Ruth Nakamura Ruth Nakamura · April 9, 2026
Mulberry stains have a way of announcing a good harvest. Left on a deck through a hot afternoon they darken to almost black, and the acrid, sun-baked smell soaks into the wood rather than sitting on top of it. That mess is really a symptom of something else: a mature mulberry produces far more fruit … Read more
Ruth Nakamura · April 8, 2026
Mulberry cultivars including Black Beauty, Chinook, Illini Star, and Ozark Premier each bring distinctive flavor profiles to the kitchen. Fermented mulberry preserves represent a time-honored preservation method that maximizes the potential of the fruit harvest and offers new ways to use mulberries year-round. When I first planted my mulberry trees, I never imagined I’d end … Read more
Ruth Nakamura · April 6, 2026
During my opening years managing mulberry trees on this property, I made just about every rookie mistake possible: I’d let whole branches worth of ripe fruit drop and rot untouched, the deck took on permanent dark stains I’m still trying to scrub away, and the ground beneath my Pakistan variety was basically a mulberry compost … Read more
Ruth Nakamura · April 4, 2026
Forty-one pounds. That’s what my Illinois Everbearing dropped on me across nine days last June, and it’s the number that finally pushed me from “maybe I’ll try a batch someday” into buying real equipment instead of improvising with a bucket and a balloon. Mulberries ferment fast and hard — the sugar content and the sheer … Read more
Ruth Nakamura · April 2, 2026
On my patio right now sits a wine bottle with a label dated three summers ago—the glass still shows the faint purple stain where I set it down after bottling, a ghost-mark of the work that went into it. That bottle is proof of what happens when you take the mountain of mulberries dropping from … Read more
Ruth Nakamura · March 31, 2026
Many people growing mulberries focus primarily on the fruit and overlook the potential of the leaves. Mulberry leaf tea has gained attention in traditional practices and online discussions, and it turns out that the foliage on these trees offers significantly more utility than mere shade and aesthetic appeal. If you’re growing mulberries and haven’t considered … Read more
Ruth Nakamura · March 29, 2026
Medical disclaimer: I am a backyard grower, not a physician or registered dietitian. The information on this page is based on published research and personal experience, but it is not medical advice. If you are managing diabetes, heart disease, pregnancy, or any health condition, consult your healthcare provider before using mulberry products as part of … Read more
Ruth Nakamura · March 27, 2026
Medical disclaimer: I am a backyard grower, not a physician or registered dietitian. The information on this page is based on published research and personal experience, but it is not medical advice. If you are managing diabetes, heart disease, pregnancy, or any health condition, consult your healthcare provider before using mulberry products as part of … Read more
Ruth Nakamura · March 25, 2026
Mulberry leaves offer surprising versatility for brewing tea—as soon as a tree has enough growth to support harvesting without compromising vigor, the leaves can be preserved dried for infusions. Working with homegrown mulberry foliage opens up questions about what separates a genuinely satisfying infusion from something dull and one-dimensional. The choice between loose leaf and … Read more
Ruth Nakamura · March 23, 2026
Medical disclaimer: I am a backyard grower, not a physician or registered dietitian. The information on this page is based on published research and personal experience, but it is not medical advice. If you are managing diabetes, heart disease, pregnancy, or any health condition, consult your healthcare provider before using mulberry products as part of … Read more
