Reviving the lost art of self-reliance, one small step at a time
Delicious fresh snacks, berries are a perfect ice cream topper and great for snacking on out of hand. They’re also pretty fabulous in baked desserts and smoothies. Check out some of the recipes below! Different types of berries ripen at different times of year, but from spring to fall, farmers markets (and forests) showcase nature’s abundance.
Blackberry bushes can become huge. Because they can be quite invasive and have impressive thorns, they are often foraged for rather than cultivated in the garden.
Use them for: Jam, cobblers, pie, muffins, smoothies
Grow blueberries in containers on your patio and you can harvest these round berries during the summer months. Blueberry plants are thorn-free and some varieties are compact in size.
Use them for: Jam, muffins, smoothies
A variety of blackberry, possibly crossed with raspberries. Boysenberries are a reddish dark purple, sweet and tangy.
Use them for: Jam, cobblers, pie, muffins, smoothies
Grown in large bogs, cranberries are an unlikely candidate for your backyard garden. These types of berries are grown commercially, though, and abundant during the fall harvest season. The red berries are quite sour and mostly used for cooking.
Use them for: Homemade cranberry sauce, muffins, sweet breads, adding to salads
These wild berries grow on large bushes. Commonly found in stream beds and on roadsides, elderberries are popular for their medicinal properties and a favorite of foragers.
Use them for: Jam, medicinal syrup, elderberry gummies
Considered a superfood by many, goji berries are primarily available as dried fruit. The berries are fragile and bruise easily, so if you want to try fresh goji berries, growing them at home might be the best option.
Use them for: Drying, smoothies, adding to salad
The product of a large, broadleaf shade tree, mulberries are a bit like blackberries. There’s a white version, too.
Use them for: Jam, cobblers, pie, muffins, smoothies
Also known as cape gooseberry or Peruvian ground cherry, in Hawaii we call these poha berries. A member of the nightshade family, poha berries grow in a husk.
Use them for: Jam, drying, smoothies
More easily contained than blackberries, raspberries are available as a thornless plant (recommended for home gardens!) and come in red and white varieties.
Use them for: Jam, cobblers, pie, muffins, smoothies
Low-growing strawberries produce fruit in the heat of the summer, but this pretty plant is a great groundcover to use in edible landscapes.
Use them for: Dipping in chocolate, making mead, jam, muffins, smoothies, DIY jello cups
This blueberry French toast casserole makes it easy to serve everyone at once. A make ahead French toast casserole, it’s easier than flipping slices!
This Easy Blueberry French Toast Casserole is Nice Enough for CompanyRead More
Canning nectarines preserves the flavor of this summertime stone fruit. These canned nectarines feature fresh ginger and blueberries for a flavorful pop of summertime that you’ll appreciate having in your pantry.
Blueberry Ginger Spiced Nectarines in Light Honey SyrupRead More
Looking for an easy blueberry jam recipe? This one has just five ingredients and is made without pectin. It’s ready to spread in about half an hour!
Easy Blueberry Jam – Make it on the Stove Top or in Your Instant PotRead More
This 2-ingredient strawberry compote recipe can be made in the Instant Pot or on the stove top. Spread it on toast or add a dollop to vanilla ice cream.
Whip up this 2-Ingredient Strawberry Compote with Fresh BerriesRead More
Gently sweetened with raw local honey and topped with an unusual corn masa biscuit crust, this strawberry cobbler recipe is something special. It’s a gluten-free dessert option that uses the best farm fresh strawberries.
Strawberry Cobbler with Gluten-Free Corn Masa ToppingRead More
This raspberry pineapple water kefir is refreshingly sweet yet very low in sugar. It’s a healthy alternative to soda, perfect for a warm summer afternoon. Kefir is made using “starter” grains, but once you acquire those, the actual making of water kefir is easy.
Raspberry Pineapple Water Kefir: A Healthy Alternative to SodaRead More
Elderberry benefits: These berries fight colds, flu, and bacterial infections. Make this elderberry gummies recipe for your family’s health.
Enjoy Elderberry Benefits with DIY Elderberry Gummy CandiesRead More
In it’s simplest form, mead is a fermented alcohol drink made with honey and water. Learn how to make mead at home with this one gallon mead recipe to try.
This homemade cranberry sauce with orange and ginger will rock your holiday table. It’s sweet and tangy and very flavorful. A perfect addition to the Christmas or Thanksgiving buffet. It’s got much more flavor and depth than the jellied cranberry sauce that comes in a can. Cranberry sauce with orange is a winner!
Homemade jello is incredibly easy to make, has ingredients you can feel great about, and with a little “outside the box” thinking, you can still enjoy the convenience of taking it with you without using plastic.
Homemade Jello Cups for a Healthy School Lunch with Less WasteRead More
