I had no idea when I picked up a displayed copy of Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book, The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World, that I’d be reading about saskatoon berries. Because I’ve picked saskatoon berries almost every June for decades now, I’m instantly in love with the message of this book. Saskatoon berries are prolific here on the prairies.
This past year had a particularly abundant harvest. My aging canine companion could only walk slowly and I benefited by having more time to pick. It simply amazed me that no one else was out here picking. I managed to bake saskatoon muffins for neighbours on Canada Day and was able to re-establish contact with them. We had saskatoon pie for thanksgiving and look forward to more for Christmas.
Our serviceberries have served us well and I’m grateful that the berry bushes have been preserved in the ever-shrinking patches of wilderness in this suburban maze of development. After reading Kimmerer’s book, my appreciation of wild berries has not grown, because it was already huge … but my appreciation has been validated.
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| Local serviceberries, aka saskatoons |
Connecting foraging to my ongoing novel research is easy. Hunger created foragers in eastern Europe during the twenties, thirties and forties. My mom and her sisters were expert mushroom, berry pickers and linden blossom gatherers. Even lowly weeds like thistle and dandelion offered sustenance. We’re surrounded by abundance.
Never mind the political message. Walking in nature, picking berries and sharing them with friends feels good!
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| Local chokecherries make great syrups |
Quotes from Kimmerer's book:
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