I use metal tongs to harvest the prickly pear fruits, they come right off when fully ripe. Then I line them up on a grill grate and use a blow torch to burn off all the glochids, just until the skin start to pull away from the flesh and bubble. (This makes it much easier for peeling later!) I put the torched fruits in a bucket then rinse them a few times with water. This is the best method I’ve ever tried for easier processing and less pokes! Ive tried gloves and just the regular peeling method and it’s always so painful lol. Gloves are useless after bc they are full of glochids that get you later when you use them again! 😅 The glochids can get all over clothes etc, so I don’t even bring them indoors until after the burning/rinsing process…Peels come off good if you cut off both ends first then slice vertically down the side just enough to get that skin to peel right off. I like to make fresh juice, jelly and syrup. Also can peel them and stick them in a freezer bag to keep for smoothies, just make sure to deseed them before adding to your smoothie! Prickly pear lemonade is also amazing! Its a task for sure! But sooo worth it! We have a bounty from the wild here and I love the fall season for harvesting! I can up that goodness for all season long ! 😋 I really hope this helps for your next harvest! Enjoy! Many blessings to you all!! So much love from Arizona! 🌻🏜️🌵💖🌞
I personally pick my prickly pear fruit (tuna) using my longer-handled hand pruners or even grass shears. I place a low cardboard fruit box or a low-sided plastic bin under the plant and let the fruit drop into that. I don't use baskets or fabric bags because the thorns get stuck in those. The less I have to handle the thorny bits, the better! I've seen people use channel lock pliers too, but those always seem to be harder for me to locate around here. I just rinse my fruit off and don't bother peeling it. I'm crushing them up and just using the strained juice so I don't feel the need to peel them. I know where my fruit came from and what was not sprayed on it. I do make sure to strain the juice very very VERY carefully, because some of the thorns are smaller than hairs. I have used paper filters most of the time, but there are reusable synthetic and metal ones that can possibly be small enough of a mesh to work. I just know the paper ones work from experience. Shiner (some summers) makes a prickly pear-infused bock beer that I love. If I could stock up on it when they make it, I would. Sadly it isn't like wine and you can't store in unrefrigerated for years at a time. I have fermented some of the juice as a shrub and enjoyed the results. It does benefit from a little tang like a vinegar or a citrus. It also works well in a jelly with some fruity hot peppers like habanero. My friend made shortbread cookies using the juice along with cracked black pepper that shouldn't have worked (in my mind anyway) but did work beautifully. No, she won't share the recipe. I asked.
With those cactus apples if you take a torch with you and burn the needles off before you cut them of the cactus and it makes them easier to peel. However if you just put them in a pan and add water and boil them and then just smush them and use the juice for jelly
You did show some thumb action lol but then you showed using the knife. Glad to hear that it was easy enough! I love both of your energies....very nice. Thank you!!@@HoneybeeHollowGardens
Beautiful video. Loved the vibrant juice making! 💕💕💕💕
Pawpaw always reminds me of Baloo singing how to pick them in Jungle Book.
Thanks Wil 🎃👍
Great video as always. We cut an empty plastic water bottle in half to pick fruit, so as not to get stuck! Jams or syrup is so very good.
That's a good idea
Love your love for mushies!
Nicely done on the cacti fruit!
They looked perfect!!
Toasted marshmallow mushrooms ❤, they looked sweet 😂 when they were on the tree. Not so much when they were black.
Tasty tho
Cool! Always love watching you.
Wil you scare me eating those funky shrooms! 🤢
The prickly pear juice looks so gooood!
Funky mushrooms taste so good
❤
I use metal tongs to harvest the prickly pear fruits, they come right off when fully ripe. Then I line them up on a grill grate and use a blow torch to burn off all the glochids, just until the skin start to pull away from the flesh and bubble. (This makes it much easier for peeling later!) I put the torched fruits in a bucket then rinse them a few times with water. This is the best method I’ve ever tried for easier processing and less pokes! Ive tried gloves and just the regular peeling method and it’s always so painful lol. Gloves are useless after bc they are full of glochids that get you later when you use them again! 😅
The glochids can get all over clothes etc, so I don’t even bring them indoors until after the burning/rinsing process…Peels come off good if you cut off both ends first then slice vertically down the side just enough to get that skin to peel right off. I like to make fresh juice, jelly and syrup. Also can peel them and stick them in a freezer bag to keep for smoothies, just make sure to deseed them before adding to your smoothie! Prickly pear lemonade is also amazing!
Its a task for sure! But sooo worth it! We have a bounty from the wild here and I love the fall season for harvesting! I can up that goodness for all season long ! 😋
I really hope this helps for your next harvest! Enjoy! Many blessings to you all!!
So much love from Arizona!
🌻🏜️🌵💖🌞
They were delicious. Thank you!
I personally pick my prickly pear fruit (tuna) using my longer-handled hand pruners or even grass shears. I place a low cardboard fruit box or a low-sided plastic bin under the plant and let the fruit drop into that. I don't use baskets or fabric bags because the thorns get stuck in those. The less I have to handle the thorny bits, the better! I've seen people use channel lock pliers too, but those always seem to be harder for me to locate around here.
I just rinse my fruit off and don't bother peeling it. I'm crushing them up and just using the strained juice so I don't feel the need to peel them. I know where my fruit came from and what was not sprayed on it. I do make sure to strain the juice very very VERY carefully, because some of the thorns are smaller than hairs. I have used paper filters most of the time, but there are reusable synthetic and metal ones that can possibly be small enough of a mesh to work. I just know the paper ones work from experience.
Shiner (some summers) makes a prickly pear-infused bock beer that I love. If I could stock up on it when they make it, I would. Sadly it isn't like wine and you can't store in unrefrigerated for years at a time. I have fermented some of the juice as a shrub and enjoyed the results. It does benefit from a little tang like a vinegar or a citrus. It also works well in a jelly with some fruity hot peppers like habanero. My friend made shortbread cookies using the juice along with cracked black pepper that shouldn't have worked (in my mind anyway) but did work beautifully. No, she won't share the recipe. I asked.
Yeah I shoulda used some tongs or something
With those cactus apples if you take a torch with you and burn the needles off before you cut them of the cactus and it makes them easier to peel. However if you just put them in a pan and add water and boil them and then just smush them and use the juice for jelly
A lot of folks suggested that technique
Oh gosh I’m sorry I didn’t even read the comments.
Its okay lol, it might not be in these comments. I did a community post earlier in the week asking how to deal with them @@mtebbetts2
What an amazing video. Thanks for sharing ❤😊
Use a grapefruit spoon for your cacti fruit
I was going to suggest just a tablespoon to scoop it out in one go, like an avocado.
I wonder if you could use the hot water method that takes skin off tomatoes, for the prickly pear 🤷♀️
Maybe, I didn’t get a clip of it but if you dig your fingers into the skin while peeling most does come off. I got quick at the end there
You did show some thumb action lol but then you showed using the knife. Glad to hear that it was easy enough! I love both of your energies....very nice. Thank you!!@@HoneybeeHollowGardens
Leather gloves
Do you have a video that talks about all the mushrooms you use and why or for what purpose you choose them. Taste vs medicinal vs nutritional??
I do not. ‘Learn your land’ on TH-cam has a lot of good specific info. Anna Mchugh is good too
Can I use pine in my beds? We don't have you kind of straw.
Most people might would say it’d make your beds acidic but it’s better than nothing IMHO , blueberries would love it
Okay - so were your fingers permanently stained from the prickly pears? 🤣
It wasn't bad actually. Walnut stain is the worst ever
Loved the prickly pear segment. Do you think it will make good jelly?
They make delicious jelly!! You can use the seeds or strain them, completely up to your preference!
Yes Jess actually made a jam out of this juice she titled it Tuna Jelly
@@saltybunbun thank you!
@@HoneybeeHollowGardens thank you