5 methods of finding and picking wild berries

November 3, 2015

Most people dream of having a skill that would come in handy if they had to fend for themselves. Strangely enough, something as simple as picking wild berries can be one of these skills. When you do decide to go pick wild berries, these tips will ensure that you do so safely and efficiently.

5 methods of finding and picking wild berries

1. Always wear protection

  • Wild berries are usually found in overgrown wild areas, which can host an array of dangerous wildlife such as mosquitoes, snakes, poison ivy, thorns, chiggers and wasps.
  • Simply putting on a long-sleeved shirt, durable long pants and closed-toed shoes can help protect from some of these nuisances.
  • Gloves can help as well, but due to the thorns on many wild berry bushes, they can also hinder your picking ability.

2. Know where to look

  • Wild berries love the sun and overgrown areas, which should bring a few places to look immediately to mind.
  • The wooded areas along highways, for instance, are often not kept up at a certain point. The edges of a treeline are great places to look.
  • Additionally, wild berries often grow in the fields of farms, pastures and alongside country highways. Never go on another person's property, though, without their permission.

3. Know what you're looking for

  • Just like anything else in life, you can really hurt yourself if you don't know what you're doing when picking wild berries.
  • There are poisonous berries out there, so it's imperative to know how to identify different species.
  • This means purchasing a good field guide, but the information is also readily available online.

4. Make plenty of noise

  • Wild berries don't spook easily, so they'll still be around. Other living creatures, though, aren't as steadfast.
  • Many other animals, including bears, enjoy berries. Additionally, snakes are often found in these thick areas.
  • Simply making noise when approaching the location where picking will occur may be enough to prevent any unwanted encounters.

5. Go for the ripe wild berries

  • Unlike some other fruits, many wild berries, if not all of them, will not ripen after being removed from their vines.This means it's important to only grab those which are already ripe.
  • Tasting a few before picking a large amount is a good way to go about this.
  • Additionally, many berries that are found in the wild, such as raspberries and blackberries, will be plump and come off of the stem easily when ripe.
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