Week 20: Sweet Bounty in Abundance (with Healthy Boundaries)

Plants, and many other living beings, naturally expand to occupy their surroundings, sometimes competing with their neighbors or spilling over into excess

Few plants are as notorious for excessive expansion as the Himalayan blackberry, not a native species but extremely common throughout Washington State today.

Constantly reaching to expand coverage… to be in more places, all at once.

Left to our natural instincts, it’s common for us human beings to overextend ourselves as our drive to prosper during our time on earth propels us to “reach for more, do more, and produce more.”

But where do we stop? When do we determine that we’ve “reached a limit,” either in our own efforts or through the energy we take on from others?

Where are our boundaries?

A Lesson in Boundaries From our Sprawling Blackberry Friends

Black berries grow with abundant vigor and offer so many health benefits… and life teachings.

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Ever had blackberries in your yard and notice how they will invade anywhere that you let them? Sending out a scout limb to test the boundary and if you don’t quickly lop that baby many others follow!

However, when a blackberry patch is trimmed regularly, shown the boundary, the plant has respect and stays in the designated area.

A great metaphor for life!

How can we work with this metaphor when considering where we offer our Yes and Nos?

Take a deep TED talk dive into understanding personal boundaries

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Try mixing up this sweet and tangy Blackberry Vinaigrette dressing!

A couple handfuls of fresh blackberries, picked from the many brambles growing along local trails (or on a trip to the grocery store), can be cooked down and combined with a few simple ingredients to concoct a sweet and summery berry vinaigrette.

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Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh black berries
• 3 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• ⅓ cup water
• 1 Tablespoon Maple syrup

Instructions

1. Place the blackberries in a medium saucepan on low heat.
2. Stir the blackberries and while mashing them with a wooden spoon.
3. The berries will liquefy over time, so continue to stir them until all the berries are broken down,
4. Then, remove from the heat.
5. Whisk in remaining ingredients.
6. Wait until completely cool before transferring to another container for storage.
7. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
8. It Will last 3-5 days in the refrigerator.

How about them apples? A spectrum of sweet to tart varietals

Just as the blackberry trail pickings in the pacific northwest start to wane, apple season ramps up! Back yard trees and grocery stores will brim with delicious local varieties, also packed with nutrition!

Keep this handy guide available to help you strike the balance between sweet and tart apples, depending on your preferences!

Tart apples tend to do well in pies and tarts (no surprise there), while sweeter varieties lend well to sauces and apple butters 🤤.

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