What's the hardest you've ever worked for FREE fruit/veggies?

[Jared77]

Morels

Elderberries

They are typically eaten by the birds so you have to sometimes really look for them. They are REALLY good. Pain in the rear to prep, but they make a great jam and a really good wine. They grow in those clusters and you have to pick off the individual berries, make sure none of the little stems get into the mix and your good to go. They are small so its tedious but they taste great. Its disheartening when you pick a bunch, separate them, and when mashed you get 1/2 of what you had as whole berries. So 2 cups of picked berries make 1 cup of mashed. But when its all said and done the taste makes up for the work you had to put into them. Its only when I'm doing all the prep work do I cuss at myself for having so many.

 

[retiredwith4acres]

A few years back when I lived way out in the country, a neighbor boy came by and said I had "dry land fish" under the big cherry tree. I had always heard of morels but never eaten them. I harvested, cooked and ate that year and the following before selling the place. I really enjoyed them and think about them each spring.

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

Jared77, I may have to look and see if there are some Elderberries left. I saw some a few weeks back, just didn't know that's what they were. Because I am like a little kid, I have to ask. What happens if you get part of the stem? I'll have to be on the lookout for Morels when DH and I are out hunting.