Foraging Challenge

kerrypn

Very excited to discover I have a blackcurrant bush in my own garden :j

Been out on the big dell today, found some Sulphur Turf and Deadly Galerina mushrooms(NOT FOR CONSUMPTION!) but at least I managed to work out what they were Also found some Hen of the Woods but they were in a hollowed trunk being used as a bin so we left them.

Found tons and tons of brambles, so going to have plenty of blackberry pies and jams this year, also some small heather which I will leave this year to get a bit more established.

Can anyone tell me if meadow clover is edible please? We have loads of it around here. Also I am sure we found watercress all in the streams-do the leaves get quite big on watercress?(about 2-3cm wide?)

Becky_2

Thanks Jumblejack. Last time I went into Le Creuset they had free receipe leaflets and in there I found a recipe for Lavender Shortbreads and in the cook's notes they mention that you can make your own lavender sugar but I haven't given you the proportions. All I know is that you put flowers into a jar of sugar and then seal it for a couple of weeks. Perhaps I will just try it in small jar and see how it goes.

I just had a thought, perhaps it could also be used to give tea a distinctive flavour oe sprinkle the sugar over a pie.

adelight

kerrypn wrote: »

Can anyone tell me if meadow clover is edible please? We have loads of it around here. Also I am sure we found watercress all in the streams-do the leaves get quite big on watercress?(about 2-3cm wide?)

Clover- yep. Not sure about the watercress, have you tried googling for pictures?


I've had great success identifying stuff locally today Although I only picked elderflowers (already drinking the first bottle of champagne, it's gorgeous and nicely fizzy after ~10 days) and deadnettles to use. I've found tonnes of burdock and broadleaf plantain a two minute walk away so I will go back and get some later to use in dinner. I've been looking at the platain everyday thinking "!!!!!! is that?" but just never clicked.
Found loads of jew's ears in the woods nearby, I was 99% certain but didn't take any. Now I know they have no nasty cousins I'll get a few next time I'm there. Also spotted a hazelnut tree. I still have more photos to work through.

http://www.fertilizer-plus.com/problems/index.cfm?probcat=Weeds I just came across this when googling and it's not about foraging but it's really useful for identifying common weeds which you haven't got a clue about. Then use google/books to double check and see if it's edible.

kerrypn

Thanks ade what shall I do with clover-can I eat the flowers?
Thought they would look nice in a salad.

The watercress I am 99% sure comparing to pics online but it just looks bigger than the pictures so I am hesitating.

I wish I knew someone around here to go foraging with, especially the mushrooms because I am so wary of picking something bad that at the moment I am just looking at them lol

Jews ears! Apparently they are really nice but I have never had one or even seen one-let me know if you pick some and try them
Hazelnuts too you lucky thing, what are you going to do with them?

I sadly was confined to the house today to catch up on a mammoth pile of washing, hoping to get out tomorrow

HariboJunkie

kerrypn wrote: »

The watercress I am 99% sure comparing to pics online but it just looks bigger than the pictures so I am hesitating.

Be careful with the watercress. It's one wild food I am reluctant to eat due to the risk of liver fluke and it's tendency to attract other parasites.:(

The wild raspberries are brilliant here this year. We've eaten some fresh but I've frozen a few more tubs for jam.

Still picking elderflowers for cordial. The champagne has gone down very well so will make another batch of that too.

Happy foraging everyone.

nomi01

Hi, been lurking for a while on this thread. I love the idea of finding free stuff by foraging.
I have the food for free pocket book too. I was very excited to discover wild cherries today on my way home. There is also blackberries and damsons nearby.
My brother in law has moved into a house with apple and pear trees that produce loads of fruit. So I am going to pick some in exchange for pies.
Gonna go on a proper hunt around when I get chance.

jumblejack

HariboJunkie wrote: »

Be careful with the watercress. It's one wild food I am reluctant to eat due to the risk of liver fluke and it's tendency to attract other parasites.:(

The wild raspberries are brilliant here this year. We've eaten some fresh but I've frozen a few more tubs for jam.

Still picking elderflowers for cordial. The champagne has gone down very well so will make another batch of that too.

Happy foraging everyone.

I managed to find some wild raspberries today:T

Only a few were worth picking and those were eaten immediately by my eldest

Found a few things that I would love to put on here for ID'ing. Might upload pics later.

My elderflower champagne also worked a treat in the end so would love to make some more. Not many flowers left around here though now. They are moving into the berry stage. Will make loads next year.

The last of my 'gone wrong' wild cherry jam was turned into a 'treacle' tart :rotfl: will let you know if it was a success later when we have it with custard

Have a great evening peeps

Edit:

Anyone happen to know what these are?:



Or these?:


They are both real pretty so I would like to know simply so I can tell the kids what they are even if they can't be foraged. The second plant was quite common in one area. I took a photo of the largest example.

ScarletRaven

jumblejack - those look a lot like Self Heal/Heal All (Prunella Vulgaris) - you can use the flowers to make an ointment for soothing stings and bites, or to make a tea that will help with many ailments (hence it's folk name)

jumblejack

ScarletRaven wrote: »

jumblejack - those look a lot like Self Heal/Heal All (Prunella Vulgaris) - you can use the flowers to make an ointment for soothing stings and bites, or to make a tea that will help with many ailments (hence it's folk name)

I am over the moon :j

You are a star!!:A

I have googled images and am pretty certain that it is indeed Self Heal!!!

Whoop whoop :T

miss_corerupted

i think the second is common orchid


Today i found wild strawberries, wild raspberries and wynberries yum