Sustainable crafting: How to make wild blackberry ink

Is it just me, or is it sometimes the simplest things that make the best memories?

Earlier this week I put down the endless to-do list, ignored the fence that needs mending, and spent an hour picking blackberries with my mum Lucy and my little boy. There’s something so mindful about wandering along the hedgerows, letting your eyes take in all the hedgy nooks and crannies.

I feel like blackberry picking is a lesson in slowing down and having patience (I sometimes struggle with both!). You can’t rush as you search the bramble vines for just the right berries. You know the ones… the juicy purpley-black ones that come away from the stem as soon as you start to pull.

On this occasion, our blackberry haul (the one’s that weren’t immediately eaten!) went on to be a blackberry & apple crumble, but often times we pick the slightly over-ripe ones to make something even cooler than jam or crumble… wild blackberry ink!

Lucy makes this ink every year for our Art in the Wild workshops and now you can try it too! Read below for a simple how-to, and if you try this yourself, please share the results via email or Instagram, we’d LOVE to see what you make!

Blackberries in Irish Folklore

But first, let’s talk for a second about blackberries and brambles, which are woven into Irish folklore, with stories that blend nature, magic, and a touch of caution too!

Long ago, blackberries were believed to be more than just a tasty snack; they were thought to carry a bit of otherworldly power. The bramble bushes, with their thorny, twisting vines, were seen as protective barriers, and were said to ward off evil spirits (and unwanted visitors) if planted around your home.

And one of my favourite bits of folklore around blackberries involves the Púca, a mischievous spirit that would roam the countryside as the seasons turned from summer to autumn. It’s said that after September 29th, the feast of Michaelmas, the Púca would spit on the blackberries and make them bitter and inedible. This probably stemmed from the fact that later in the season, as the berries over ripen, they just aren’t nice to eat anymore! BUT… they are still perfect for making into art. Sketch them, rub them onto paper, or make ink with our recipe – I’m sure the Púca won’t mind at all!

How to make wild blackberry ink

Step 1: Pick fresh berries (or off-season, you can use frozen berries!). When foraging for blackberries, remember to be gentle and only take what you need. As a rule, we always make sure to gather a small amount of berries off of many different plants, so we can be sure we’re leaving the majority for wildlife and reseeding.

Step 2: Cook the berries in a pan with a little bit of water (so they don’t burn), for about 15min

Step 3: Mash the berries with a potato masher (or fork or whatever you have!)

Step 4: Strain through a sieve into a bowl

Step 5: Strain the liquid again through a muslin cloth (or coffee filter) at least once. Top tip: wear gloves or your hands will be stained for quite some time!

Step 6: For every 1 cup of liquid you produce, stir in 1 tsp of salt, and 1 tsp of white vinegar

Step 7: And just like that, you’ve got yourself some homemade wild ink! Store in a sterilised glass jar away from direct sunlight – your ink should last for at least 6 months!

Step 8: Now, here’s the fun part—putting that ink to good use! It works amazing as an ink wash to add some colour to a drawing, or why not try and whittle yourself a quill from a stick, and try writing with it?! Enjoy the process and let your imagination run wild!

I hope this has inspired you to get out there, explore nature, and embrace your inner creative spirit. There’s something truly special about making your own ink from foraged blackberries. It’s like tapping into a time when every part of nature was believed to carry a bit of the mystical with it. And please do share your results with us on our Instagram page, we’d LOVE to see what you create!

And if you’d like to learn many more ways you can be creative in nature, check out our Art in the Wild workshops!

Happy crafting!

~ Sophie