Foraging - Natures Food

flaire

PinkPeach wrote: »

There is a hazelnut tree by my mums house so am tempted to collect some but have no idea what time of year they are ready and also what to do with them!

I've got a hazel tree in my garden and in the high winds we've had recently quite a few nuts were blown off. I cracked one open and the kernel inside was tiny and undeveloped.

According to Richard Mabey's 'Food for Free' the best time to collect hazel nuts is from late August to October.

I fear I will have a battle with the squirrels to harvest, but I shall prevail. I've made a deal with them that I get the nuts on the lower branches and they can have the higher ones. Hope they keep to their side of the bargain!

Gothicfairy

I love hazel nuts, there is a nasty grotty pub local to me which I force hubby into around the begining of October as they have a massive hazel tree in the car park and I leave him in the bar with a pint while I go and throw sticks at the tree trying to look all innocent and not at all dodgy.
I am quite sure people think I am some sort of mad bag lady.
I also do a good line in Rowan picking from the layby here and I have been know to go for a walk with a spade as I found some wild horseraddish.

I have a massive Lush black canvas bag that I take everywhere with me ( folds up into a pocket or handbag) and is big enough for fruit and leaves but can look odd with half a horseraddish plant sticking out the side on the bus..lol


I have elder in my garden and use the flowers ( love them in a sweet batter) I use the berries as they make are really nice wine which tastes a bit like desert wine.
I also have a damsen and plumb tree which when the fruit is good makes a wonderful chutney or jam and of course pies but when it is starting to turn it also makes a lovely wine.
I am so lazy in the garden that I have my own blackberries now which are great and it has the added bonus of keeping my neighbours kids out of my garden.

I am think of trying snails now as I seem to have so many of them and if you purge them it looks like they can be eaten safely.

gailey_2

Gothicfairy wrote: »

I love hazel nuts, there is a nasty grotty pub local to me which I force hubby into around the begining of October as they have a massive hazel tree in the car park and I leave him in the bar with a pint while I go and throw sticks at the tree trying to look all innocent and not at all dodgy.
I am quite sure people think I am some sort of mad bag lady.
I also do a good line in Rowan picking from the layby here and I have been know to go for a walk with a spade as I found some wild horseraddish.

I have a massive Lush black canvas bag that I take everywhere with me ( folds up into a pocket or handbag) and is big enough for fruit and leaves but can look odd with half a horseraddish plant sticking out the side on the bus..lol


I have elder in my garden and use the flowers ( love them in a sweet batter) I use the berries as they make are really nice wine which tastes a bit like desert wine.
I also have a damsen and plumb tree which when the fruit is good makes a wonderful chutney or jam and of course pies but when it is starting to turn it also makes a lovely wine.
I am so lazy in the garden that I have my own blackberries now which are great and it has the added bonus of keeping my neighbours kids out of my garden.

I am think of trying snails now as I seem to have so many of them and if you purge them it looks like they can be eaten safely.

:rotfl:dodgy mad bag lasy comment.

went past woman prodding hedge earlier hubby asked me what she was after I was like no idea as looked at that hedge last week and think only things edible were sloe berries, blackberries not ready here.

I must admit when picking on cyclepath I get strange looks from passers by, feel even more self concious on picking on busy roads and estate but have to as few cherry trees and apple trees on our estate and plums on main road.

Spotted so many hazlenuts trees round here hoping for bumper harvest blackberries should be good too.
Dad said not to bother with rosehips as not very exiting things to do with them.
Think tree in gardens crabapple what does the jelly go with pork.anything else good with crabapple.

So with the nettles go for the baby leaves not picked at certain time of year.

hoping to go foraging with sister in few weeks up mountain as ever since I saw river cottage I been lusting after gorse to make beer and the winberries be so useful in desserts as got jaimie bun recipie.

Gothicfairy

I can't agree with your dad about Rosehips as it is great as cordial/ syrup. I like it over vanilla ice cream or with lemonade. I like it also added to a little amount of Pimms but that is a personal thing, no one else seems to like that.


This is one of my fav sites : http://www.cottagesmallholder.com/kateys-best-rosehip-syrup-recipe-121

I use crabapples for the pectin to thicken Chili Jam and chutneys as I find it does not add much if anything to the taste but they seem to have far more pectin then normal cooking apples and set things better.

Gigervamp

Rosehip syrup is full of vitamin C and was given to children during the war years because of that.

Gailey, did those rosehips look like this? If so, they are indeed rosehips.

floyd

Gothicfairy wrote: »

This is one of my fav sites : http://www.cottagesmallholder.com/kateys-best-rosehip-syrup-recipe-121

I absolutely adore this site, everything I've made from the recipes has always worked beautifully

rocketdog_2

purplepixi wrote: »

Hi,
There are literally hundreds of edible wild plants, and I'd encouage you to have a look around (even if its just for dandelions!), and try some.
.

Sorry - but I just keep thinking of all the dogs weeing on the dandelions

[Deleted User]

am I right in thinking back to when my late ma-in-law was alive and she would sent the kids out blackberrying and when they came home with a pail of berries she would soak them in salt to get rid of any 'creepy crawlies' as you do with Broccolli then rinse under running cold water .

ceridwen

Gothicfairy wrote: »

I love hazel nuts, there is a nasty grotty pub local to me which I force hubby into around the begining of October as they have a massive hazel tree in the car park and I leave him in the bar with a pint while I go and throw sticks at the tree trying to look all innocent and not at all dodgy.
I am quite sure people think I am some sort of mad bag lady.
I also do a good line in Rowan picking from the layby here and I have been know to go for a walk with a spade as I found some wild horseraddish.

I have a massive Lush black canvas bag that I take everywhere with me ( folds up into a pocket or handbag) and is big enough for fruit and leaves but can look odd with half a horseraddish plant sticking out the side on the bus..lol


I have elder in my garden and use the flowers ( love them in a sweet batter) I use the berries as they make are really nice wine which tastes a bit like desert wine.
I also have a damsen and plumb tree which when the fruit is good makes a wonderful chutney or jam and of course pies but when it is starting to turn it also makes a lovely wine.
I am so lazy in the garden that I have my own blackberries now which are great and it has the added bonus of keeping my neighbours kids out of my garden.

I am think of trying snails now as I seem to have so many of them and if you purge them it looks like they can be eaten safely.

Ummm....can I nip in here and say, on behalf of the tree, "PLEASE don't throw sticks at me". I do get upset when I see evidence that someone has been battering a tree around in order to get some food from it......:(:mad:

floyd

JackieO wrote: »

am I right in thinking back to when my late ma-in-law was alive and she would sent the kids out blackberrying and when they came home with a pail of berries she would soak them in salt to get rid of any 'creepy crawlies' as you do with Broccolli then rinse under running cold water .

Thats what I do, heavily salted water overnight then a heavy rinse in cold water. MIL had never done it until I showed her what came out of them :rotfl:
The earlier ones dont tend to have any/many maggots in them, its only the later ones and you can tell by looking at the 'core' part if they are likely to be home to a beastie as it will be a little sunken and brownish or have a weeny hole in it