Comments on: Mad About Mulberries

Comment on Mad About Mulberries by: Barbara Fisher

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 15:59:59 +0000

You never know how much interest a post will generate.

I had no idea that writing about a mulberry tree would awaken such experiences and memories from my readers; this excites me, because it tells me that there are more folks out there who wild-gather, or who seek out unusual comestibles than I thought.

Mulberry wine would be good, Sonja--but I know you make cordials. How about a mulberry cordial? If you cannot get enough from your tree because of the birds, come out to my place next spring and get some--the birds leave plenty to share.

(Sonja is another Athens resident who grows lots of her own food and practices kitchen wizardry by making cordials, while her husband, Don, raises bees and brews mead and other alcoholic potables.)

Comment on Mad About Mulberries by: Barbara Fisher

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 15:59:59 +0000

I haven’t seen any cedar waxwings yet, but cardinals and titmice love the tree in our front yard.

I’ll have to come out and share the pool with you and birdwatch, too, this summer!

Comment on Mad About Mulberries by: Sonja

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 15:59:59 +0000

I’m a bit behind on my reading, but couldn’t resist responding. We planted a mulberry tree in our yard specifically for the birds. (Of course, Don is now getting all territorial about it, because he doesn’t get seem to get ANY berries.)

Anyway, our tree is full of cedar waxwings. It’s the only time I get to see these beautiful birds up close and personal. Other birds which like to hang out and eat berries include goldfinches, cardinals, robins, and bluebirds. The tree is close to our pool, so I hang out there with my binoculars and watch all kinds of bird behavior.

BTW - how come nobody has mentioned mulberry wine? Although I’ve heard of it, I’ve never tasted it.

Comment on Mad About Mulberries by: Noddy

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 15:59:59 +0000

We harvest our mulberries with a sheet and some hooks - the hooks are to shake the branches and the sheets to catch the windfall. Then, we pick through the berries and leave the wormy ones for the birds.

The rest get made into mulberry wine, syrup, jelly, barbecue sauce, cran-mulberry sauce, pie filling, and “ketchup”.

Comment on Mad About Mulberries by: Barbara Fisher

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 15:59:59 +0000

Hey, Kate! I am glad you posted–I couldn’t remember the url to your livejournal.

Most people probably don’t realize that the berries are edible. Most people are so divorced from nature, that they have no idea what is safe to eat out of the wild.

I’d love to see your cherry tree–is it laden with fruit? Sour cherries are the best–I will have to buy some more from the orchard out in Pataskala again this year and maybe make some jelly. I froze the ones from last summer for pie.

Nice to hear from you, Laurel. The color of mulberry juice is gorgeous–I bet the syrup your Mom made was fabulous. Glad to bring back good memories for you!