How to Pick Elderberries

Elderberries grow wild in the rich soil near wet ditches, dense thickets and along the stream banks east of the Mississippi River from Maine south to Georgia. This tiny little berry packs healthy antioxidants and lots of vitamin C and makes great jelly and pie. Knowing how to pick elderberries and get them off the stem makes gathering these gems a simple lesson in serenity.

Sturdy ladder
Large bowl or bucket
Good finger use
Smaller bowl
Water

Instructions

- 1
  Find one wild elderberry bush and there are probably more nearby. Elderberries like to grow near wild blackberry or black raspberry bushes. One elderberry plant at full maturity can grow enough berries to feed a typical family of four.
- 2
  
  Pick the ripest berries on the bush first. Elderberries fully ripen from August to October, depending on the latitude and tend to be the darkest purple/black berries growing on the top of the bush or in the sun most hours of the day.
- 3
  Use a sturdy ladder on level ground to reach high on the bush or carefully pull down the branches toward yourself while standing on the ground. The elderberry wood is soft and flexible when healthy.
- 4
  
  Snap off the individual elderberry cluster at the base of the stem where it attaches to the branch. Ripe berry clusters will break off easily.
- 5
  Place the elderberry clusters carefully into a large bowl or bucket until the bucket is full. Try not to squash the berries.
- 6
  
  Leave elderberry clusters on the bush that are unripe (green or shades of red) so they can continue ripening to the dark purple color.
- 7
  Find a relaxing spot and place a clean bowl on your lap or the kitchen table to catch the berries picked from their stems. You will need to use both hands over the bowl to pick the berries.
- 8
  
  Grasp an elderberry cluster with one hand and, using the fingers on the other hand, slowly roll the berries off their stems into the palm of the same hand. Let the berries fall into the bowl below. Roll the fingers, without squeezing.
- 9
  Pick all of the ripe berries off each elderberry cluster. Leave green berries, partially ripe ones, moldy or overripe berries on the stem.
- 10
  Discard the empty stem and bad berries and repeat the same steps until done. Sift through the cleaned berries again and discard anymore bad berries. Pick out more stems.
- 11
  Rinse the elderberries thoroughly with water after picking and before cooking or eating.

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