Lavender Mulberry Jam

 

If you have a mulberry tree or access to one, you know!  They are plentiful, sweet, and amazing!!!  

This was my first year experiencing the wonderfulness of mulberries!!!  I have been reading about how they are a SUPERFOOD!!!  We moved into a two acre home with five beautiful mature mulberry trees.  Being an avid gardener and having gardener friends, we also grow/have access to a lot of lavender.  I am growing lemons, but being in Zone 7, and attempting indoor cultivation, we had to purchase lemons.  

But the Honey....  The honey is from our wonderful honeybees!  Honeybees are easier to keep than you would think.  They do require some maintenance to keep them healthy, but if you garden and are allowed, please consider keeping bees!  They are amazing and will reward you beyond what you would expect!  We have had up to six hives at a time...  at the moment my day job has been a tad more demanding than most, so I only have one hive.   

Harvesting mulberries takes a bit of skill...  more like tricks of the trade...  they grow like blackberries but up in a tall tree.  

I put down a frost row cover (could also be an old sheet or a tarp).

Then I use a bird feeder stand to shake the tree up high.  

And then we get the goodies!  These are purple and white mulberries!

You wash them/soak them in water prior to using them.  There are little stems, they are edible.  You can either strain them or grind them up.

Here's my recipe:

4 cups Mulberries washed (stemmed if you choose)
1 cup honey
4 lavender sprigs
Juice of one lemon

1.  (Optional) Put the mulberries, honey and lavender together in a pot at room temperature for several hours until the mulberries start to loose their juices.  Don't add the lemon yet.    

2.  Bring the mixture to a low boil for approximately 20 - 30 minutes.

3.  Add the lemon juice.  

4.  Use a hand blender or strain the mixture through a sieve.  This will either blend in the stems and some of the seeds or strain them out.

5.  Place the mixture into bottles.  If you will use within the next month or so, place in the fridge.  If you want to save it, can according to recommended canning practices.