Foraging for Free Food!

Farway

WantAnOrange wrote: »

Do you live near the sea? Winkles and Mussels are fun to collect with children.

Guess it depends where you live, would you fancy slightly radioactive winkles from Windscale area?

Or mussels from the Hayling Island area, where Southern Water often pollute Langstone harbour with sewage?

Davesnave

Farway wrote: »

Guess it depends where you live, would you fancy slightly radioactive winkles from Windscale area?

Or mussels from the Hayling Island area, where Southern Water often pollute Langstone harbour with sewage?

You should always allow shellfish to excrete and clean themselves out before cooking, so 24 hours in salty water first.

If there is anything sewage-like inside them, you will then smell it.

Clearly, location matters and some of the places to avoid will be obvious, but it is worth rtemembering that a change of wind and tide might bring less wholesome water to previously 'clean' places.

cyclonebri1

Davesnave wrote: »

You should always allow shellfish to excrete and clean themselves out before cooking, so 24 hours in salty water first.

If there is anything sewage-like inside them, you will then smell it.

Clearly, location matters and some of the places to avoid will be obvious, but it is worth rtemembering that a change of wind and tide might bring less wholesome water to previously 'clean' places.

Or taste it later, barf

If "seafood" as we know it eats shiet/debris/detritus/crap/rotting flesh, how come it tastes so good?:A:A:rotfl::rotfl:

lostinrates

RAS wrote: »

Have seen projectile vomiting of fresh undiluted juice; made a heck of a mess.

Not poison; actually sold at great cost as a cough medicine but needs to be dilute (whether in food or liquid).

Goodness, DH was unwell.

Elderberries, and another time rose hips. He listens to me now about asking or checking a book or google first!

Just because its in a hedgerow or even sold for a consumable product doesn't make it safe raw.

Davesnave

lostinrates wrote: »

Goodness, DH was unwell.

Elderberries, and another time rose hips. He listens to me now about asking or checking a book or google first!

Just because its in a hedgerow or even sold for a consumable product doesn't make it safe raw.

As kids, we used to eat elderberries and I never noticed a problem,. They were pretty naff like that though, so probably few eaten in any one session.

The hairy bits from rose hips went into a matchbox, to be used later, down some deserving person's collar or in their PE shorts! :rotfl:

(And before anyone starts, that was (a) organic and (b) far kinder than the other itching powder of the era. )

lostinrates

Davesnave wrote: »

As kids, we used to eat elderberries and I never noticed a problem,. They were pretty naff like that though, so probably few eaten in any one session.

The hairy bits from rose hips went into a matchbox, to be used later, down some deserving person's collar or in their PE shorts! :rotfl:

(And before anyone starts, that was (a) organic and (b) far kinder than the other itching powder of the era. )

DH doesn't eat ' a few'

I'll eat a couple, but more than a few is not a good idea really.

Otherwise, delicious IMO, far nicer than the flower

WantAnOrange

Fair point about the seafood! I was assuming common sense would be applied. I am realise I am very lucky to live near a nice little beach, quite hidden from the tourists that has an abundance of mussels and winkles and is good for mackerel fishing (DS's job!) but I wonder how many locals have ever taken their kids winkling there. It's a lovely activity to do with them and an opportunity to teach them how to do it safely and respectfully.

ragecake

Loads of blackberries around here, already made my jams.

It's also mushroom season if you're lucky, and knowledgeable, puffballs are very nice, but you NEED to know your stuff, otherwise you'll end up with a dodgy tummy and some non tasty mushrooms

Ebe_Scrooge

ragecake wrote: »

you'll end up with a dodgy tummy and some non tasty mushrooms

You'll end up with rather more than a dodgy tummy if you try a Deathcap mushroom

But I agree, if you REALLY know what you're looking at then mushroom foraging is brilliant.

chella

I think I have found a wild growing fig tree, leaves look like acorn leaves, but the fruit looks like little pears growing. Hope it is a fig tree. Wont touch anything until I identify it for certain.