Locomotoring

My relationship with the mulberry tree matured into something beautiful this year. We had planted the tree nearly seven years ago. I remember our surprise upon learning that Pakistani mulberry grows well in Redwood City. If we are lucky, the mulberry tree will live to be 150. If we are careful, it will stay pruned to a manageable size. Previous fruiting seasons, our wild squirrels would jump up on the fruit laden branches and rid them off the fruits. This year, they decided to leave the tree alone and there is more bird activity instead. The birds too like sitting on the mulberry branches and picking off the fruits. But unlike the squirrels, they pick what they eat. They are nice guests too, they pick the fruits that fall on the floor.

Collecting mulberry squirrel style is a thing i.e., shake the tree vigorously and collect from the tree floor. I like collecting bird style. This year, I prioritized fruit gathering and picked close to 20 pounds of fruit. The ripe ones come off as soon as you touch them – quite fun. Sometimes the fruit lands on you instead with gentle nudge. I found myself imagining the number of berries I could eat if I simply lay under the tree with my mouth open.

We did two batches of jam. Until the first jam session successful concluded, I was anxious. Mulberries, like other berries, are delicate. They squish easily, rot rapidly etc etc. Growing fruit trees, and rare ones at that, and not being able to handle the ultra short fruiting season makes one feel unaligned with nature. This year, I felt great with every harvest and I prioritized picking every morning. I even figured out how to pre-process the weekly harvest until there were enough to make a batch of jam on the weekend. After the first batch of the jam, I mentally released the tree to the wild creatures. Some for me, some for them and we will all live happily every after. Since then, there has been more jam and some salt fermentation too.