Lingonberries (puolukka) are starting to be at their best right now, and they are plenty this year, so let's have a lingonberry picking trip next Saturday! Most people regard lingonberries too sour to be eaten as such, but with added sugar they make good juice and excellent jam or marmelade to be eaten along a main dish. Lingonberries also stay good for a long time due to their benzoic acid content.
Let's meet 10.00 on Saturday 27.9.2008 at the ball statue in front of the University main library. From there we will go 6.5 km by bicycle from Linnanmaa north-east along Alakyläntie road to Punaisenladonkangas, located here:
http://kansalaisen.karttapaikka.fi/kartanhaku/osoitehaku.html?x=3433405&...
We will probably be back in Linnanmaa around 17.00, but you can leave earlier if you wish.
Take with you something to eat and drink so you won't run out of energy in the forest. Wear shoes you don't mind getting wet and dirty. It's a long cycling trip, so you should protect your ears from the draft. Bring a bucket for your berries (a plastic bag suffices but is not as convenient). Bring your mobile phone so we can call you if you get lost of us in the forest. If you get lost, just follow the sounds of cars to get back to Alakyläntie road.
If you want to triple the amount of berries you get, buy a berry picking device (marjapoimuri). With the device you will get 10 litres of berries in one or two hours. For one, Halpa Halli in Toppila sells really big plastic ones for about 11 EUR, and smaller ones for 5-7 EUR. I would not buy the wooden ones you see in stores in Kaijonharju and Linnanmaa. Here you see a berry picking device in action:
http://www.cartinafinland.fi/kuvapankki/fi/picture/16963/mustikassa.html
-olli / tel. 050-5254650