Ruth Nakamura · January 14, 2026
Standing in front of my Pakistan mulberry on a mid-June morning—the one planted near the back fence that consistently outproduces every other cultivar I’m growing—I found myself staring at nearly thirty pounds of ripe fruit hanging from the branches. The question wasn’t whether to preserve them; it was how to preserve them in a way … Read more
Ruth Nakamura · January 12, 2026
Mulberry vinegar left unattended will spoil faster than you’d think. On my property, where nothing gets wasted, a heavy fruit drop becomes both a gift and a logistical puzzle — and fermentation is one of the most elegant solutions that exists. My mulberries pull their weight in three distinct ways: they feed me, they host … Read more
Ruth Nakamura · January 10, 2026
If I’m being completely honest, my first attempt at propagating cuttings from my mulberry ended in failure. The second try also didn’t take. But that third go-around? Success — and suddenly I had doubled my trees. Over the years I’ve kept experimenting, and now I’m standing in my yard looking at three mature mulberries that … Read more
Ruth Nakamura · January 8, 2026
My name is Ruth Nakamura, and I’ve spent the last 15 years cultivating a backyard orchard in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, focusing primarily on mulberries. When I first started my journey, I was drawn in by the sweet, juicy berries and the thrill of growing something unique. Over the years, I’ve planted and nurtured 12 … Read more
Ruth Nakamura · January 6, 2026
My hands are stained purple up to my elbows. It’s mid-July, and my beloved Pakistan mulberry is shedding fruit faster than I can pick it. My daughter is already asking what we’re making with today’s haul. This is the moment that separates a manageable harvest from complete chaos—the difference between preserving what I’ve grown and … Read more
Ruth Nakamura · January 4, 2026
Everyone tells you that fermenting fruit at home requires fancy equipment and years of experience. I’d argue that’s mostly nonsense—what actually matters is understanding why certain basic tools exist before you skip them. My first batch failed catastrophically because I ignored every single one of them. By my second attempt, working with the right gear … Read more
Ruth Nakamura · January 3, 2026
A single mature mulberry tree on my property yielded 47 pounds of fruit across one five-day window last July—and that was after I’d already missed the first flush because I was traveling. That kind of sudden glut is exactly why I stopped relying on freezer space and jam-making alone. Mulberries demand a preservation method that … Read more
Ruth Nakamura · January 1, 2026
Want to know what happens when you bottle up peak-season mulberry flavor and stretch it across twelve months of cooking? You stop wasting a single berry, and you unlock uses you probably never imagined. That’s exactly why mulberry syrup has become my anchor preservation project — it’s not just jam or cordial, it’s the ingredient … Read more
Ruth Nakamura · December 30, 2025
A couple of summers back, I filled my kitchen sink with what I thought would be a straightforward afternoon of jelly-making. Four hours later, I was standing there with cloudy, separated juice and a ruined batch of mulberries that should have been stunning. The problem wasn’t the fruit or the recipe — it was that … Read more
Ruth Nakamura · December 28, 2025
I’m Ruth Nakamura, and I’ve been growing mulberries in my backyard orchard here in the Pacific Northwest for about 15 years. Over the years, I’ve cultivated a diverse collection of 12 mulberry cultivars, including Black Beauty, Chinook, Illini Star, and Ozark Premier. Each one has its own quirks and charms, and I’ve learned a lot … Read more
