The Himalayan Blackberry (Rubus armeniacus) has an odd and twisted history. Introduced in 1885 by the botanist Luther Burbank, it is perhaps the most invasive species on the west coast. But it produces large, tasty berries and you’ll find them throughout Siskiyou County. They grow in abundance along the Klamath River offering river runners a fun opportunity to forage for edible delights.
Join us for a day on the river while we gather the produce from these plants. We’ll spend a leisurely day picking blackberries, relaxing along the river, eating a delicious lunch, discussing the river’s culture and history, and learning about other useful plants. Oh, and we’ll hit some fun rapids along the way!
At the end of the day, we’ll set up camp at the Tree of Heaven campground where we’ll fix a gourmet meal and utilize some of our harvest to create a succulent dessert over the fire. You’ll keep the rest for whatever culinary project you want to take on at home. We’ll sit around a fire, tell stories, laugh, and play some music.
It’ll be a festive community event, appropriate for all ages, that combines food, education, stories, camping, and whitewater. We’ll spend one day on the river and one night camping. Lunch and dinner will be provided on the first day and breakfast on the second.