Berries from the woods

[Anonymous]

So we live in an apt complex with nice lawns and mature trees. It's been here a long time. I noticed that along the perimeter there are many thorny bushes - and it turns out they are raspberry bushes. There are TONS of them. I picked some, washed them, and me and the kids ate some (a handful). DH is freaking out because 'they might spray the grass' (note: they don't spray the grass, at least that I've seen - there are no signs or anything - and they don't even water it; it's been here 40 years). DH says 'I don't want you giving the kids the fruit since it surely has chemicals'. My argument that all the non-organic fruit we eat being sprayed with chemicals anyways didn't convince him.

Opinions? In the next week there will be probably 3 pints of raspberries and we LOVE berries...I'll probably pick them either way but what is your opinion?

[Anonymous]

I'd eat them. In fact, my family generally goes on a drive this time of year out to the boonies and finds raspberries along the side of the road and we fill BUCKETS.

People aren't going to waste money spraying raspberry bushes on the perimeter of an older property unless there's a tick/mosquito issue. You can also always casually ask the management office if they spray.

[Anonymous]

Of course you can eat them.

[Anonymous]

We eat the blackberries in our condo parking lot in Tysons next to the recycling dumpster - right from the tree too.

And I ate an apple from a tree on the waterfront in Baltimore City.

I'm alive.

trust me - no spraying happens unless someone pays big $$$$ for it.

[Anonymous]

I've lived a sheltered life. I didn't know anyone besides someone from a foreign country who ate fruit off of random trees when out and about. All the fruit trees in our neighborhood were poisonous.

[Anonymous]

Oh, please. Your husband needs to chill out. Eating berries off the bushes are a wonderful childhood memory for me and my children now enjoy berry season, too.

[Anonymous]

You DH is pretty strange. He's OK eating industrially grown fruits and veggies, but this freaks him out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've lived a sheltered life. I didn't know anyone besides someone from a foreign country who ate fruit off of random trees when out and about. All the fruit trees in our neighborhood were poisonous.

OP here - well I think it's different when you realize what is poisonous and what isn't (I can). I grew up in the sticks and this was a normal part of summer!

Good to know I'm not alone They are delicious - small and tart and sweet and so flavorful!

Funny thing is, DH lives almost entirely on bread, cheese, and fried things. So...yeah.