Foraging Challenge

newuser78

This is looking to prove to be another great thread!

My OH and I are looking to start foraging (never done before unless you count collecting elderflower for a cordial for OH's mother!) so looked into mushroom picking course but they seem to be very expensive - ranging from £50pp/day to £130pp/day.

Perhaps mushroom picking is too much for us right now so will consider other types of foraging. Do you have any advice or recommendations on how we can start?

We are in Cardiff but happy to travel to coastal areas in the west, Bristol, etc.

Thanks!:)

jumblejack

Aldahbra wrote: »

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.

My youngest LOVES it! It is very sweet but I dilute it with water like a cordial. It is a subtle flavour. I just like the idea of it being packed with goodness!

I can't wait to try it over icecream and pancakes!

Moorhen

I had a much more successful blackberry picking trip on saturday.

DD1 and I picked 4lbs between us and there are going to be loads more.
There do seem to be a lot more little maggots on them this year, is anyone else finding this?

rubytuesday

I collected loads of plums on Friday.

Moorhen

Foraged the very last raspberries from the garden yesterday.

Why did the birds only plant 3 canes!:D

Malfiore

Am I ok to pick sloes now? I've found a hoard of them right by my house!

Seakay

sloes are best post frost but if the are black all over with no greenish tinge and slightly yielding when gently squeezed betwee thumb and fore finger then you you could pick now and put them in the freezer overnight before using or just use them anyway and not worry about frost as opinion varies about the difference frost makes and freezing overnight will make them very squidgy.

jumblejack

Foraged a few of these apple like rose hips yesterday along with a full carrier bag of gorgeous elderberries:

[edit: these are actually Wild Japanese Quince (related to roses hence the similar fruits]



So today, I have spent over AN HOUR destalking elderberries and coring the hips:



I barely covered them with boiling water and simmered until they softened:



I'm gonna strain em in a jelly bag and maybe tonight make either or both: elderberry and rose hip jelly jam and/or cordial......



Free food. Gotta love it:T

Gigervamp

Those don't look like rosehips, they look like Japanese quince. They are edible though.

ETA, If you're going to be straining the fruit, you needn't de-core it beforehand. Just chop it up and cook it. The straining bag will catch all the bits.

jumblejack

Gigervamp wrote: »

Those don't look like rosehips, they look like Japanese quince. They are edible though.

ETA, If you're going to be straining the fruit, you needn't de-core it beforehand. Just chop it up and cook it. The straining bag will catch all the bits.

You know, I googled em and yes, they certainly are!!!!

The blooms were like roses though as I harvested a few of the petals along with the wild roses weeks and weeks ago when I made the rose petal jelly. They look like hips when cut although the flesh was firmer. I reckon I won't both deseeding next time.

Decided to make all jelly. I am gifting a few but the unlabelled jars a for storing in my pantry. Will label in a less fancy way with mine when the jars cool: