Foraging - Natures Food

Gigervamp

rosie383 wrote: »

I picked what I thought were damsons, but it turns out they are sloes and it is too early to pick them!!! If I get more later in the year, is there anything I can use them for apart from sloe gin or wine? Bearing in mind that I am Muslim, I would appreciate any non-alcohol recipes!!

Have a look here.

misskool

Moorhen wrote: »

I have been blackberry picking 3 times at a spot near my home over the last 3 weeks.

I can't believe how big and abundant the blackberries are this year, the brambles are so loaded that you could pick all day and never run out.

What I can't get over is that no-one else seems to be picking them, it is a huge area of brambles really close to a large number of houses yet whenever I have been there I haven't seen another soul and a lot of the blackberries are rotting on the brambles as no-one is picking them. I have been letting all my friends know that they are there but nobody has been to pick any yet even though blackberries are being sold in a local shop for £1 a punnet and people are buying them.

Short of putting signs up pointing the way I really don't know what to do!:D

Do you live near me? We have a massive hedge right in front of our door and loads too. I picked a bit (have loads left) and no one else is picking.

I'm going to pick some and give them away. Would be a waste otherwise.

Mrs_Veg_Plot

floyd thanks they are bullace so will forage them either tomorrow or at the weekend

Mrs VP

Pazu

Got a few more crab apples and brambles today. The poor dog is so bored with foraging. She's a border collie and wants to walk. Someone from the village saw me and has offered me eating apples, cooking apples, runner beans and a cup of coffee : ) Blackberry and apple jelly being made.

I also got a handful of hazelnuts to see if they were ready and try and beat the squirrel. I cracked them over the kitchen table and all but two were full of nut. I was rumaging amongst the shells when I saw two of the fattest, cream maggots inching their way accross the table like the Hungry Caterpillar!!!

Spoldger - glad to see your still here. Do you have a way to preserve the apple juice or do you drink it as you juice it?

Wilding_arms where should we walk to find mushrooms? I don't really come accross them.

rosie383

Floyd and Gigervamp: Thank you so much for the recipe links. I have bookmarked them and will try some recipes once I can pick some ripe sloes.

BTW: Had my first ever bash at blackberry and elderberry jelly yday. I decided to strain it as it was just too full of seeds.
I now have a bottle of 'cordial'!!!

squeaky

Simmer it gently in a pan with the lid off and eventually you'll get a pouring syrup that can be used for ice cream or other desserts.

Don't go too far or you'll get toffee!

Gigervamp

When I make blackberry and elderberry jelly, I cook the fruit, strain overnight, then add the sugar and cook until setting point is reached.

I'm not quite sure how you've managed to get cordial?

splodger_seedswapper

Pazu wrote: »

Spoldger - Do you have a way to preserve the apple juice or do you drink it as you juice it?

i will make wine from the juice - although as i don't have many empty dj's at the mo - i will probably have to freeze it for now (many of the apples are windfalls and won't keep)

Murrell

Anyone in Preston, Lancs? I am happy to share all my foraging places as I want to pass the information on to someone interested before I move out of Preston in November. I forage in the savick/lea/cottom area.

There is also some council run events this year, helping them harvest fruits and veg (today), apples (october) and having a go at juicing apples on both these days. There is also a mushroom foraging day in October.

Sandra

jennyo

I have been searching in my area for fungi forays as they seem to be called, unfortunately they all take place on a weekend, obviously when most people are free, but I work weekends, so my fungi knowledge will have to wait.
For anyone free at weekends there does seem to be plenty around, however I think I would need to attend a few before I would dare go out on my own.
Found another couple of plum trees, but they are on some waste ground that is fenced off, so I can't access them, and another apple tree, but they are not ready yet, but the good news is its near my house than the nearest shop, its on the same site as the plums, but is tipped over the fence.