(no subject)

[shanmonster]

I'm planning on picking chokecherries on Wednesday morning. Does anyone want to come along? I want to make jam. Mmmm. Chokecherry jam....

Comments

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I dunno about that. I've eaten plenty of raw ones before. The pits are poisonous, though.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

The aboriginal people of North America have been eating raw chokecherries for many, many years. It was a staple of their diet.

The leaves, pits, and stems are poisonous, just like with the yew. (Yew berries have the same texture as snot, though. Eugh.) I searched online, and could find no reference to the fruit being toxic, except for in the case of something known as the pokeberry, which is dialectically called chokecherry in some regions. Perhaps this is the plant to which you refer.

Farmers cut down chokecherries because the leaves and branches are toxic to horses and cattle. My goats didn't mind the stuff, though. Of course, I've seen goats eat rhubarb leaves, too, to no ill effect.

[longpig.livejournal.com]

I'd be up for that. When and where? I can give you all those books from Julie then, and that video too...

[metasilk.livejournal.com]

If I recall jammaking, aren't the fruit cooked at that point? Or is that just for jelly?

[metasilk.livejournal.com]

That really sounds like whole mess o' fun.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I was originally thinking early in the morning, but Mom can't make it then, and she wanted to go. Do you work Thursday morning? If so, then we could still do something tomorrow. Otherwise, Thursday is best for me.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I hope so! I've never actually made jam. I've just picked stuff for it.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

My Mom cooked the jam and the jelly. I think the cherries will work best for jelly. That reminds me. I need to find some cheesecloth, somewhere.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Here are links to traditional raw uses of chokecherries:

• EDIBLE AND MEDICINAL PLANTS
  
• Chokecherry Pudding (with mention of raw use in pemmican)
  
• Critters eat 'em
  
• Native Plants and You - If you scroll down, you'll see what preparations the cherries were put through to remove the poison from the pits.
  

For extra points, here's a recipe for chokecherry treats:

Chokecherry Treats

1 lb. dried chokecherries
1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar

Grind up wild chokecherries.
Add shortening; then add sugar.
Form into size of golf balls, and they are ready.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Eating a few quarts of any raw fruit is bound to have negative effects.

Like I said, I have eaten plenty before. I used to live off the land, once upon a time.

[longpig.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I work Thursdays... Call me tomorrow though; if I'm not at home, I'll most likely be at Rob's (4541973).

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Ooh! It looks like I found a way for both of us to go fishing, if you have a rod.

If you can meet me at my place at 8:30 AM, a-fishing we will go!

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Arrr. I really hope you got this message, because it seemed too late to call when I got home, and too early to call when I woke up....

In any case, if you didn't get my message, I know Jodie has the day off, so maybe the two of you can get some berry-picking in....

Now, I need to shower!

[longpig.livejournal.com]

Dammit, I did check LJ last night, but I must have just missed this...

[longpig.livejournal.com]

It is... ridiculously easy! Also sort of messy. And fun. :)

So...

[metasilk.livejournal.com]

So how'd the jammaking go?

Re: So...

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Scrumdillyicious!

I have a whack of cherry jelly and a bunch of cranraspberry jam. Slurp....

Chokecherries poisonous? Just the seeds.

[(Anonymous)]

If raw chokecherries were poisonous, I'd have been dead LONG, LONG ago! I ate lots of them while growing up, and even now, will have some as I'm picking them. Only the really ripe, almost black ones are good, and they do make your mouth pucker up. What is poisonous is the seed. Never bite into one, and when cooking for jelly or syrup, never crush the seeds--just gently push out the juice through a colander, then let hang in cheesecloth bag for rest of juice to drain.