Foraging - Natures Food

Pazu

Just popped back to say

D&DD I'm in a council house too.

And also I've just found out that elderberries are poisonous raw so don't let the kids scrump while your foraging.

SusanC_2

Pazu wrote: »

The rowan and crab jelly is made. It is a lovely shade of pink, darker than crab but lighter than redcurrent. DD was chief taster. It wasn't the awful sour disaster I expected from Google, neither was it Pam the Jam's "outstanding." DD liked it and I thought it ok. I wanted to be able to describe the taste to you but neither of us could quite find the right word. Its sweet, and you can taste the apple but with another flavour giving it a bit of a kick.

I made rowan and apple jam last week. I can't say I like it but the spilled jam disappeared and my four year old gained a suspiciously sticky looking face so I think she likes it.

jem132

rachbc wrote: »

Looks like proper apples - but only glimpsed as driving past - will explore later.

Anyone in Leeds citry centre there are tons of crab apples just along the road from Park Lane College that never get picked (apart from a carrier bag full by me!). I am rubbish at street names but please pm if you want more info - though you will have to pass my stingent vetting process before I pass on details ;-)

rachbc
do you know any other places in leeds to forage ???
please i could tell you some of the places we know (not many but a few)

jem132

hi all just got back from a forage we got -

* loads of eating apples turn them into - apple sauce
- apple pies
- apple crumble
- cider (hopfully )
i found some wild plums but they were all soft could i still use them?
and finely some soles :j:j:j

D&DD

re wiggly worms in raspberries they are the larvae of the raspberry beetle probably..I just blow mine when picking and eat them :rotfl:

The blackberries in our garden are huge this year again (thornless variety) I've just frozen yet another 2 bags,made another batch of Delias runner bean pickle from this mornings pickings and now I'm eyeing up my brothers apples and the last few pears I picked..

I was lucky that my cousin brought me proper straight sided canning jars over last year so will be bottling/canning some pears and apples and will dehydrate some some as I have some rather yummy recipes for dried pears in my book The Dehydrator Bible

Annie the apple trees are in the middle of the common in a little copse on your right if you're passing
Pear tree with the later variety is just outside it but do watch your step!!

Pazu thanks for the tip about the elderberries although its OH who is the worst here for sticking something in his chops before checking first.
(mushrooms scare me too lol) shh

PS congrats Rach thats better news

rachbc

jem132 wrote: »

rachbc
do you know any other places in leeds to forage ???
please i could tell you some of the places we know (not many but a few)

Mentioned a few before - off the ring road near Horsforth there is a little walk down to the canal and I've seen a couple of apple and pear trees - the pear was huge so couldn't get anything though. I've seen other people picking cherries in a park just off Harehills Lane (of all places) and someone mentioned chesnuts at Temple Newsham!

Brinham Rocks has loads of bilberries if you fancy a trip out into th countryside and a friend also says Otley Chevin for them but I've not seen them there.

annie123

D&#8517 wrote: »

Annie the apple trees are in the middle of the common in a little copse on your right if you're passing
Pear tree with the later variety is just outside it but do watch your step!!

I may just be passing this weekend then

aunty_lornieloo

other half and i went for a walk today and found a walnut tree and what i believe is a sloe bush. the food for free book says that the walnuts are best in october/november so we will be going back then (he doesnt know this yet:rotfl:)

pie-eater

DD & I have just spent an hour picking damsons and have about 20lbs+ with more left on the tree, only to find OH has hidden my stash of jam jars :eek: I managed to find 8 jars and about make 5lb of jam but still have loads left.

Is it best to freeze the damsons whole straight off the tree or should I cook them first?

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks

TravellingAbuela

Brinham Rocks has loads of bilberries if you fancy a trip out into th countryside and a friend also says Otley Chevin for them but I've not seen them there.[/QUOTE]


Yes Brimham Rocks is the best place I know for Bilberries. Mid July they were out in absolute profusion and in 3 full days of picking we had got just over 20 lbs! That's an awful lot of little berries! They are now safely stashed away in the freezer but think of all the jam and pies they will make in the winter months. Mmmmmm and it will make all that tedious picking worthwhile!