A lifelong avid berrypicker, Fluffy was delighted to learn that many Gustavians, perhaps even the vast majority, also place great value in this pastime. In southeast Alaska, berrypicking isn't just for red-chinned children and muffin baking grandmothers. If the land gives you berries then you better make jam. ...And syrup, juice, pies, cobblers, you name it. Fluffy made up a list of Gustavus's edible wild berries and ordered them according to her opinion of their deliciousness:
1. Nagoonberry
An Alaskan preserves company once tried to market nagoonberry jam for the slim price of $40 a jar! While it seems absurd, anyone who tries to make their own nagoonberry jam knows a) how tedious a process it is; and b) how utterly scrumptious the results are! Nagoonberries grow on short plants -- about the same height as Fluffy -- and usually only produce one small berry per plant. The berries each have a stubbornly inverted hull that can be a real nuisance to remove.
2. Salmonberry
Plump, juicy, and in a rainbow of warm hues, these make a tasty, hydrating snack as well as a stylish hat for a very small rabbit.
3. Strawberry
Many grow by the beach and others in sunny meadows. They can be quite large for a wild variety -- up to about 1" -- and are full of sweetness. And slugs, quite often.
4. Thimbleberry
Not a common find, but these soft and delicate raspberry-like fruits taste deliciously tart and almost chocolatey.
5. Blueberry
While this is an all-time classic berry, the southeast Alaskan berries are notoriously dry, mealy and wormy. Most people opt to soak them in saltwater to lure out the worms before using them. This can be daunting...it's not rare for there to be at least one worm for every berry! These berries do make a nice jelly or syrup if boiled, squashed and then strained out.
6. Watermelon Berry (Twisted Stalk)
More of a trail snack then a bakin' and cannin' fruit. They can taste like a sweet watermelon, or a blander yet still refreshing cucumber. Don't confuse them with false solomon's seal or other poisonous plants!
7. Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum)
Many people find the raw fruits to be bitter, sour, or oddly pungent, but Fluffy thinks they're a good and tasty blast to the senses. Boiled, they can make a nice jelly or cranberry juice substitute. In the winter, they often remain clinging to branches and form little bites of sorbet for people and birds and Fluffy Bunnies.
8. Black Currant
Many people wouldn't bother with these miniature, tough, hairy fruits, but they can be a nice addition to jellies. However, some currents are better than others. Stink Currant, for instance, tastes like the name implies.
9. Bunchberry (Dwarf Dogwood)
Some folks don't recommend these for human consumption, but for Fluffy they're easy to pick, readily available, and pretty to look at.
After a summer of picking and freezing, Fluffy and some of her girl people friends put aside a couple days to dedicate to canning. They made Alaskan Four Berry Syrup, strawberry syrup, nagoonberry preserve, and blueberry syrup and jelly. Some batches proved more successful than others, but hopefully enough made it past quality control to become Christmas gifts for friends and family.
While berry picking is a seemingly lighthearted activity, it has its dark side: people can be very protective of their berry patches. Some patches, particularly of nagoonberries or introduced species like huckleberries and raspberries, are highly coveted and should not be encroached upon. That is, unless you want to make enemies quickly in a small, loose-lipped community. If someone invites you to pick with them at their secret spot, you should be highly flattered.
Fluffy just laughs at all of this. Animals can get away with all kinds of mischief, especially when they're only about 3" tall.
