Fruits of Labor
I have a huge apple-tree in my backyard. I occasionally notice the odd apple has fallen onto the ground from wind, but last weekend my spouse and I noticed a great number of rotting apples on the ground and decided it was time to do something about them. We spent an afternoon picking apples and an evening juicing them. We managed to extract a whopping 8 gallons of juice! It’s still early in the season for many fruits/veggies but some apples and berries are already ripe for the picking! It’s not hard to find a backyard or alley with a mature raspberry bush, teeming with berries if they haven’t already been picked.
Let thy food be thy medicine
Berries are some of my favorite foods and coincidentally my favorite medicines! The Vaccinium genus of berries alone, which contains Blueberry, Bilberry and Cranberry, contain some wonderful molecules. If you’ve ever heard the terms “anthocyanin”, “polyphenol” or “flavonoid” and been confused, you’re not alone; there’s a whole arm of Biochemisty dedicated to them. (See: Phytochemistry) Basically, they’re known to be antioxidants but there is ongoing research investigating their usefulness for things like Inflammation, Cardiovascular Disease, and Cancer.
You Pick!
At the very worst these foods contain a good dose of Vitamin C and Fiber, and taste amazing. Everyone seems to have preference when it comes to their favorite flavor or balance of tartness/sweetness. If you have any favorites in your yard, try making some juice or preserves to enjoy during the Fall and Winter months, or just enjoy them fresh with some almond milk, or blended into a berry sorbet (OhSheGlows: Scroll 1/2 way down). If not, Saskatoon has some great U-Pick farms in its vicinity, and it’s the season to be picking Raspberries, Blackberries, Strawberries, Saskatoons and Blueberries, so get out there!
