Making Jam

[Stoater67]

I've just managed to buy 2kg of strawberries for £1 from the local Co-Op, and seeing as I have a pack of jam sugar in the cupboard for such occasions, I will be making jam tomorrow. I've done this twice before and it has turned out great, better than anything you can buy in the supermarket. Anyone else here make jam or preserves?

They also had blackberries at 75p for 150g, but only one pack
Need to find a local wild supply of these!

[Mobile Chicane]

I never pick blackberries in the wild.

These are important food sources for native small mammals - doormice etc - none of which have the option of going to Waitrose.

[sherman]

I make rhubarb jam.

2kg of Rhubarb
1kg of Granulated sugar

Boil down in a pan until it starts to make a gloop gloop noise and then jar. Will set as it cools.

[Stoater67]

sherman said:

I make rhubarb jam.

2kg of Rhubarb
1kg of Granulated sugar

Boil down in a pan until it starts to make a gloop gloop noise and then jar. Will set as it cools.

Sounds good, we've just started growing rhubarb this year, will definitely give this a go!

[sherman]

Stoater67 said:

sherman said:

I make rhubarb jam.

2kg of Rhubarb
1kg of Granulated sugar

Boil down in a pan until it starts to make a gloop gloop noise and then jar. Will set as it cools.

Sounds good, we've just started growing rhubarb this year, will definitely give this a go!

That quantity will fill 4 or maybe 5 jam jars. Its surprising how much it shrinks.

[Stoater67]

Mobile Chicane said:

I never pick blackberries in the wild.

These are important food sources for native small mammals - doormice etc - none of which have the option of going to Waitrose.

OK, hadn't really thought about that! I've never picked them in the wild, but have seen beardy types by the side of the road with baskets! I suppose I'll wait until I can afford a bigger garden and grow my own. Shame though, they taste great! (Blackberries, not beardy types).

[Stoater67]

sherman said:

Stoater67 said:

sherman said:

I make rhubarb jam.

2kg of Rhubarb
1kg of Granulated sugar

Boil down in a pan until it starts to make a gloop gloop noise and then jar. Will set as it cools.

Sounds good, we've just started growing rhubarb this year, will definitely give this a go!

That quantity will fill 4 or maybe 5 jam jars. Its surprising how much it shrinks.

That is surprising, because 1kg of strawberries and 1kg sugar makes about 4 jars, with a bit left over! from 2kg of ingredients!!

Edited by Stoater67 on Saturday 7th August 01:22

[Mobile Chicane]

Stoater67 said:

Mobile Chicane said:

I never pick blackberries in the wild.

These are important food sources for native small mammals - doormice etc - none of which have the option of going to Waitrose.

OK, hadn't really thought about that! I've never picked them in the wild, but have seen beardy types by the side of the road with baskets! I suppose I'll wait until I can afford a bigger garden and grow my own. Shame though, they taste great! (Blackberries, not beardy types).

This for me is the downside of the burgeoning popularity of wild food foraging: 'Notting Hill' types who could well afford to buy these things from Waitrose, but think they're 'cool' by not doing so.

Unfortunately wild creatures don't have the same choices. Autumnal berries / nuts (imho) should not be picked.

[sherman]

Stoater67 said:

sherman said:

Stoater67 said:

sherman said:

I make rhubarb jam.

2kg of Rhubarb
1kg of Granulated sugar

Boil down in a pan until it starts to make a gloop gloop noise and then jar. Will set as it cools.

Sounds good, we've just started growing rhubarb this year, will definitely give this a go!

That quantity will fill 4 or maybe 5 jam jars. Its surprising how much it shrinks.

That is surprising, because 1kg of strawberries and 1kg sugar makes about 4 jars, with a bit left over! from 2kg of ingredients!!

You have to remember that there is a lot of water in rhubarb.

[Stoater67]

Mobile Chicane said:

Stoater67 said:

Mobile Chicane said:

I never pick blackberries in the wild.

These are important food sources for native small mammals - doormice etc - none of which have the option of going to Waitrose.

OK, hadn't really thought about that! I've never picked them in the wild, but have seen beardy types by the side of the road with baskets! I suppose I'll wait until I can afford a bigger garden and grow my own. Shame though, they taste great! (Blackberries, not beardy types).

This for me is the downside of the burgeoning popularity of wild food foraging: 'Notting Hill' types who could well afford to buy these things from Waitrose, but think they're 'cool' by not doing so.

Unfortunately wild creatures don't have the same choices. Autumnal berries / nuts (imho) should not be picked.

Hi MC,

You have an important point, and it has stemmed from an innocent assumption that harvesting from the hedgerows is a harmless activity, when if one thinks about it, it is not necessarily so. I think you are correct in your assumption that it is the 'Notting Hill' types that think they are doing the world a favour by collecting stuff from the 'wild'. I don't count ourselves (the Stoaters) as 'Notting Hill' types (Canvey Island through and through). But would love to have access to free Blackberries (yum). I think I'm going to have to let half of our very small garden 'go wild'

[Mobile Chicane]

Stoater67 said:

Mobile Chicane said:

Stoater67 said:

Mobile Chicane said:

I never pick blackberries in the wild.

These are important food sources for native small mammals - doormice etc - none of which have the option of going to Waitrose.

OK, hadn't really thought about that! I've never picked them in the wild, but have seen beardy types by the side of the road with baskets! I suppose I'll wait until I can afford a bigger garden and grow my own. Shame though, they taste great! (Blackberries, not beardy types).

This for me is the downside of the burgeoning popularity of wild food foraging: 'Notting Hill' types who could well afford to buy these things from Waitrose, but think they're 'cool' by not doing so.

Unfortunately wild creatures don't have the same choices. Autumnal berries / nuts (imho) should not be picked.

Hi MC,

You have an important point, and it has stemmed from an innocent assumption that harvesting from the hedgerows is a harmless activity, when if one thinks about it, it is not necessarily so. I think you are correct in your assumption that it is the 'Notting Hill' types that think they are doing the world a favour by collecting stuff from the 'wild'. I don't count ourselves (the Stoaters) as 'Notting Hill' types (Canvey Island through and through). But would love to have access to free Blackberries (yum). I think I'm going to have to let half of our very small garden 'go wild'

Try the seashore for foraging. Razor clams, mussels, limpets etc are all edible (and good) provided they're well-cooked. Though as a Canvey Islander I'm sure you know this. (Or at least your grandparents do.)

[sherman]

Mobile Chicane said:

Stoater67 said:

Mobile Chicane said:

Stoater67 said:

Mobile Chicane said:

I never pick blackberries in the wild.

These are important food sources for native small mammals - doormice etc - none of which have the option of going to Waitrose.

OK, hadn't really thought about that! I've never picked them in the wild, but have seen beardy types by the side of the road with baskets! I suppose I'll wait until I can afford a bigger garden and grow my own. Shame though, they taste great! (Blackberries, not beardy types).

This for me is the downside of the burgeoning popularity of wild food foraging: 'Notting Hill' types who could well afford to buy these things from Waitrose, but think they're 'cool' by not doing so.

Unfortunately wild creatures don't have the same choices. Autumnal berries / nuts (imho) should not be picked.

Hi MC,

You have an important point, and it has stemmed from an innocent assumption that harvesting from the hedgerows is a harmless activity, when if one thinks about it, it is not necessarily so. I think you are correct in your assumption that it is the 'Notting Hill' types that think they are doing the world a favour by collecting stuff from the 'wild'. I don't count ourselves (the Stoaters) as 'Notting Hill' types (Canvey Island through and through). But would love to have access to free Blackberries (yum). I think I'm going to have to let half of our very small garden 'go wild'

Try the seashore for foraging. Razor clams, mussels, limpets etc are all edible (and good) provided they're well-cooked. Though as a Canvey Islander I'm sure you know this. (Or at least your grandparents do.)

But what will the poor seals and otters eat then

[Stoater67]

Mobile Chicane said:

Stoater67 said:

Mobile Chicane said:

Stoater67 said:

Mobile Chicane said:

I never pick blackberries in the wild.

These are important food sources for native small mammals - doormice etc - none of which have the option of going to Waitrose.

OK, hadn't really thought about that! I've never picked them in the wild, but have seen beardy types by the side of the road with baskets! I suppose I'll wait until I can afford a bigger garden and grow my own. Shame though, they taste great! (Blackberries, not beardy types).

This for me is the downside of the burgeoning popularity of wild food foraging: 'Notting Hill' types who could well afford to buy these things from Waitrose, but think they're 'cool' by not doing so.

Unfortunately wild creatures don't have the same choices. Autumnal berries / nuts (imho) should not be picked.

Hi MC,

You have an important point, and it has stemmed from an innocent assumption that harvesting from the hedgerows is a harmless activity, when if one thinks about it, it is not necessarily so. I think you are correct in your assumption that it is the 'Notting Hill' types that think they are doing the world a favour by collecting stuff from the 'wild'. I don't count ourselves (the Stoaters) as 'Notting Hill' types (Canvey Island through and through). But would love to have access to free Blackberries (yum). I think I'm going to have to let half of our very small garden 'go wild'

Try the seashore for foraging. Razor clams, mussels, limpets etc are all edible (and good) provided they're well-cooked. Though as a Canvey Islander I'm sure you know this. (Or at least your grandparents do.)

Grandparents were not from the area and are no longer around in any case. Parents were also not from the area, and mostly not about now unfortunately.

I would love to forage on the seashore! Unfortunately I know nothing about this I do love walking on the beach at unusual times (early mornings, late nights etc..)) So would appreciate a bit of knowledge from anyone in the local area.

Any PH Islanders??