Picked and Slayed

Or, maybe, picked and hacked. Either way, not my standard method for blackberrying. But, since the bad back meant I didn't clear and plant the veg. patch in the spring, I thought I'd leave the rampant brambles to do their thing and harvest and clear at the same time. Just in time, too. There's a lot gone over, already, even earlier than usual. So, perhaps a quarter (if I'm lucky) of the patch clear and sufficient berries for a pear and blackberry crumble.

Major hazard throughout: pecks. It's such a seductively romantic picture--working in the garden surrounded by ones little flock of fowl--until you trip on them, slip on their crap, and find your ankles and toes are tempting nibbles.