A Guide to Gathering Wild Blackberries

Blackberries are considered a menace on the Australian landscape. There is no denying however that they taste pretty damn good. There is perhaps some crazy logic in the idea that if you buy these berries you are supporting blackberry farms, thus creating opportunities for them to go wild and take over more bushland. On the other hand if you gather berries from these out of control bushes, you are doing a small part in removing seeds which could potentially become more plants!

Ok, that all sounds a little crazy, I don't think you really need a justification for berry picking. It is quite an addictive pursuit (as my friends and housemates can now attest), somewhat meditative and despite the certain amount of pain involved in a serious stint of berry picking, it is amazingly satisfying (probably because at the end of it you get to eat berries!).

Currently it is blackberry season in the ACT, NSW and VIC. It seems to fall around February and March although it will probably depend on the local climate. So here are some tips i've picked up for successful wild blackberry picking.

1. Wear appropriate clothing. Blackberry bushes have horrible spines that catch onto anything including your clothing and skin. Long pants like jeans are essential. Closed in shoes also so (i find gumboots perfect!). Berry juice may also get on you during the picking processes so basically don't wear anything you don't want stained or ripped.

2. Bring a good sized rigid container. Tupperware or old yogurt containers work great. Make sure it has a lid. Plastic bags will squash your berries.

3. Think about the context of your berry bush. Could it be sprayed? Blackberries are regularly sprayed throughout Australia in an attempt to rid the natural environment of this introduced pest. You will not feel very well if you do eat poisoned berries. Often bushes that have been sprayed will have a sign warning you. This is not always the case however. As a rough guideline however bushes usually aren't sprayed in national parks or along waterways.

In general it is a good idea to wash your berries before cooking or eating and to eat a few and wait to see how you feel before chowing down on a berry feast or feeding friends your gatherings. There is however always some risk involved in picking wild blackberries...it kind of adds to the fun of it.

4. Don't try and avoid the spiky bush, stand on it! It might go against common sense, but when you are picking blackberries if you try and stay away from the spiky vegetation, it will manage to catch onto you and sometimes it hurts! With your sturdy shoes standing on the bush rather than have it flap around your legs as you pick helps a lot.

5. Only pick plump berries. Healthy looking berries are less likely to be poisoned and they taste much nicer. You go to all the effort and pain of berry picking, don't waste your time on shrivelled ones.

6. Leave red ones for another day. Red blackberries are not like bananas. They will not ripen at home. Take note of the number of red berries on the bush as this will give you an indication of if it is the end of the season or if you will be able to come back another day for some more.

Some locations of Blackberry Bushes in Canberra:

1. Along the bike path between O'Connor and Belconnon near O'Connor Ridge. There are a number of bushes here, most associated with natural drainage lines and thus far I haven't got sick from any of them.

2. Cotter Reserve. Across the stream from the campground there is a nice bush.

Note: You pick and eat wild berries at your own risk. I take no responsibility for anyone getting sick or falling into a blackberry bush.