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  • Elderberries

    What a stroke of luck

    At work we moved into a brand new purpose built building around 4-5 years ago.

    This year I noted that a substabtial amount of the trees that were planted around the entire perimeter are Elderberries.

    Now to get on site you need a pass - therefore protecting the berries from any tom dick and harry and resulting in my own personal Elderberry vineyard!!!

    I collected around 9kgs on Sunday

    But it takes ages removing the berries - is there a quick way???????

  • #2
    I use a fork to help remove the berries.
    I still get a little of the stalk within the berries...Just the little frondy bits, if you know what I mean.
    But I figure that this would just increase the tannin in the wine.

    Carole
    Insecure people try to make you feel smaller.

    Confident people love to see you walk taller

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    • #3
      but how do you avoid the RSI????

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      • #4
        I didn't... but I had a chilled glass or two, of wine number one whilst I was doing it....
        It helps to numb the pain

        And to be honest, I only have about 1.5 kgs so far, as I have only sourced about 4 trees in my area....
        There is still quite a few white berries on my trees... so hopefully the RSI will kick in properly when I visit them all again this week
        Last edited by spritzer; 22-09-2008, 08:03 PM. Reason: add stuff
        Insecure people try to make you feel smaller.

        Confident people love to see you walk taller

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        • #5
          Originally posted by kerosine View Post
          What a stroke of luck

          At work we moved into a brand new purpose built building around 4-5 years ago.

          This year I noted that a substabtial amount of the trees that were planted around the entire perimeter are Elderberries.

          Now to get on site you need a pass - therefore protecting the berries from any tom dick and harry and resulting in my own personal Elderberry vineyard!!!

          I collected around 9kgs on Sunday

          But it takes ages removing the berries - is there a quick way???????
          Try a big chomb, afro or similar

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          • #6
            It is time-consuming.

            Come to Grapefest 2009 - much quicker, you get gallons of grapes with next-to-no effort

            For elderberries, I use a fork to ping the berries off into a bucket (only a few at a time, otherwise you get too many stalks).

            Put some water in the bucket - the unripe berries and other debris floats to the surface. Skim this off with a sieve.

            Get the debris out of the sieve, then pour some of the contents of the bucket into it. The water will drain off easily. Agitate the sieve and any remaining bits of stalk seem to come to the surface, where you can pick them out (don't ask me how this works).

            Bag them in regular weights, freeze, job done.
            Pete the Instructor

            It looks like Phil Donahue throwing up into a tuba

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            • #7
              Russ, it's a ball acheing job however you do it, but it's back to the pleasure/ pain thing
              Discount Home Brew Supplies
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              • #8
                now I would much rather de stalk elderberries than crush grapes by hand it took me hours last night and I ended up with a gallon of juice and RSI

                happy

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                • #9
                  I found it easy - I just sat back with a glass of free wine and watched Bob turn a handle

                  Now PRESSING the grape skins by hand - that gave me RSI. Next year I'm buying a small press. I'm typing this with my elbows.
                  Pete the Instructor

                  It looks like Phil Donahue throwing up into a tuba

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                  • #10
                    its hard going is this

                    trust me to be greedy and want to do a 5 gallon batch!!!

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                    • #11
                      I picked some more today... only about 400grams though.
                      The location of the trees that I have been getting the berries from, is rather difficult to gain access to, and I cant reach the higher branches, which have load of berries on them

                      I am about to start destalking soon
                      Insecure people try to make you feel smaller.

                      Confident people love to see you walk taller

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by spritzer View Post
                        I picked some more today... only about 400grams though.
                        The location of the trees that I have been getting the berries from, is rather difficult to gain access to, and I cant reach the higher branches, which have load of berries on them

                        I am about to start destalking soon
                        Take something like a walking stick with you..
                        Hold it by the bottom and use it as a hook to pull the branches down
                        I wish I was a glow worm
                        Cos a glow worm's never glum
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                        When the sun shines out your bum

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Zebedee View Post
                          Take something like a walking stick with you..
                          Hold it by the bottom and use it as a hook to pull the branches down
                          I did this last week when I was out with my dad ..... and we managed to get loads between us.
                          But today, he was using it himself, so I couldn't really take it off him (well not without a fight)
                          But there is still loads of white berries on the trees here, so I do hope to get about another kilo over the next week or two.
                          Insecure people try to make you feel smaller.

                          Confident people love to see you walk taller

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                          • #14
                            I'm going to try an experiment this weekend.

                            When picking I'm going to destalk as I go. Should prevent me from going insane with the monotony.

                            I think I picked too many last time, by the time I got to the bottom of the bucket it was a purple twiggy mush!

                            any hoo got 4.5 kg in some water with a couple of campden tablets to sterilise - only another 2.2 Kg to collect then I'm away

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                            • #15
                              I found three more trees, on the scenic route home today .
                              Unfortunatley, so have the birds
                              I managed only to get about 100gms
                              But at least I know where they are for next year
                              Insecure people try to make you feel smaller.

                              Confident people love to see you walk taller

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