Survival Food...
Hint... its round, green and will make you pucker
Hunting in the fall was a favorite thing for my father and I to do growing up. Both out of necessity somewhat, and for the enjoyment of it… Pausing at times as we traversed the timber dad would stop, point to a particular bush, pull off a handful of the berries and tell me what it was, if it was safe to eat and describe how it tasted.
On one particular morning, we stopped as dad pulled off 2-3 berries from a bush I had seen but didn’t know the name… he warned me these would make you pucker so much, that if you weren’t careful your mouth might stay that way… Uhh, okay, he was exaggerating just a bit, but they were and are very tart. The more ripe they are, they become a bit sweeter, but not much.
Putting a couple in my mouth, I chewed enthusiastically… Aside from the immediate tartness, it did create an initial mild puckering… Thinking back, and even now it has a strong astringency to it as well, but the tangy flavor, I really enjoy.
Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher." — William Wordsworth
Fast forward a few decades, I decided to transplant from the wild prairie of our family farm one of these bushes a couple years ago… Now having sufficiently taken root, I have flowers, and now the beginnings of its delectable fruit… later this summer, I hope to be enjoying a handful or two…
The bush I’m referring to is broadly a Gooseberry bush. There are different types, this one is the Missouri Gooseberry (ribes missouriense). There are other types like the prickly gooseberry, European gooseberry, and American black currant.
Here in the Midwest the Missouri Gooseberry are plentiful. Take a hike in the woods, and you are sure to find one or, … it may find you first… most have hundreds of tiny thorns along their branches that like to grab you as you walk by… and they don’t want to let go… hmmm, sounds like a country song…
I digress, I wanted to bring one here to my backyard sanctuary, as it brings back fond childhood memories… foraging with my dad, the fact that they are native, highly versatile and offer many health benefits…. what more could a native plant and foraging enthusiast (nut) want? Smile….
Memories
As I mentioned, this plant was one my dad had pointed out on several of our hunting trips through the timber.
Dad, if you asked him, probably had no idea what “foraging” was, he just passed on the knowledge that his father, and generations before him had passed along…
A walk in the woods on a crisp spring day, occupying the corner of a cozy coffee shop on Main Street… you and dear friend, or family member enjoying conversation and educating each other with knowledge of the native flora around us…
I reflect at times and wonder if these moments are fading… or nearly extinct… rather than investing the time and experiencing the rewards in this way… most I believe would rather just say, “Hey Siri” or whichever form of digital intelligence they gravitate to…
Dad’s into his eighties now, probably to his chagrin, I pepper him with as many questions about the land and plants as I can… contrary to some thought, none of us are guaranteed tomorrow…
“In every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks”. John Muir
Native and Highly Versatile
They are native as I mentioned to the Midwest and other parts of the country… they have many great qualities, as well as being highly versatile.
They offer great nesting opportunities for songbirds, as well as providing food when the light green to yellowish fruits appear for the songbirds and small mammals.
Hummingbirds and other pollinators enjoy the nectar from the small white blooms that appear before producing the fruits.
It isn’t picky where it grows, tolerating part shade or sunny conditions. It will grow 3-6ft high and wide, and for maybe obvious reasons is deer and rabbit resistant.
If you’re a baker or just handy in the kitchen, they are excellent for making pies, cobblers, jams and jellies. Grandma even used to bake them into her homemade bread… that she made on her wood burning cook stove in the late summer… let me tell you… that is true love…
Health Benefits
Gooseberries are beneficial in several ways due to being high in vitamin C and A, additionally containing B5, B6, Copper, Manganese and Potassium.
Immune System- blowing that nose, coughing and just getting tired of having a cold every other week? The high vitamin C content makes them great at strengthening your immune system, so you can let it get to work on lessening the frequency of those colds.
Regularity- Finding more often than not, that going number two, is a distant memory… Dinner just seem to hang out in the gut until breakfast… Feeling like your carrying an extra ten pounds around in your gut… not to worry… At 6-7g of fiber per 1 cup, these berries help aid digestion, keep you satiated, and keep you regular…
Aging and Cancer- I’ll admit it… I am older or as I like to think of it, more mature… mother may have a different opinion… and if you live on this planet, especially in the Midwest with our panacea of toxic herbicides used to drench our fields, you are no stranger to the “C” word… thankfully this little “Superman” comes with a respectable amount of polyphenols and antioxidants that fight off the free radicals and reduce oxidative stress in making a possible dent in those wrinkles and most importantly the cancer.
Cholesterol and Blood Pressure- Blood pressure not what it should be? Your doctor not impressed with your bad cholesterol number? Not to worry… Due to this little berries potassium and fiber content, it can assist in lowering your “bad” cholesterol and regulating blood pressure.
Skin and Hair Health- Is your hair getting weak and brittle, is there more in the brush than you would like… do you notice your skin not bouncing back like it used to… is what you thought was just a bad nights sleep actually more wrinkles… Not to worry, being high in vitamin A and antioxidants, they aid in collagen production, which will help keep you looking younger… uhh… I just indulge because I like them… the hair left me too… a long time ago…
Blood Sugar Management- Is your doctor not happy with your blood sugar level? Is he telling you to be careful about how much fruit you eat? Well, now you can tell him you have a fruit that’s okay to eat. Due to the chlorogenic acid in them, it helps manage blood sugar levels.
Ways to Use Them
If these sound interesting, and you would like to try them, here are a few ways. In order to get the nutrients from them,
Eat a handful right off the bush. If you’re out for a hike and get the munchies they’re great, and provide nutrients in a survival scenario.
Toss some in your yogurt for some added, nutrition, crunch, and flavor.
Toss a few in your smoothie to liven it up
Throw some on your salad for some added texture.
If you’re handy in the kitchen and/or enjoy trying new stuff you can,
Ferment or pickle them
Make into jams, jellies, marmalade, pesto’s or a sweet and lively salsa
Bake the into pie’s, cobbler, breads or biscuits
Put them into your world class bread pudding… yummm…
Conclusion
Spring has sparked my enjoyment of some of these nutritious natives… Often overlooked, detested, and sprayed with enough chemicals to make Chernobyl seem like just another X-ray, they survive, so be careful where you sourced them from.
So, if your out exploring, bushwhacking or just wandering and find the gooseberry, give them a try.
Until next time my friends,
Raj