Foraging for Free Food!

Davesnave

ragecake wrote: »

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

It's hard to mis-identify puffballs if they're like the one I have just now, around 40cm across. That's way larger than a football.

They can get a bit boring, though, and there's nothing worse than having one under the ground cover on the floor of your greenhouse. It's like Alien! :eek::rotfl:

RAS

lostinrates wrote: »

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

Have you tried pontiac sauce?

I use HM elderberry juice as cough mixture, heavily diluted (2 teaspoons in a mug of hot water). Given how I respond to some of the commercial expectorants, it is a lot safer.

And given how effective it is at that dilution, I am not surprised that someone consuming a lot of berries would react badly.

Happygreen

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

I can't think of many edible looking fruits that would seriously injure/kill you if eaten. (thinking wild cherries, crab apples etc), please discuss?

Steer clear of green potatoes and yellow snow.

It's best to go out with someone who can show you stuff. We have a local ranger who takes people on walks for a small charge.
Still I never got my head around mushrooms, just too risky for my taste .
With berries I would be very careful unless you really know them- like brambles, gooseberries and raspberries of course! Elderberries - only the black ones, other varieties can make you ill. Cherry plums and crab apples are great for preserves.

Alice Fowler has published "The thrifty forager", with lovely photos. you might pick that up cheaply somewhere.

Butterfly_Brain

This may help you
http://www.countrylovers.co.uk/wfs/wfsURBFORAGER.pdf

http://www.downsizer.net/Articles/Wild_food/Top_Ten_Wild_Foods_to_Gather_in_Winter/

http://www.fusianliving.com/2012/08/forage-plums-wild-fruit-uk.html

Happygreen

Storm and rain have started, so I take it the Indian Summer is over....I'm delighted with what I gathered this year, although most was from my "bewildered" garden . I even found that one of the Buckthorn bushes had fruit although they are a pain to pick, literally! I'll make liqueur from them for Christmas. 2 weekends ago went for a walk up the hill with DD1 home for a visit and we gathered 2 kilos of autumn rasps and brambles, enough for 3 jars of jam. The Sloes are giant this year, they are awaiting their fate (in gin) in the freezer for the moment. Should the rain stop I'll get some more elderberries and Bramleys for a crumble but it doesn't look good just now....

Ken68

Still dry here, might go out to see if any blackberries or elderberries before the wet arrives. Have been scrumping fallen Bramleys lately. (with permission). Huge things. Steam down nicely.
You have hills (envy) The highest round here is 20ft above sea level.lol

Happygreen

Ken68 wrote: »

Still dry here, might go out to see if any blackberries or elderberries before the wet arrives. Have been scrumping fallen Bramleys lately. (with permission). Huge things. Steam down nicely.
You have hills (envy) The highest round here is 20ft above sea level.lol

Yes, I should go up there more :rotfl:, it's right outside my house! When we went up I also saw lots of sheep sorrell, must go get some! There are still some fresh nettles, too, maybe turn them into a soup together or a pesto?