Blueberry Picking 101




So. you are in Interior Alaska. Everyone around you is babbling about what a GREAT, FABULOUS, WONDERFUL year it is for blueberry picking. Normally sane people are suddenly calling in to work and not even pretending to be sick. Nope. It's all: "I'm going berry picking. Bye." Click.

And you don't have a clue as to where to go (because everybody's special spot is a SECRET), what to take, how to dress or even how long it will take.

And nobody is answering your very sincere questions. Because, well ... actually I can't really answer that one. I think it plays into the whole I HAVE A SUPER SECRET BLUEBERRY PICKING SPOT thing. 

So, let a sista help you a little. Very little, 'cause I ain't gonna give up the deets to my favorite place either.

1. Head for the hills. Lovely, treeless hills. This accomplishes two very important things: A) gives you access to a good sized patch, and B) gives you a chance to see the bear before it sees you.

2. What to take? Anything/container that can be secured. It only takes that one trip over a tundra tussock to lose 3 hours of work. A berry bucket is just a plastic bucket with a handle and a lid. But a big plastic bowl with a lid will do. As will (see above) some plastic grocery bags. Just anything that will keep your little blue bundles of joy from spilling. Also water and snacks. Be sure to leave the snacks in the car. It's bear country out there, and you do not need to encourage them to come visit you.

2a. Yes, there are commercial berry pickers out there and they do a great job of stripping plants bare quickly. But, and this is a big but, unless you are making a lot of jam and jelly, they might not be worth the price. Those pickers will not only take off the nice ripe berries, they will take off every unripe berry ... and a lot of leaves. You may have 3 gallons, but unless you are willing to pick out all the dentritis, you might be better off handpicking to begin with.      

3. What to wear. Dark pants. Comfy hiking or work boots. Bug spray. Why dark pants? 'Cause at some point you will be sitting down  -  in a patch of blueberries. Why boots? You need the ankle support for doing the "Tussock Two-Step." Why bug spray? Ummm ... how long have you lived here? 

4. How long does it take? How long you got? Once you find your perfect patch, you should probably give yourself a minimum of 3-4 hours. Why so long? Wild blueberries are smaller than commercial ones and it just takes longer to get what you want. So take an afternoon or early evening off and just make an event out of it.

5. Biggest piece of advice: Do NOT go alone!!! NO! NO! NO! Have I mentioned bears? 

At its best, blueberry picking is a shared activity, to share with friends and family. Take one friend: take a herd of your relatives. Laugh, pick, gossip, pick, snack, pick, solve the world's problems, pick. With someone else with you, you will make enough noise to keep most bruins away. If not, you have another set of eyes keeping a look out. Plus it is easy to get lost when you are by yourself. Don't get lost. You will need to get rescued, the story will be in the newspaper, and you will never live it down. Ever. 

This is by no means a definitive list. There are folks who will tell you to carry a gun, bear spray, mosquito netting, etc., etc. This is just a bare bones starter list. If you've never been, going with someone who has would be a great first step. There is a ton of good printed information around too, from the University of Alaska Cooperative Extension Service to the Alaska Public Lands Information Center in the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitor Center.

But whatever you do, go get yourself some ... 

and don't go alone!

                                                                                           

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