Old school money saving, forage for your food and eat for free!

Gigervamp

Traffic fumes aren't so much of a problem now that petrol is lead free. However, I think I'd avoid somewhere where the traffic sits (traffic lights etc).

One of my favourite foraging spots around here is next to a dual carriageway.

mrsdwhite

Could someone please tell me what elderflower and wild garlic looks like?
We get a huge amount of flowers growing near us that I *think* might be elderflower and when left the flowers turn to little purple berries. I just don't know if they're elderflowers or not and don't want to poison myself!

RAS

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=elderflowers+image&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=np&source=hp&gfe_rd=cr&ei=P8FCU4SQMOjR8gf9_oHgAg

meg72

Desecrated_Landscape wrote: »

Being in a concrete jungle is very difficult to find food, but if you have a garden or small piece of land you could use seeds and cuttings to create your own personal supply.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I have a very productive garden and do grow a lot, but I don't see it as foraging or getting food for free.

meg72

mrsdwhite wrote: »

Could someone please tell me what elderflower and wild garlic looks like?
We get a huge amount of flowers growing near us that I *think* might be elderflower and when left the flowers turn to little purple berries. I just don't know if they're elderflowers or not and don't want to poison myself!

Wild garlic looks a lot like lily of the valley leaves but the real test is the smell rub a leaf or two and you should smell garlic, if you don't then its not.

Your description does sound lije elderflowers but google elderberry images and you can compare.

zaxdog

Sadly I have to agree with lostinrates to an extent. When we were in our old house I got a mouthful of abuse from a women when I suggested she not pick the wild thyme from my garden (which had a right of way through it). Waited until she had snarlingly grabbed a load then sweetly pointed out it was growing above the seepage style septic tank Parent's neighbour also had an issue with a guy picking mushrooms on his land, landowner wandered over for a chat and was treated to a blast of "You can't stop me walking where I want" to which landowner cheerfully agreed but pointed out taking the mushrooms was theft and whipped out his mobile to call the local bobby............cue retreating bloke!

In general though foraging/foragers are great and we do a lot on the estate next door, they are also happy for us to take odds and sods of fallen wood for the fire. Just wish we had .22 as it is hoaching with bunnies :rotfl:

PasturesNew

Desecrated_Landscape wrote: »

The only rules to foraging is to know what you are picking,

... and there is the big problem
I'd not trust myself traipsing through a wood with a library book ..... I'd die and nobody'd ever know until the library sent the bailiffs to collect my library book fines....

Round my way I think they've put up signs to stop foragers as people have been picking areas bare wholesale style, especially for mushrooms.

" England code of mushroom picking which enables individuals to collect up to 3.3lb (1.5kg) of fungi for personal consumption, but which does not support unregulated commercial picking."

There is a Wild Mushroom Picker's Code of Conduct (English Nature/Natural England, 1993) - you should ask permission of the owners of the land you pick on, and take no more than 1.5kg/visit, for personal use only, never for resale.

Austin_Allegro

I was hoping to make dandelion wine this year but all the dandelions I could find were growing by main roads or in 'dogs' lavatories' verges in the park.

Then at the weekend we visited the in-laws and I saw their lawn was covered in dandelions!

My demijohn is now bubbling away with a very odd smelling mixture...I hope it turns out ok...!

miss_corerupted

Please get landowners permission. It is rude to just go and take things, most will be happy for you to do it.

I caught to little old ladys with 6 blackbags jammed full of moss, they said it was for hanging baskets. But the area was a SSSI area for the very very rare moss that grows there!! I was not happy with them and made them put it all back.

skogar

Hello,

Yes foragers exist on the forum but its a bit of a slack time of year for foraging at the moment.

The blackberry and elderberry wine is now bottled and the 2nd batch of elderberry is nearly ready for bottling. The elderberry havest was great last year. Waiting to try the blackberry and elderberry before the next foraging season, tasted promising at bottling so it may be a good one to make a large fermenter load of next year. We just made demisjohns this year to experiment. Also a redcurrant wine on the go but not really foraged made with fruit out the garden.

We've got some bilberry liquore left but the rest of the bilberries have been eaten. They take so long to pick though... We also made some rowan jelly.

And now I know where all the elderberries grow it won't be long before we'll be looking for elderflowers. I've never used elderflowers. Maybe I'll actually get round to it this year.