Foraging - Natures Food

ceridwen

its not a question of dictating - its a question of knowing that some people simply arent "fair sharers". Most people know that its very easy to make a mistake about character judgement - and we can all think of plenty of times where we have been wrong about someone in a variety of contexts (look at the number of divorces for instance.....).

Anyone and everyone is perfectly entitled to help themselves to what they find - but only a fair amount.

If anyone wonders what constitutes a "fair amount" - then I guess its "Have I left enough for several other households to have a reasonable amount?" or, alternatively, they could think "If I had to buy this in a shop - then how much would I take?" and take maybe 2-3 times as much as they would buy - but beyond that is Greed Territory.

In the case of the blogger concerned - I read it that the tree is so tucked-away location that it COULD only have been the one person she told about it. Also - the Grabber had taken it before it was even quite ripe (which is something I have noticed Grabbers tend to do - whilst Fair Sharers wait until something is actually ripe).

Pazu

I was so enjoying this thread because it brought back happy childhood memories ... and then it deteriorated into an arguement.

My aunt was famous for her whortleberry pies. As children my cousins and I were often sent to the hill above the house to spend the afternoon picking berries. We would come home sticky but in happy anticipation. Cousins were keen fly fishermen so we had trout to start with home grown veg and pie and clotted cream, an almost free meal.
In the autumn my mother would gather old man's beard, strip it of leaves and make the base for a wreath. At Christmas my dad would take me to gather holly, ivy and fir. At home he would wire the fir together to make our Christmas tree and plant it in a bucket. My job was to wrap pieces of coal to look like presents to weigh the branches down. We would dress the tree with real candles which were only lit at meal times when they could be kept an eye on. I can remember being gutted when my mother said the government had banned the sale of Christmas candles on safety grounds. I was set to make crepe paper baubles instead. My mother used the holly and ivy to finish the wreath and make garlands with binder twine. Simple days.
Through the seasons I was sent to gather various berries (and still do) to make preserves. I should point out that it is not a free for all and we do not have "rights" to berries. All the hedgerows will belong to someone. As children we knew the local farmers and which hedges we could harvest from, even moorland belongs to someone. When you have spent the day repairing a granite stone wall that tourists have knocked down and your hands are almost bleeding you will understand why farmers don't want strangers on their land. Nowadays I stick to green lanes where we are allowed to walk and if asked not to forage I would respect the farmer's right. As a child I was always taught to "leave some for the birds." Arguements over fair shares are pointless. Who is to say what is fair and why shouldn't people make hedgerow wines? Personally I decide which preserves I am going to make in advance and only pick enough for them. I have several sources for each fruit so try to pick a little from each source. I also have a rule that all sources have to be within walking distance otherwise its not money saving.
Its always been the case with foraging that "the early bird...."

annie-c

ceridwen wrote: »

Anyone and everyone is perfectly entitled to help themselves to what they find - but only a fair amount.

If anyone wonders what constitutes a "fair amount" - then I guess its "Have I left enough for several other households to have a reasonable amount?" or, alternatively, they could think "If I had to buy this in a shop - then how much would I take?" and take maybe 2-3 times as much as they would buy - but beyond that is Greed Territory.

If you find someone able to print that lot on a notice you can hang round a tree, please put up a photo - that would be hilarious!

Mrs_Veg_Plot

I have been foraging wild plums and cherry plums close to my house. Twice I have been asked by dog walkers what the fruit is I am picking and what do you use it for. On each occasion I have told them what I was doing and what I was going to make with them. These trees are alongside a footpath and in full public view. Yes I saw one couple stripping a tree bare of everthing that was in reach and although I was dissapointed that I missed out I will just try again next year. I do not strip an area bare as it would not be good manners to do this.

This is the second year in a row that the local squirrels have stripped the cob nut trees bare before I could get to them and that is one local produce I am sure will always be stripped bare before I get to it squirrels 1 Mrs VP 0

*Chattie*

annie-c wrote: »

If you find someone able to print that lot on a notice you can hang round a tree, please put up a photo - that would be hilarious!

I'd be more interested to see the notices put up subsequently like dear miss busy-body leave my tree alone and go stick your notices elsewhere

wonder if the birds can read when they raid the cherry trees in my street? and goodness they even spit the stones out right where they are in Greed Territory :rotfl:

rachbc

Perhaps foragers could be forced to wear t shirts declaring themselves greedy grabbers or fair shares -would make it easier to tell if we should mention another good picking spot or not.

ceridwen

Admits at this point to knowing exactly who will "thank" the above post....

I know I will never be "popular" for saying something that some dont wish to hear...so I'm sorry that I will be unpopular with people with a particular way of thinking...but it needed to be said...and some poor person with a thick (well - I wish it was...but still....) skin had to say it...so I "volunteered" to be the one who made that point....darn it...

....and can we all maybe/hopefully get "back on track" re this thread?:)

tru

I'm not foraging just for me. There's four people in my house, plus my mum and dad would be given some of whatever I'm picking at the time. As would FIL, and the couple next door. That's nine people.

Ceridwen, if you saw me, on my own, taking nine times the amount you are taking, would you think I'm a greedy grabber?

ceridwen wrote: »

....and can we all maybe/hopefully get "back on track" re this thread?:)

Agreed. Though if you'd stop taking threads off topic, it would be much easier.

Churchmouse

Serious question, can someone please answer. What exactly is a professional forager? Is it someone who does it for a living, ie makes money from it, or is totally self sufficient from it? I can't think of any "activity" that doesn't separate into amateur - does it for the love of the activity, unpaid or professional, might still love the activity but gets paid.

As for the person who blogged it could only have been the one person they told had stripped the tree ........... well to be that sure they must have kept the tree to themselves for at least one or two years. Hardly a model of sharing, what a selfish person!!!

Tru, can you please recommend a good book on foraging. I'm going to get our local magazine interested in this whole idea, get them to do some articles. Let's get everyone foraging

rachbc

ceridwen wrote: »

Admits at this point to knowing exactly who will "thank" the above post....

I know I will never be "popular" for saying something that some dont wish to hear...so I'm sorry that I will be unpopular with people with a particular way of thinking...but it needed to be said...and some poor person with a thick (well - I wish it was...but still....) skin had to say it...so I "volunteered" to be the one who made that point....darn it...

....and can we all maybe/hopefully get "back on track" re this thread?:)

Its not that we don't want to hear - its that we disagree and have our own experiences that disprove your theory. Not saying you don't have your own valid experiences and beliefs - merely that they don't extrapolate into a universally aaccurate world view in which there are 2 types of people.

I look for the good and generally find it and certainly find it makes my little bit of the world a happier and nicer place to be to do so. I don't believe in greedy grabbers to they don't bother me - so when I see others out foraging we chat, share tips, recipes and rather than feeling defensive, anxious and protective of 'my' bounty I feel happy to be a part of something nice! Try it sometime - you might even like it!