Looking forward to foraging

little_miss_welsh

OMG! Have just moved area and went for a walk today and found sloe bushes heaving under the weight of the berries! Much better result than the last walk which I found a toal of 4 bushes on with not that many berries either! Also found a few wild damson trees and also cob nuts

I think sumone has already asked this but dont seem to have found the reply - when do i pick cob nuts? They are still pretty white on the bushes and still hiding in their green leafy casing

Also - when are ppl going to pick their sloes? I dont want to leave it too late in case someone beats me to it! But likewise, dont want to pick them too early and they dont work :-(

Thanks
Welsh

Poosmate

MountainView wrote: »

I will be having a go at making meadowsweet champagne soon. Me and my BF had a go at making nettle beer, but it turned into vinegar. Has anyone here made successful meadowsweet 'champagne'?

Could you use that in cooking in place of white wine vinegar?


"..... Add a splash of nettle beer vinegar....."

Poo

Poosmate

little_miss_welsh wrote: »

OMG! Have just moved area and went for a walk today and found sloe bushes heaving under the weight of the berries! Much better result than the last walk which I found a toal of 4 bushes on with not that many berries either! Also found a few wild damson trees and also cob nuts

I think sumone has already asked this but dont seem to have found the reply - when do i pick cob nuts? They are still pretty white on the bushes and still hiding in their green leafy casing

Also - when are ppl going to pick their sloes? I dont want to leave it too late in case someone beats me to it! But likewise, dont want to pick them too early and they dont work :-(

Thanks
Welsh

Try this site, I found it very interesting:

http://www.victoriananursery.co.uk/fruit_and_nut_trees/cobnut_tree_webbs_prize_cobnut/

Poo

P.S. I just found this fab looking website:

http://www.downthelane.net/nuttrees.php

It mentions foraging. I'll check it out and report back. Oooh I'm really excited! lol

ceridwen

Poosmate wrote: »

OK just been out and all the mushrooms have disappeared! Is that because it's dark or is it more likely that someone else has foraged them?

They were growing on the remains of an old tree stump next to my house. Is that an indication of whether they are edible or not?

Thanks

Poo

My guess is that someone else came foraging - and took the lot (Foragers Code - never take more than one-third of what there is. Always leave plenty for others and for it to regenerate).

Since the tree stump is next to your house - then they have been VERY cheeky - as you obviously have "first picking rights"...

little_miss_welsh

Ooooh a 'Foragers code' and 'first picking rights' - so much to learn!!

diluvsdiscounts

[QUOTE=

hazel nut are similar to cob nuts, and i believe that they can be eaten green.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2007/sep/08/features.recipes[/QUOTE]

I have now been and picked some of these and Hugh is right at first I wasn't sure I liked them but now I don't think any will be making it till christmas!!

little_miss_welsh

Ok - so when are ppl going to start picking their sloe haul?! Went to a food festival yesterday and tried the most amazing sloe gin so am getting itchy fingers to go pick some and start! :-)

Welsh

babyshoes

I have been eyeing up the chestnuts in a local park for a while now, they are developing well and should be ready in the next couple of months. I used to think that all chestnuts were edible (having grown up in Africa where they don't grow at all!), but I read something (can't remember where) which made the distinction between sweet chestnuts for eating and the kind used for conkers.

Can anyone tell me if there really are 2 kinds of chestnuts, and if so, how to tell them apart? I would love to gather some when they are ripe, having really enjoyed foraging for other fruits this year.

Thanks!

katholicos

babyshoes wrote: »

I have been eyeing up the chestnuts in a local park for a while now, they are developing well and should be ready in the next couple of months. I used to think that all chestnuts were edible (having grown up in Africa where they don't grow at all!), but I read something (can't remember where) which made the distinction between sweet chestnuts for eating and the kind used for conkers.

Can anyone tell me if there really are 2 kinds of chestnuts, and if so, how to tell them apart? I would love to gather some when they are ripe, having really enjoyed foraging for other fruits this year.

Thanks!

I think i read something somewhere about one having a prickly exterior/shell, and the other one not having a prickly exterior....can't remember where i read it...hopefully someone will be able to tell us

ixwood

Sweet chestnuts are a lot more spikey and very distinctive.

http://tree-species.blogspot.com/2009/03/edible-chestnuts-vs-horse-chestnuts.html