Tuesday, July 28, 2020

GOOSEBERRY

     Last Sunday afternoon the Micro Manager and I began talking about our gooseberry bush. The gooseberry bush that I said that I would never pick any more gooseberries. The micro manager talked about the nice gooseberry jam she used to make . And yes, gooseberry pies? 
Gooseberry bushes are rather sprawly things with lots of very sharp thorns.


       The Micro Manager's gooseberry jam.

     Well, it didn't take very long and my cold heart melted and I was picking gooseberries. Did I say I hated picking gooseberries? Well, you would hate picking gooseberries too. Gooseberry bushes are liberally covered with thorns. The foliage is thick and you have to part it to get the berries.

     So it was agreed that I would pick a few cupfuls. I think I picked six cups. Then comes more work with gooseberries. You have to "top and tail them" So there you sit taking off the stem and flower end. So I even melted and agreed to clean up the gooseberries. The Micro Manager was in a hurry to make jam so we had jam made before supper time.

     Now the gooseberry bush has been there since we moved to the place. In the past I picked everyone of those little berries and had my hands ripped to shreds.

    We had some slave labor in those days. The kids were set up to get the berries ready for cooking. One of the slaves wasn't keen about his job so he would clean up one berry and throw two over the fence until the micro manager became suspicious of something and found the berries that were thrown over the fence. ( This is one of those family stories that won't go away but now everybody laughs,

     So how many of you like gooseberry jam? How many of you have had the pleasure of  picking gooseberries?

    So there you have it. We have gooseberry jam one more time.

41 comments:

  1. LOL - I've never had gooseberries. I did find those youtube video on how to pick them (Or you can search on Youtube for "How to pick gooseberries without the pain). I have no idea whether it works. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTiB4p03jwg

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  2. I hate thorns but I do love homemade jam! I have never picked gooseberries and probably would not be good at that job. You are a good husband to pick and clean them! You will be rewarded with jam and maybe pie too!

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    1. Only jam this time. We started too late and most berries were over ripe.

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  3. My husband introduced me to gooseberry jam and we both love it. But we haven't had any in years because the berries are rarely sold in our local stores. So sad :) I've never picked them but I believe he did, when he was a kid (slave labour like you said).

    Good on you for doing your bit for the jam-making project!

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    1. We have six fruit bushes in our yard and it's surprising how much we get from them.

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  4. Sounds like a dangerous job, sure hope the jam was good:)

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    1. The jam is always good. The picking is one of the worst.

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  5. I'm always up for stewed gooseberries Red, but they are a thing of the past for me now. An old fashioned fruit that deserved more respect in this time where everything needs to take no more than 5 mins attention.
    Alphie

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    1. Stewed gooseberries? I've never heard of them. So what are they?

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  6. Never had the jam, but now I guess I understand the meaning of gooseberry as applied to people back in the day. I remember Anne (of Green Gables) using the word to describe a prickly sort of friends back in that wonderful older series.

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    1. My first experience with Anne was when a teacher read it to the class.

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  7. Hello,

    I have never heard of gooseberries. I am sure the jam is delicious. You are so nice to go out and pick berries for the jam! Take care, enjoy your day!

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    1. I'll bet there's another name for gooseberries.

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  8. I've never had gooseberry anything, and now I'm convinced I never will! But your story about your adventures with gooseberries made for a fun post, Red! :-)

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    1. Trust me . It is worth while to pick them.

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  9. I have never picked gooseberries. I tasted the jam once but it is not memorable. If someone was making it though...

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  10. I haven't ever had gooseberry jam, but I'm guessing that it must be pretty delicious considering the pain of gathering those berries.

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    1. It's a great flavor. I couldn't say what it is like.

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  11. Dave has talked about planting a gooseberry bush but now I think I'll talk him out of it! I had no idea they were so thorny.

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    1. No, plant the bush. I know I might be starting a fight but the jam and pies are worth it.

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  12. I don't think that took much persuasion! Well done.

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  13. I never had gooseberries before but won't ever pick them if I see them. Not a fan of thorns.

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    1. We have wild gooseberries so maybe it's North American thing although my wife is British and she loves them. She can't remember them in England.

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  14. It would help if you had heard of this new-fangled invention - GLOVES!

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    1. Well, I did use a good glove on the left but it would be hard to handle the berries with a glove.

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  15. No gooseberries, but a lot of elderberries, and gooseberries that cost me a residing job for the barn.

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  16. I can't say I've ever had gooseberry jam. Lots of jam, but not gooseberry. Can you put on some thick gloves to make the picking easier? Last question: Did it take all 6 of the cups you picked to make the 1 jar of jam in the photo?

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  17. A glove on the left hand works but you can't handle the berries with a glove. The jar of jam is three cups. Gooseberries are very tart so you use a lot of sugar.

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    1. After reading all the comments and your replies it seemed worth it to see if I could find some gooseberry jam to try. Sure enough, found it on Amazon. Ordered up a 12oz bottle which should be delivered on Friday. I will give you a report.

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    2. Received the gooseberry jam. Delicious! Read the whole story at John's Island today. Thanks Red! https://john-s-island.blogspot.com/2020/08/unexpected-blog-joy.html

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  18. I love goosberries, but I never see them here anymore. Also not in the supermarkets.

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  19. I have picked gooseberries and have to agree with you — those thorns are treacherous! I mostly let the birds have them.

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  20. We have become so lazy with the abundance of pre-prepared food. I even get upset when I have to snip the ends off of our fresh green beans. No excuses.

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  21. I love gooseberries. My grandmother grew them. I had decided to grow them next year because I have just cleared a pied of garden to plant various fruit bushes. I was told in New Zealand that they were not a commercially viable crop but a few grew them and they were very expensive when you could get them. Now that you have reminded me of all the pitfalls I may well re-consider.

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  22. Not only have I never had gooseberry jam, but have never even seen the bushes which do not sound like something I'd enjoy picking berries off. And, I was also thinking that for all the dangers and work you mentioned, the result was a single bottle of jam.

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  23. I love all kinds of berries as is, frozen or in jam. I know I wouldn't like to pick them as I always poke myself no matter how careful I try to be.

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