Foraging - Natures Food

ceridwen

Just checked - foxes ARE edible.

- let meat lie overnight in salted water with a bit of vinegar in it.
- next day - cook on low heat for 4 hours or so or cut in cubes and do in a pressure pot (trans: pressure cooker?) for about 1 hour
- can be used in stew with potatoes and vegetables (NB: too tough to fry or barbeque).

I've just coined a new phrase "You can take the girl out of the country - but you can't take the country out of the girl"....

Gigervamp

I wouldn't worry too much about being attacked by a fox. When I lived in London I saw foxes all the time and never in my 36 years there had a problem with any of them. My daughter has a fox set at the bottom of her garden and has enjoyed watching this years cubs playing.

ceridwen

...and I've just found a specific recipe for foxmeat:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/recipes/article2049184.ece

...errr..I couldnt bring myself to eat meat....any meat ..myself (even if someone else prepared it for me) as I'm vegetarian.....but I see no reason why ...technically....anyone shouldnt eat pests or roadkill.

annie123

Gigervamp wrote: »

I wouldn't worry too much about being attacked by a fox. When I lived in London I saw foxes all the time and never in my 36 years there had a problem with any of them. My daughter has a fox set at the bottom of her garden and has enjoyed watching this years cubs playing.

I agree, lived in london all my life (46 years) and never had a problem.
My son has foxes that return every year to have their cubs in his garden, great fun to watch.
DS did have to rescue a very small cub once from his pond, mum stayed close by to watch and picked the soggy bundle up and took her back to the den.

They seem to scuttle off very quickly if they hear a noise or notice people approaching them.

floyd

We have foxes in our very urban garden occasionally and they have never bothered me and are usually more scared of me than I am of them. I would have thought the nose would be the best place for a swift whack as well as its very disorientating, ask anyone thats ever been clocked in the face

I managed to collect 4lb of blackberries yesterday with the help of a friend, only problem is that her quality control isnt quite as strict as mine so there were quite a few that were home to maggots that came out when I salt-soaked them. Never seen more than 2 before as I dont keep berries that have a browned or indented core as they have usually been burrowed :eek:

Anyway, they are being used to make bramble jelly so even if I missed a few beasties its no big deal

floyd

Also, got some beautiful yellow plums coming my way but have no idea what to do with them as I have tons of jam, any ideas folks?

Gigervamp

If you don't want to make jam, how about steeping them in vodka, gin or brandy? The alcohol will preserve them and you'll have a lovely flavoured drink.

floyd

That sounds fantastic

nykied

I'm going to read this thread in detail but I don't have time today, so apologies if these questions have already been covered:

1. My Dad's seen a tree with fruit on it. The fruits are yellow and small, about the size of a grape. They have a stone in them and they're okay to eat (my parents tried one). What are these? Damsons, plums?

2. I've been keeping an eye out for elderberries but I've only seen green ones so far. Is it a little early for them yet? And how do I know that they're elderberries and not something that will poison people? Is there an easy way to tell them apart from other trees and berries?

Gigervamp

Elderberries are quite distinctive. A google image search will show you what they look like.

The tree your parents have found sounds like a cherry plum. Again, a google image search will help with identification and there was a link posted a page or so back for wild foods identification.