Foraging Challenge

smiler34

Can I ask where are the best places to start, I see a lot of blackberries and what I think is elderflower around where I live but it is along a busy road, my garden also has loads of nettles?

Thanks

dogstarheaven

whereabouts are you, smiler34? here in the midlands, the elderflower season is over now. has been about 2 weeks ago. you can make elderflower cordial or champagne, or flower tempura if you still have yours flowering. wish i was together at the time to have used mine at the lotti (they were a bit too high for me those trees!)

also, the blackberries aren't that ready yet in the midlands where i am. if your berries come away easily in your fingers, then obviously, they're ripe enough. if you have a decent crop, you can make jam with.. ooh..lots of recipes in fact!

nettles are best when young and that was about 2mths ago. the ones that are growing now are not as good as the young ones (the tops of them that are fresh and small). they'e used as a spinach alternative. what you can use now is for making tea with. or as a compost accelerator, or liquid manure as it's v. high in nutrients that your plants need.

Aldahbra

I feel a bit guilty, I started this thread and then got ill nearly as soon as I'd done it and abandoned it. I have been in hospital and had some surgery and am now convalescing post op. I'm not up to foraging again just yet, I went to Mr T last night and had to sit down to rest half way round. But I'll be back out in the local countryside in a few weeks and back to foraging. Hopefully in time for the blackberries etc.

I love reading about what everyone else is doing though so please keep posting the things you're finding and making.

[Deleted User]

Hello all, we have picked the first wild blackberries down here, the damsons are better than I thought and they and the elderberries are beginning to colour up nicely, I have my eye on a promising tree!!!!

jem132

Hi we live in leeds are wanting to forage do any of you lovely people know any where we can forage other than apples ,blackberrys . I know loads of places for these so if any body wants to know where these are and soles thanks x

jumblejack

Aldahbra wrote: »

I feel a bit guilty, I started this thread and then got ill nearly as soon as I'd done it and abandoned it. I have been in hospital and had some surgery and am now convalescing post op. I'm not up to foraging again just yet, I went to Mr T last night and had to sit down to rest half way round. But I'll be back out in the local countryside in a few weeks and back to foraging. Hopefully in time for the blackberries etc.

I love reading about what everyone else is doing though so please keep posting the things you're finding and making.

Hope you recover soon matie

I have just foraged quite a weight of rose hips. I will be processing them into a jelly or syrup this evening. I will be sharing my successes (or failures ) with you later.

I found the most amazing, hidden away, place to forage EVER!!!!

There is also a heaving apple tree there but it is too soon to pick yet (or can they be picked to aid setting preserves?). I'm not sure what type they are but they are massive. Probably cooking apples?

There were about a dozen ripe blackberries but the masses there wet not yet ready for picking. I couldn't resist picking the wee few that were ripe.

I've been actively foraging but not actively posting.
Life has been a bit full. I'm actually pondering over starting a blog at some point. Think I might enjoy the challenge. This foraging lark is pretty exciting stuff. You meet some lovely people too. I've had many a pleasant enquiry over my activities whilst gathering.

Have a fab time foraging guys.

Moorhen

I foraged my first blackberries of the season yesterday, there were only a few ripe but there are loads on the brambles ripening.
It looks like it is going to be a bumper year.:)

jumblejack

Rose hip syrup is a success. Took loads of pics that I will update later. Hoping to try rose hip wine and jelly too!!! Mmmmm.

Edit:

Hip, hip, hooray





Here I diluted it with filtered water as a crafty sample:


The rest is being put into a pop bottle for freezing. It will be used at a nature party I'm hosting in october. :T

jumblejack

Whoop whoop. :j:T

I just went on to preloved and looked up Demi johns. There are 3 free to a good home, 2 clear, 1 brown and they are only 16 mins away from me!!

I'm picking them up early evening. The only thing is with all this preserve, syrup, cordial and wine making is that you don't half get through a lot of sugar:mad:

Edit: save all your glass bottles for vinegar, sauces etc. they are great for roe hip syrups and cordials. I wish I'd been saving mine . I will be from now on though

Aldahbra

How did you like the rosehip syrup? I loved it as a child but made some a few years ago and found it too sweet. I'm interested in case you have a better recipe.