Foraging Challenge 3 July 2012 at 10:42AM edited 22 July 2012 at 6:56PM in Old Style MoneySaving 375 replies 45.5K views

dannie

Raspberries acquired yesterday.

Living_proof

I know there is another thread on wild garlic/ransoms but this is a more general foraging one and it's the start of the season with the garlic and nettles already thriving and I have been picking for the last couple of weeks. I will dehydrate some for future use too. Now would be a good time to plan for the rest of the season, noting blossom on trees and in hedgerows. If it's dry I walk most days and get a feel for the best location for the various wild foods. Also stock up on plenty of suitable containers etc. and plan how you can cook and preserve. I am trying to do without much sugar now, but it's hard as traditionally preserves are quite sweet. Has anyone else started gathering yet?

kayannie

Hi - Just come across this interesting thread. I am always on the look out for free food while out walking, although it is a bit thin on the ground at this time of year. However, ground elder (NOT the elder tree!) is growing well now and is a very good substitute for spinach. It is delicious lightly steamed and then stirred into pasta or an omelette. Make sure any ground growing wild food that you pick is nowhere near where dogs are exercised! It is worthwhile looking out now for plants that will produce food later in the year. While dog walking today, I have spotted a gooseberry bush and a redcurrant bush. I just have to remember where I saw them!

Ken68

Doing dandelions, and nettle tops. Time for a recce to favourite spots, to see if still accessible, almond tree gone I notice. Found a cannabis plant last year whilst with a group. Main check for is cherry trees on common land, and apples on a 70 acre nature reserve.

Horace

I am waiting for the wild raspberries to appear in my local park, we also have plenty of blackberries and last year I found an eating apple tree so helped myself to some. I shall have to keep looking around the park especially where the old prefabs used to be because they often had fruit trees in their gardens.