The collection of wild berries is a traditional craft that has survived to this day. Cranberries, lingonberries, blueberries are not only a delicious treat, but also rich in vitamins and rare trace elements. They have long been used in folk medicine. Their places of growth are removed from industrial enterprises, which makes them an environmentally friendly product. And the term “wild” itself implies the absence of residues of fertilizers and especially GMOs.
Hand picking berries
Unfortunately, the remoteness of the berry makes it difficult to collect them. Marshland, forest jungle, mosquitoes and midges also do not add pleasure to this process. But the main difficulty lies in the size of these berries, it rarely reaches 10 mm, and even less in the northern regions. Historically, wild berries are picked by hand, so the fruits are less damaged, and fewer leaves and twigs fall into the baskets. However, this method has a very low efficiency, even an experienced berry in a good year may take more than one hour to collect the treasured bucket. A less agile collector is unlikely to pick up a bucket in a day.
Wild berry harvesters
In order to somehow increase the efficiency of manual collection, use special harvesters for picking berries or a robbery. In a simplified form, this device is nothing more than a scoop with a comb on the end. The tooth pitch of the comb should be slightly smaller than the diameter of the average ripe berry. The principle of operation of the robber is simple: the teeth pass through the branches and foliage of the berry bush, and the stuck fruits slide into a scoop. If the tooth pitch is selected correctly and the collector works neatly, then in an hour it is quite possible to collect a bucket. It is important not to rush, so as not to damage the branches of the berry tangled in the crest. Combine harvesters are commercially available or made at home. Basically, these devices are made of sheet metal, wood or plastic. Which material is better, everyone determines for himself, the main thing is that the robber is lightweight and fits comfortably in his hand. Then, according to reviews, picking berries will not be so tiring.
Harvester Selection
Now it’s quite simple to purchase a harvester for picking berries. Moscow, Vologda, Yekaterinburg - in almost every major city where there is an enterprise for plastic molding, these simple devices are produced. First of all, you should pay attention to the products of regional producers, since they take into account the characteristics of the growth of berries and their size in your region. It is important to note that plastic harvesters for picking berries have several advantages over metal and wood: they are completely not affected by moisture, do not change their appearance from the juice of berries, less damage to berries due to rounded shapes. A metal robbery, with proper handling, will last almost forever (reviews confirm this). However, over time, water and juice of berries can lead to oxidation of the metal.
According to the design, the robbers can vary not only in shape and design, but also in the width of the comb and the capacity of the scoop. Large robbers are more effective on level ground with a uniform berry, small ones when harvested on hummocks and overgrown shrubs.
Pay attention to the presence of a curtain, it will not allow the rash of already picked berries from the container.
Import Harvesters
We should also dwell on imported devices. Our northern neighbors are famous for their respect for nature. The Finnish berry harvester is designed to maximize berry picking. The comb of such products is made rounded and does not tear leaves and branches of the berry. These robbers are made of high quality plastic and have an attractive design.
Homemade robbery
Making a harvester for picking berries with your own hands is quite simple. You must have a minimum set of locksmith tools, and, of course, the skill to work with it. Harvesters for picking berries at home are made either from sheet metal or from wood. You can make a plastic device, but, as reviews show, connecting plastic parts is quite difficult.
Metal harvester
The best solution for a metal rake is aluminum sheet, this metal is very light and not subject to corrosion. But an ordinary galvanized sheet is suitable. Drawings of the harvester for picking berries can be found in specialized sources or use the following. The template is carefully transferred to a sheet of metal, having previously verified all sizes. Using scissors for metal, a scan of the scoop body is cut out. Further, the sweep is bent in a vice, the ends of the workpiece are overlapped and joined on rivets. If there is no skill in bending metal, the side walls and the top can be done in separate parts, also connecting them with rivets. From the steel wire with a diameter of 1-3 mm (depending on the rigidity of the available material), the teeth of the comb are made, which are also the bottom of our scoop. Their step is chosen a little less than the diameter of the berries that are planned to be collected. After assembling the comb, it is necessary to hinge the shutter that overlaps the vent of the scoop and prevents spontaneous rash of the collected berries. The robber is ready - all that remains is to attach the handle. The assembled device can be additionally painted with a helmet for metal, having previously degreased it.
Wood robbery
Wood is an excellent material to make a harvester for picking berries with your own hands. Drawings of such a device are easy to draw on their own, since all the details have a simple shape. Thin boards up to 10 mm thick are suitable for a robbery. Details are cut out with a jigsaw or a hacksaw with a small tooth. It is convenient to saw the comb on a circular saw, making even cuts 4-5 mm wide. But you can get by with a jigsaw, making 2 washed down on each groove and trying not to damage the previously sawn teeth. Finished parts are cleaned with sandpaper. The connection of parts is carried out by self-tapping screws, pre-drilling holes so as not to split thin-walled parts. Before installation, the joints of parts can be coated with wood glue, for example PVA. A handle can be attached to the finished structure, which can be made of wood, strips of metal or use a finished furniture or door handle. It is advisable to process the finished robber with protective impregnation for wood or varnish in order to extend its service life.
Wood is a traditional material for creativity. Woodcarvers did not pass by these devices, creating real carved works of art. There are robbers carved from whole pieces of wood and decorated with intricate carvings. Such a combine can serve as an excellent gift for an avid berry.