Our property is 2.5 acres, the back one-quarter of which is a swampy area with a “creek”, the foundation of the old barn, and scrubby trees & burdocks. But, near the edge of this bramble lie some wild blackberry bushes.

The berries ripen in late August and so last week we picked a bunch and, because we had company, I decided to make them into a pie. Aren’t they beautiful in their natural state? And they are so sweet this year! Yum………

Bill had returned from southern Ontario the week before, bearing fresh Niagara peaches. I try to get these every year but am not always successful – it’s dependent on the timing of visitors.

We can buy “Niagara peaches” here, but they have been gassed for the trip and never ripen properly. I just love to take a fresh, ripe peach & bite into it & let the juices dribble down my chin. It’s a summer delight, and the only way I can get it is to have peaches brought from Ontario by friends or family.

I had the last of the Niagara peaches in the fridge – some just starting to go soft in spots, so I decided to add them to the pie. I followed a recipe in Bubby’s Homemade Pies.

I’d love to be able to grow my own peaches, but the climate here doesn’t allow. Maybe next year, I’ll get order fresh Oregon peaches on the web.

Luscious fruit pie ready for the top crust:

If you want to bake your own fruit pie, I highly recommend the book I used. I’d love to have a pretty ceramic pie plate, but mine is a glass dish that I got in a box lot at a country auction. It works just fine, but doesn’t look quite as nice before I put the pie in it!

Certainly, you can grow berries in urban areas, depending on your lot size, but they do take up valuable gardening room. If you buy a country property of an acre or more, you’ll likely find something edible growing wild. If it’s not blackberries, plant your own black raspberries.

Here’s my sad looking crust – but the pie tasted great! One more benefit of country living.

Technorati Tags: Bubby’s homemade pies, Ron Silver, Jen Bervin, Oregon peaches, Niagara peaches, peach juice, glass pie plate, ceramic pie plate, grow your own peaches, grow your own blackberries, black raspberries, blackberry pie, wild blackberries