It’s on the side of the road, on overgrown lots and parks, and sometimes in backyards. It’s the Himalayan blackberry. Oregonians may have a thorny relationship with the blackberry, but a Portland group says might as well eat it.
Himalayan blackberry, sometimes also known as Armenian blackberry, is considered an noxious invasive weed in Oregon. It’s a prolific spreader that can outcompete other native plant species and disrupt wildlife habitat with its dense thickets. From June until late fall it produces sweet berries that are edible.
“We know that we’re never going to get rid of all of the invasive blackberries in our state or country,” said Heather Keisler Fornes with the Portland Fruit Tree Project. “But here it is, this really wonderful fruit that we all love to go out and pick. And I think most of us have childhood memories of picking blackberries. It’s probably the easiest, lowest-key urban foraging opportunity.”
Right now, that nonprofit group is running a campaign, Can’t Beat ‘em, Let’s Eat ‘em, a blackberry harvest and removal event. It’s a community series where people can learn about safe foraging and how to remove the blackberry…