A Burst of Nature’s Sugar – Wild Rasberries in SD
Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair. ~Kahlil Gibran
I’ve always been a nature-lover. I’m much happier playing in the dirt than sitting in a spa whch I guess brings me closer to the pigs than to the movie stars, and I’m quite alright with that. One of the many things I love about nature (and dirt) is her ability to astound and surprise no matter how much time you spend with her. She’s like the perfect woman, or man if you will, never worried about how you look, imperfect in every way, and yet always wild, fresh and exciting. It’s true everywhere, and here in the Black Hills of South Dakota we’ve not been dissapointed either.
One of our first surprises has been the rasberries. As it turns out the hills here are bursting with wild rasberries. These unique berries can be traced back to the slopes of Mount Ida in Turkey where the Greeks, as legend has it, first discovered them growing around 1st century BC. Undoubtedly they’ve existed even longer and provide a fabulous array of antioxidants, antimicrobial and anticarcinogenic properties. It’s a little burst of nature’s sugar in a super-nutritious and seductively delicious package and it’s just everywhere. We’ve been revelling in it and even the dog’s gotten into the grove, having learnt to pick the berries herself from the bush.
So, if you haven’t tried playing in the dirt for a while, give yourself the chance to get out there and do it. You never know what nature will honor to give you if you take the time to discover her.
beautifully said!
Thank you!
Jeg nyder at læse dine rejsebreve. Dette var særlig herligt, fordi jeg er så enig med dig.
Du kender mig måske ikke, men jeg er én af din mors gamle skoleveninder.
Mange tak for de soede ord. Glaeder mig at du laeser mine rejsebreve!
Hello. I know this article is years ago but would guess the wild raspberries in South Dakota are still growing where you found them.
Interesting story you have.
I lived in the Black Hills years ago and am here currently on a short solo road trip and remembered foraging for wild raspberries when I used to live here BUT do not recall where we found them. I know. It’s like not wanting to share where I find great amounts of wild asparagus (would hope/guess you discovered that too) but if you wouldn’t mind sharing where you may have found the raspberries in the Black Hills I would be so grateful—and I will read more of your journeytravels as I am trying to find a way to do something similar. Safe travels. Regards, Renee
Hi Renee,
JUST got around to your comment, but YES I remember where we found these. They were all around the National Forest campground Comanche Park (Custer, SD). We found them walking by the RV when we were parked there. I’ve got a review of the campground a few posts on from this one if you want details of the camp itself.
Nina
We have the red and the golden versions. They usually give us fruit any day now but are slow this year because of very little sun.
We always have to be careful when picking blueberries or raspberries or lingonberries or pretty much any.
The bears want first dibs.
So we let them have it.
Hehe…Yeah, no bears to contend with here 🙂 Easier pickin’s