One pair of plants the Japanese beetles have not yet discovered are the goji berries we planted in the vineyard two years ago.
The vines are getting longer and starting to run on the ground, so we’ll be putting a row of wire up soon to make sure they have somewhere to ramble.
I’ve only ever had dried goji berries and the few puny ones that we got off the plant last year. They have a slightly bitter taste. Kind of like a cherry/cranberry/raisin combo. The boys and I like them, but we like a slightly sour berry.
The real benefit of these little pill shaped fruits is vitamins and nutrition they provide. The been shown to boost the immune system, improve brain activity and protect against cancer and heart disease.
They are packed with vitamin C, B2 and A and contain antioxidants like iron and selenium. In short, they are a superfood.
We’ve tried them out of hand. They’d probably be good in cereal or oatmeal too. Many people make a tea out of the berries. We may try that if we get enough this year. The plants are still pretty small, so we may just eat them off the vine again.
Small, delicate and wispy
Quietly growing vines
Leaves not brown and crispy
Flowers and leaves on a vine
Fruit oblong and rosy
Tasty and juicy too
Clumped together and cozy
A delicate, reddish hue
a pinch of homestead 