Wishing you all the very best on your recent birthday! Your post made me smile in remembrance of my Mother and the gooseberry bush that was at the side of the house where we lived in Northern Manitoba. She and my Dad had planted raspberry canes at the back of the garden, which we loved picking raspberries from, but gooseberries were something new to us. But she tested them and decided she could make gooseberry jam. Thank you for the memory!
Belated Happy Birthday, Naomi. We get gooseberries in India; they flood the market and are quite common. We, however, make sweet or spicy pickles from them to be served as condiments on the table alongside our meals. like them, but occasionally, and have yet to develop a strong liking for them as you do.
I cannot believe I missed your birthday. I hope it isn’t too late to wish you a good year ahead. I so much enjoy reading your thoughts! I am now curious about gooseberries. They certainly were not a part of my childhood in South America.
Im so envious of your gooseberries, Naomi. I remember them from my childhood when mrs. Burgess, who lived across the street, had her own bushes. She called them goozbries, an old-fashioned Maine way of speaking. I mentioned this to ed behr, who also grows them on his mini farm in Vermont just south of the border and wrote about them recently in his substack platform.
Alas we haven’t had them in decades in Maine because they were determined to be carriers of a disease that attacks valuable white pine trees. I suspect that’s a myth long since discounted, but nonetheless those wonderful tart fruits remain banned in Maine. Next year I’ll make a gooseberry tour and visit Ed and then you. Sending you smokeless summer wishes, warm days, blue skies, puffy clouds, and gentle breezes,
I think black currants were also on a must-not-plant list for a long time in some states and provinces, again because of being a host to a wheat rust or something similar.
Red currants are the baddies—and for me they are quintessential for a proper summer pudding. I used to buy them in the green markets in New York but that was in the last century! (Hard to believe)
Happy Birthday, Naomi! Thank you for sharing all of this with us--the descriptions are beautiful of the photographs and sentiments. Best wishes from a smoky Ann Arbor, and hope your air clears soon!
I have a huge rather wild backyard that is generously giving us both black and red raspberries, josta berries and gooseberries. I love these alternative to jam! I don't have the patience to top and tail, though!
Happy Belated birthday and best wishes! It's generous of you to share these moments of shared celebrations with your circle, those both present i heart and in person.
Topping and tailing goes fast with a friend. But you can skip it and instead cook them to a puree, then pass them through cheesecloth. You should be fine!!
I made the Elderberry cordial with your recipe! I liked that there was less citrus than in others. Made with raw sugar it's got a lovely warm tone and suits it's delicate flavour. I've lived in this house since 2003 and never got around to it. It was helpful to see your effort. We usually just thrown all the gooseberries in the freezer and do what you suggest. I'd like to try something else. They look somewhat more appetizing topped and tailed...
Glad you like the elderberry cordial. I discovered that cutting flowers for the cordial stimulated the growth of more flowers…extended the flowering period. Another bonus
Is there any thing like going out into nature and finding bounty like this, right there down the back stairs. So newly grown, vital, and straight from the earth.
It's hard to stop from making things from my backyard. I'm looking for different uses of the wild and concord grape vines, too. There are always new ltender eaves to pick.
Wishing you all the very best on your recent birthday! Your post made me smile in remembrance of my Mother and the gooseberry bush that was at the side of the house where we lived in Northern Manitoba. She and my Dad had planted raspberry canes at the back of the garden, which we loved picking raspberries from, but gooseberries were something new to us. But she tested them and decided she could make gooseberry jam. Thank you for the memory!
Thank-you! Yes to gooseberry jam!
Really important to keep talking about those who are no longer with us but who inhabit our lives. You're absolutely right, Naomi - course you are.
You know these truths so well Elisabeth 🧡
Happy birthday. Belated for this year, but early for next.
Thank-you!☀️
Belated Happy Birthday, Naomi. We get gooseberries in India; they flood the market and are quite common. We, however, make sweet or spicy pickles from them to be served as condiments on the table alongside our meals. like them, but occasionally, and have yet to develop a strong liking for them as you do.
I cannot believe I missed your birthday. I hope it isn’t too late to wish you a good year ahead. I so much enjoy reading your thoughts! I am now curious about gooseberries. They certainly were not a part of my childhood in South America.
They're wonderful Ana. They thrive in tough climates! Uruguay would be too mild for them... If by chance I see any for sale I'll bring them to you
Happy birthday!!
Thanks Amy! ☀️🧡
Im so envious of your gooseberries, Naomi. I remember them from my childhood when mrs. Burgess, who lived across the street, had her own bushes. She called them goozbries, an old-fashioned Maine way of speaking. I mentioned this to ed behr, who also grows them on his mini farm in Vermont just south of the border and wrote about them recently in his substack platform.
Alas we haven’t had them in decades in Maine because they were determined to be carriers of a disease that attacks valuable white pine trees. I suspect that’s a myth long since discounted, but nonetheless those wonderful tart fruits remain banned in Maine. Next year I’ll make a gooseberry tour and visit Ed and then you. Sending you smokeless summer wishes, warm days, blue skies, puffy clouds, and gentle breezes,
Nancy
I think black currants were also on a must-not-plant list for a long time in some states and provinces, again because of being a host to a wheat rust or something similar.
Red currants are the baddies—and for me they are quintessential for a proper summer pudding. I used to buy them in the green markets in New York but that was in the last century! (Hard to believe)
Black currants because of white pine blister rust.
And red currants too, says Dr Google
Happy belated birthday! I love your writing.
Big thanks ☀️☀️
Happy Birthday, Naomi! Thank you for sharing all of this with us--the descriptions are beautiful of the photographs and sentiments. Best wishes from a smoky Ann Arbor, and hope your air clears soon!
Thanks so much Miranda. We're clear today, for which I'm very grateful, along with the rest of the city!
I have a huge rather wild backyard that is generously giving us both black and red raspberries, josta berries and gooseberries. I love these alternative to jam! I don't have the patience to top and tail, though!
Happy Belated birthday and best wishes! It's generous of you to share these moments of shared celebrations with your circle, those both present i heart and in person.
Topping and tailing goes fast with a friend. But you can skip it and instead cook them to a puree, then pass them through cheesecloth. You should be fine!!
I made the Elderberry cordial with your recipe! I liked that there was less citrus than in others. Made with raw sugar it's got a lovely warm tone and suits it's delicate flavour. I've lived in this house since 2003 and never got around to it. It was helpful to see your effort. We usually just thrown all the gooseberries in the freezer and do what you suggest. I'd like to try something else. They look somewhat more appetizing topped and tailed...
Glad you like the elderberry cordial. I discovered that cutting flowers for the cordial stimulated the growth of more flowers…extended the flowering period. Another bonus
Is there any thing like going out into nature and finding bounty like this, right there down the back stairs. So newly grown, vital, and straight from the earth.
Endless bounty! 🥰 I did not know that. My tree didn't do that or maybe i just didn't notice.
Yes, it tames them! But you could cook then and mash them through cheesecloth and use them to make sorbet...
Ohhhh! Mmmm! Great idea!!!
Thanks!!!
It's hard to stop from making things from my backyard. I'm looking for different uses of the wild and concord grape vines, too. There are always new ltender eaves to pick.
Bonne belated anniversaire.
Merci Barbara-jo!