local blackberries

[Le Beep]

Can anyone recommend a good spot to pick blackberries in Vancouver?

[bonlee]

There are some berries for picking at the south end of the BCIT campus, on the north side of the parking lot along Deer Lake Parkway. The berries are smallish, but sweet.

[Le Beep]

Thanks Sam Salmon and bonlee! I'll check out those spots.

[Anne M]

I think the sites that aren't overrun are closely guarded secrets. It is sort of like mushroom hunting.

[fmed]

I was going to say the same thing. Overgrown lots near the river and along ditches (eg Richmond, Marine Drive, etc) are usually good bets. I just came back from a quick trip to Nanaimo where I stayed with relatives whose backyard is on the estuary. Tonnes of blackberries.

[Le Beep]

Agreed, Anne M and fmed. I usually pick blackberries outside of Vancouver and was thinking I should find some spots in town. I went out yesterday to try my luck around the ubc endowment lands and managed to get about four litres in two hours. Almost not worth the scratches and thorn slivers everywhere. I realize it's a little late in the season, but am going to try caulfield and new brighton in the next day or so. Will also consider richmond. I'd really like to make some blackberry jam, beer, wine and freeze a few pounds for the winter!

[Sam Salmon]

Two weeks ago the west side of Railway Ave in Richmond had all kinds of berries on offer.

[jcolvin]

Blackberry spider panic: I was picking blackberries in Richmond last year (near T&T), and jumped on the (fairly crowded) bus to go the few blocks back to our house. The lady behind me whispered "spider". what? "Spider!" Look down and there is a HUGE wolf spider that had fallen or jumped from the bush onto my shoulder. Before I could even think I swept it off my shoulder who knows where. Much screaming ensued. The driver was yelling "what's going on?" thinking someone was getting stabbed or something. "Just a spider" I yelled back. The blackberries were great.

[Le Beep]

hilarious!