Enjoyed a beautiful day on the mountainside. Our goal was to head up Cedar Creek to the mining claims, however, we were sidetracked. The huckleberries are ripe, and lots of folks are out gathering natures bounty.
More information on the Wildberries of Montana
Courtesy: Montana Outdoors
Huckleberries
Huckleberries, tangy, tart and absolutely delicious are small roundish berries, with an appearance similiar to blueberries, however their color may range from deep crimson to deep magenta. Many people say they are the most flavorful berry in the world. They have a strong, pungent odor. (Unless stored in sealed glass jars, huckleberries can permeate anything in the refrigerator or freezer.) Many Montana folks keep a separate small refrigerator or freezer, just to store their huckleberries.
You can look for huckleberries in the wild in late July or August, depending on the elevation. You’ll find them growing, grouped together on low bushes. The berries grow at high elevations on the sunny slopes of the mountains. It is wise to avoid picking the berries in early evening or early morning hours, especially if you are in a remote area. Huckleberries are a favorite food of bears, both black bears and grizzlies. Bears find huckleberries to be a real treat and the high sugar content aids the bears in storing fat for the oncoming winter.
Huckleberries can be used in most any berry recipe. They make incredible pies, cobblers, jams and jellies. Huckleberries are a great addition to pancakes and are unrivaled as an ice cream topping. I have a friend that crafts a magnificent huckleberry liquor that he calls ‘Huckleberry Bounce” - smooth and so fine, after a couple of tiny glasses, those that imbibe have been known to “bounce” off the walls.
For centuries, Native American have used huckleberries as a delicious fruit and for its numerous medicinal qualities. When ripe huckleberries are consumed in quantity, they have a laxative effect, however, when dried huckleberries are eaten, they will combat diarrhea. Huckleberries are also recognized for their helpful impact on the circulatory system and have been useful in treating hemorrhoids, weak capillaries and varicose veins. When huckleberries are included as a regular part of the diet, they will prevent diabetes. Huckleberry juice used as a mouthwash has a healing effect on bleeding gums and mouth sores.
Serviceberry
Found in abundance in Northwestern Montana, the Serviceberry or Juneberry (Amelanchier species, also know as saskatoon, sugar plum or shadbush is a large, multi-stemmed shrub or small compact tree. The showy white flowers are a striking accent to the forest landscape.
The Serviceberry is a small, pretty, slender trees related to apples, and in the rose family. Serviceberry trees are found on every continent of the Northern Hemisphere, and are also found in North Africa.
Serviceberries can be added to your yard or landscape for their masses of showy, white flowers in spring and brilliant fall foliage. They are quite beautiful and add protective habitat for small animals and birds.
Serviceberries grow well in a wide range of soils. They grow best in moist, well-drained soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Avoid poorly drained, heavy clay soils. Serviceberries can be planted in partial shade to full sun but seem to thrive in full sun.
The berries are edible and work well in syrups, jellies, jam, wine and as a dehydrated snack. In most recipes they are interchangeable with huckleberries or blueberries.
Native Americans have used the Juneberry as a food staple for centuries. The crushed berries were used to make pemmican, a staple of the Native American diet. The berries, stems and leaves were decocted for medicinal use to treat stomach ulcers, diarrhea and bloating.
Elk, deer and moose love the berries as do many species of birds, especially jays, woodpeckers, robins and grouse.
Chokecherries are common in the forests and clearings throughout Montana. The fruit is sour and usually too bitter or astringent to eat fresh, as they really make your mouth pucker. However, chokecherries makes an excellent syrup, jelly or very tasty wine.
Chokecherries (Prunus virginiana) are closely related to cherries, plums, apples and roses. Chokecherries grow in long clusters. The attractive white flowers are a compliment to the Spring landscape and the fruit ripens by late summer. When ripe, the berries are a rich deep red to purple shade and have a large pit.
To use the berries for wines, jellies or jam, just grind them in a hand grinder or electric blender. Use the whole berry, including the pits. Grind several times to a smooth consistency, the proceed to simmer and use the cooked down mixture in any berry recipe. They work well in a dehydrator - just form the mixture into patties and dry.
When the fruit is dried it becomes much sweeter. Native Americans used the berries in pemmican, also known as wasna or added their sweet flavor to wojapi, a chokecherry pudding. Chokecherries were an important berries for many tribes. They were normally collected after the first frost as the cold made them sweeter.
Native Americans and the early settlers used chokecherry bark and roots to make sedatives, appetite stimulants and medicinal teas for treating coughs, tuberculosis, stomach discomfort and to treat intestinal worms.
Elderberries
American Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), a member of the honeysuckle family, often simply called American Elder, produces an abundant amount of delicious fruit each summer. The tiny blue-black berries, are a favorite of wildlife. Usually available in late summer, the juicy clusters can be gathered by the pailful and make excellent wine, syrup and jelly. Wait to gather these taste morsels until after the first frost.
Traditional folk medicine has used the elderberry for centuries. Black elder was used for centuries in Europe, Africa and Asia for warding off evil spirits and to prevent or cure a multitude of ailments. The early settlers brought this knowledge to America and used the American elder which readily found in the wild all across America.
Native American tribes have always used the elderberry for its many healing properties.
In tribal medicine, elder berries have been used to treat stomach aches, diarrhea, colds, congestion and rheumatism. The flowers were also useful in teas for circulatory problems and as a stimulant and diuretic.
Elderberries contain more vitamin C than any other fruit except for rosehips and black currants and are an excellent source of phosphorus and potassium, anthocyanins, vitamin A and a fine source of calcium. Elderberries also contain tannins, essential oils and sterols and are all around a healthy food.
Elderberry flowers can be used to make a delicious fritter. Just chop the fresh flowers and add to any sweet fritter recipe. Collect the flowers by cutting off the stalk at the cluster’s base, the flowers are much to small to cut individually. Only take a small proportion of the flowers from each bush, and collect only where they are abundant or the bush will not produce any berries that season.
Pemmican was a staple of the Native American diet as it stores well and is light and easy to carry on hunting trips or long journeys. It is a high energy food, full of flavor, protein and carbohydrates.
Pemmican/Wasna
4 ounces dried beef or buffalo jerky - plain, unseasoned dried meat works best.
1 cup dried chokecherries, huckleberries, service berries, or other dried fruit.
3 tablespoons melted butter
Directions:
1. In a food processor, or hand grinder, process jerky until it is in quite small pieces.
2. Add dried chokecherries. Continue to grind until fruit is cut into very small pieces and is mixed well with the jerky. For variety, nut meats may be added.
3. Melt 3 tablespoons butter.
4. Add melted butter to meat and fruit mixture in the food processor. Process well.
5. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch pan with 1 tablespoon of butter.
6. Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, press pemmican into a thin layer in the pan. Cover with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate.
7. When chilled, cut into small squares. Store in the refrigerator.
Huckleberries
In this great state of Montana
We have the finest in the West,
And above all the other things,
I like Huckleberries best.
They make the very choicest jam
And most delicious pies,
They have stored up lots of flavor,
Beneath Montana’s sunny skies.
Most every year you can find some,
‘Though you may have to search awhile,
But if you like them as well as I do,
You will walk many a mile.
But there was one year I can remember,
When it rained, and snowed, and hailed,
Then froze, to cap the climax,
That year the huckleberries failed.
We searched high and low, far and wide,
But couldn’t find a single berry,
In all those patches, where in other years
We could pick all we could carry.
There were many long, sad faces,
There were tears in many eyes.
For everyone had been looking forward,
To those luscious, juicy pies.
There was mourning in every cabin
And all business was curtailed.
For no one had the heart to work,
The year the huckleberries failed.
Some had a quart or two,
Left from the year before.
They guarded them with a shotgun,
And put padlocks on every door.
They valued them above gold nuggets,
Wouldn’t have traded for the ‘crown jewels’,
For turning down some offers,
They were called thickheaded fools.
One man traded a quart of berries
For a brand new “Cadillac”,
Then after he thought it over,
Tried his best to trade back.
Some folks who made their living,
Picking berries for to sell,
Came back from their searching
With their nerves all shot to hell.
All the wild birds and beasts,
That dine on huckleberries,
Came down from the mountains
And ate all the chokecherries.
That also was an election year
And the ones who won the race,
Promised to bring the berries back,
The rest were in disgrace.
But sad to say, the winners
Fell down upon the job,
At making good their promises,
They sure did play hob.
Mothers tried to quiet their babies,
But it wasn’t any use.
For they one and all demanded,
Good old huckleberry juice.
It was sad to see the little tykes.
They were so wan and weak.
When one feed of huckleberries,
Would have put a dimple in each cheek.
It’s been many, many years now,
Since Montana was assailed
By all the worst elements of nature,
The year the huckleberries failed.
The preachers in all the churches,
Prayed to the “Almighty One” on high,
But they couldn’t get an answer
And they couldn’t tell us why.
The Indians held big powwows,
They called on their “Great Spirit” in the sky.
Their medicine man whooped and chanted.
They sure did make a try.
There was wailing in all the lodges
In every teepee and every shack,
But I guess the ‘medicine’ wasn’t working,
For it didn’t bring the berries back.
There is a moral to this story,
Gained from all those bitter tears.
When there is a big crop of berries,
Pick enough for several years.
If I live to be a hundred,
I’ll remember the hardships that prevailed
For everyone in Montana,
The year the huckleberries failed.
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