Blackberries and Dew Berries Wild Edible Food
OK first a short identification description in case you have no idea what a blackberry plant looks like. These species are head high, thorny, arching cane with palmate-compound leaves, small white flowers. The fruit is what we are interested in and is an aggregate, green then red then black, elliptical, 1/2 to 1-1/2 inches (1.25-3.75 cm) long fruit. The leaves palmate-compound, up to 7 inches long (17.78 cm), 3 to 7-parted, leaflets sharply toothed, roots perennial.
Wild blackberries are a great survival food because they can be found throughout much of North America. The fruits are ripe when the fruit turns from red to purple, but the fruit can be eaten before it ripens if you need the food.
Blackberries usually peak during June in the South, and in July in the North but some species ripen at slightly different times, use color as a sign of ripening, don't get locked into a calendar.
The best part about blackberries is that they taste great and can be eaten raw, right off of the bush. They can also be used to make pies and jelly. I much prefer blackberry jelly over grape jelly.
Other than making jellythere is no way to save them for later consumption. They will only last a couple of days in a refrigerator and even shorter if left out. Don't pick more than you can eat. They preserve best on the actual plant so pick what you can use and come back later for the rest.
