IN SEARCH OF OLD-TIME COUNTRY BERRIES

Fruits were not to be had except for wild strawberries which grew in such abundance that they were gathered for shortcakes. Trips were made out to the old home areas in the Southwick country for gooseberries and currants which were brought home for canning. Ethel Dobson Robinson on early days at Gilbert.

Fruit is very scarce here [this year], no cherries or prunes to speak of, apples scarce and poor, no currants or gooseberries, and only a few raspberries. It was too wet and cold this spring. We had a good crop of strawberries . . . Ina Dobson, July 1933

When Hallie brought Nick into the family circle, he came with a desire for new / old taste sensations through the processing of berries, preferably native or near-native – those found on the land rather than cultivated. He immediately enjoyed the elderberry jelly but was also ready to move beyond it. So they learned to make rose hip jelly, and back in Seattle they picked the blackberries so abundant there.

Here at Gilbert, they searched for more berry options, locating blackberries and black caps, which can be found but don’t seem to bear prolifically here. I think we all wondered, “What else could there be? What were the old-time taste treats?”

Well, this year has been a great berry identification year. Nick and Hallie brought thimbleberry jam made from berries picked in the Seattle area which we offered at the century farm celebration to rave reviews. Subsequently we went out to pick them and found thimbleberry bushes in profusion here.

Then I identified the service berry bushes and made a batch of jelly. We've been eating and sharing it, but one jar is stored for Nick to taste.

In May when Hallie was here, we visited a dump site on our property, and I noticed a low-growing shrub that looked like Oregon grape. Hallie took note when I mentioned that the berries of Oregon grape make good jelly. However, it wasn’t a bush but a kind of ground cover, and I learned that it’s a variety called “creeping Oregon grape.” 

Indeed, I did find berries on the creeping Oregon grape, and I found stands of it on either side of Dobson Road. However, the plant is invasive, and unfortunately the mother lode of berries sat on the edge of a field where it was hit by herbicide. Best not to use those berries. But – I know where and when to look for them now and there will be other years.

My dad grew Oregon grape (the “real” bush) beside the steps to his studio at the rear of the Orofino house.  Sometimes he made jelly with the berries, but he also used the leaves in place of holly in his Christmas decorations. In fact, I didn’t realize the invasiveness of the bush and the stigma against it until a few years ago when someone suggested eradicating a patch at my church. It’s definitely not a bush you want to introduce on your farm property.

I don't know what happened to the wild strawberries. Perhaps those plants were eradicated years ago. Or maybe someday I'll stumble upon a patch. KW