Home Grown Fruit

[richardp69]

No, not me although many might disagree.

Anyway, several years ago I built 2 nice sized grape arbors and planted several Concord Grape plants. They've really flourished and produce bunches of 'em each year. I primarily planted them to feed the song birds, partridge, squirrels, deer and bear but I always get to chomp on a bunch of 'em as well. Went out today and one arbor was pretty well cleaned out. Quite a nice bounty on the other though. I've been munching on them all afternoon.

I also have a nice crop of Currants, crab apples, Hawthorne fruit and regular apples for the critters as well. I really enjoy watching them enjoy a meal of the stuff I planted for them. Might not sound like much but it's good entertainment for me for sure. I enjoy it much more than all the wasted time (and money) I used to spend in bars.

 

[walrus]

How about a photo or two? Sounds like a cool setup!

walrus

 

[dreadnut]

I love concord grapes, they are the only seeded grapes that I like. Our neighbors had a bunch of concord arbors when I was a kid and I would eat them until my mouth was all puckered up.

 

[HeyMikey]

My wife and I took the dog out for a walk last week and upon exiting the car I immediately got a whiff of that unmistakable smell. Sure enough I was able to track down several wild Concord vines. Not many left that I could reach but enough for me to grab a couple handfuls. The purple tongue brought back some great memories. I grew up spending a lot of time wandering woods and fields all day long as a kid. My brothers and I would always come home with wild blueberries, blackberries and grapes when in season. My mom, bless her heart , would help us turn them into something yummy. Concord jelly was always a favorite.

 

[wileypickett]

I always suspected you were a nice guy!

 

[Aristera]

Just got done making five batches of grape jelly/jam last week from grapes I picked from my cousin's vineyard which used to be my grandfather's. The variety is called Fredonia which is similar to Concord but ripen a week or two earlier. I still have two 4 quart baskets of Delaware variety that I'm going to process tomorrow. I too grow currants. Varieties include Pink Champagne, Gloire de Sablon, White Imperial, and Red Lake. Several varieties of gooseberries as well. Plant till your planted.

 

[Guildedagain]

Hawthornes are good for the heart in many ways. Make a tincture of dried berries, amazing tincture, very sweet, great flavor. Use 100 alcohol, let it sit 4-6 weeks, shake a couple times a day.

We make cider with apples. Wine from grapes.