening. I would say 9/10 feet. Pulled the branch down and placed some berries in a small container for you. They are now spread out to dry.
ad.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Beer
Date: 22 Jul 12 - 06:39 PM

I licked my plate last evening when I finished the piece of B. pie and ice cream. No one was around and if my wife had seen the plate she would have said you let the dog lick your plate again.
That has got to be the best. Just licking the plate clean.
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Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Cats
Date: 22 Jul 12 - 05:47 PM

When I was a Counsellor at the Wohelo camps in maine back in the 70's it was always a tradition that when the first Bluebeery pie of the season was served we could ask for a Blueberry Lick Up which meant we could lick our plates clean! A strange custom for a young girl from the UK to understand first time round!

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: gnu
Date: 22 Jul 12 - 03:51 PM

Excellent, Beer! Thanks.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Beer
Date: 22 Jul 12 - 03:29 PM

Gnu,
How bout i snap of a branch of the high bush ones and dry them then send you them to see if you can grow the high bush one. What ya think??
ad.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: gnu
Date: 22 Jul 12 - 03:16 PM

I picked 1.5kg this afternoon at Sobeys. Washed and "individually" flash frozen from Oxford, NS for $4.49. I know they won't taste like the ones I used to pick on the edges of the bogs waaayyy back in the woods but beggars can't be choosers. Besides, they will be going into pies.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Beer
Date: 21 Jul 12 - 04:53 PM

Taste great to Jeri.

Gnu, when I first moved to Ormstown and found out there were wild blueberries my eyes lit up. My eyes grew even bigger when in some areas I had to reach up and pull the branches down to pick some. I had never seen this before as well.

Bobad, you better keep your fingers crossed. I'm just starting to pick and unfortunately for you my sexy sister-in-laws and cousins on my wife's side come first.
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Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: bobad
Date: 21 Jul 12 - 11:59 AM

Good to see the source of the richest and tastiest berries I have ever eaten - they ooze the deepest purple juice I have ever seen (hey that's a good name for a band)

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: gnu
Date: 21 Jul 12 - 11:52 AM

Nice pics. Put on a pot a King Cole tea and get out the ice cream!

I have never seen high bush blueberries in the wild.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Jeri
Date: 21 Jul 12 - 11:34 AM

Works great now! Wow, you are livin' the life!
Around here, the birds have located some blueberries, or maybe there are elderberries out back. The latter is probably more likely judging by the purple-blue shad of bird poop on various surfaces.

...and that pie looks GREAT!

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Beer
Date: 21 Jul 12 - 11:10 AM

I think you hit the nail on the head Jeri. Try it now.
ad.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Jeri
Date: 21 Jul 12 - 10:37 AM

Or I should say, that ALBUM isn't there. Maybe you just need to allow access?

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Jeri
Date: 21 Jul 12 - 10:26 AM

Ad, that album is there, but that photo with that number is not.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: bobad
Date: 21 Jul 12 - 10:04 AM

Google

403. That's an error.

We're sorry, but you do not have access to this page. That's all we know.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: gnu
Date: 21 Jul 12 - 05:19 AM

"We are unable to fetch this album at this time. Please try again later."

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Beer
Date: 20 Jul 12 - 10:53 PM

I think I got it.


https://plus.google.com/u/0/105264597814788639848#photos/105264597814788639848/albums/5767447228715604913


YES!!
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Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Beer
Date: 20 Jul 12 - 10:31 PM

Thank you.
ad.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Beer
Date: 20 Jul 12 - 06:02 PM

Oops!! that shouldn't have happened. Maybe a clone could remove my blue link please.
Thanks,
ad.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Beer
Date: 20 Jul 12 - 05:48 PM

Had a great day. Here are a few pictures.
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Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Beer
Date: 20 Jul 12 - 08:08 AM

Walking stick I also carry in my truck but to take it in the swamp/brush area would only hinder my movement. Think I'll take my camera today.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: gnu
Date: 20 Jul 12 - 07:46 AM

Beer... make a fair bit of noise and take a buddy with you. They often eat from first light until full and then take a nap very close to or IN the feeding area, especially if there is a breeze. As for a knife, good idea but a long pointy stick is my preference. I used to keep an ash stick about 12' long at my camp and always had one in my truck about 6'6" that doubled as a walking staff.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Beer
Date: 19 Jul 12 - 10:13 PM

Picked 7 liters today. Looks good but I will have to be on alert. Very strong evidence that black bear visited as well. I have a starting pistol that I think I'll take with me. Along with my filleting knife. I'll go around 11 in the morning as they or it should be finished eating by then.
ad.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: kendall
Date: 19 Jul 12 - 09:18 PM

Yahoo and google are so handy when I have a question.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: EBarnacle
Date: 19 Jul 12 - 01:05 AM

We keep it simple. Mix our picked wild berries in with homemade yogurt, either frozen or regular.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: gnu
Date: 18 Jul 12 - 05:19 AM

Same here. One 20 minute heavy shower in a few weeks on my lawn. Mind, I ain't mowing much and my back enjoys that part of it.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: bobad
Date: 17 Jul 12 - 07:50 AM

You're lucky to be getting rain - we're shrivelling up here.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Beer
Date: 17 Jul 12 - 07:24 AM

Another wait. It's pouring. Hopefully tomorrow.
ad.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Beer
Date: 16 Jul 12 - 11:12 PM

Haven't went out to check as yet. Had rain the last few days. Not enough to get your pencil wet but enought to discourage picking wet berries. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. But man do we need rain. I have a feeling that all that will be there will be shriveled up berries.
ad.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Beer
Date: 16 Jul 12 - 11:34 AM

Well , here are som interesting ststs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blueberry#United_States


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Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Midchuck
Date: 16 Jul 12 - 11:29 AM

Started picking blackberries today. Filled a 2-quart pan, the first day picking. Traditionally, they come ripe in the beginning of August, here (Central VT).

P.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: gnu
Date: 16 Jul 12 - 11:19 AM

kendall...
this denotes otherwise.

But, it may be incorrect. Where did you learn of DDT in Chile. It is of concern to me.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: kendall
Date: 16 Jul 12 - 07:00 AM

By the way, Maine is the biggest producer of wild blueberries in the world. 15%.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: kendall
Date: 16 Jul 12 - 06:55 AM

If I were to get caught buying blueberries from anywhere but Maine they would deport me to Massachusetts.
Never buy any edibles from Chile; they still use DDT you know. We banned it here but we still sell it to other countries. It's called capitalism.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Allan C.
Date: 16 Jul 12 - 06:30 AM

Our BB bushes (high bush) were pruned somewhat radically two years ago. Last year we got more at one picking than we had ever gotten in the total of the five prior years. This year we are getting close to a quart from each picking of two bushes. Wonderful!

Carmen's current favorite thing to do with them is to spread peanut butter on a slice of bread and then cram as many blueberries as possible into the PB. She says it is great tasting and that she gets a lot of "mileage" off a single serving.

Lately she is wondering if it is possible to overdose one's self on blueberries.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 03:18 PM

We've had an odd blueberry year. Some of our bushes that are usually good producers haven't done anything while others have born bumper crops. I suspect the warmer than average winter caused the early bloomers to flower before the bumblebees that are their main pollinators hatched out.

Subject: RE: Blueberries are here
From: Charmion
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 10:25 AM

Eastern Ontario is serious blueberry country, and the first pick is already in the markets here in the city. Unfortunately, we're also having a drought this year, so the rest of the season is in doubt, not least because the bears will be hungry and pickers don't like competing with the bruins.