Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Chatting => Frugal Living => Topic started by: stompy on July 22, 2011, 10:57

Title: Free and Wild Food
Post by: stompy on July 22, 2011, 10:57
I have the Wild Food Yearbook, it's fab and it tells you how to identify and find all the different things in a month by month guide.

Sloes are from the blackthorn bush, they are around the size of a pea and are very dark purple almost black.
The bushes that they grow on are spikey like hawthorn bushes but the foliage is much darker and the leaves are smaller almost almond shaped.

You usually find them growing down public footpaths, dissused railway tracks and small country roads.



This post was moved from another thread and merged in here as a great example of what to post. :) It is not in correct thread order as it was posted prior to the existence of this thread. Argyllie.
Title: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on July 22, 2011, 11:03
Per a suggestion made for a board or sticky thread on "free food/gathering wild food, how to recognise it, suggestions, where to look and what to avoid", here it is. :)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Kleftiwallah on July 22, 2011, 11:09

'ere Stompy',   leave those sloes alone untill they are about the size of a grape (hopefully a big grape) and they have had a frost on them.   :ohmy:  Cheers,   Tony.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: stompy on July 22, 2011, 11:12
Have you seen the size of my peas  ;)  :lol:

I've only picked them once and they were that big in October.

Might of been a bad year, i don't rate them personally
Title: Re: Suggestion
Post by: kegs on July 22, 2011, 13:47
Here is a google image of sloes and the bush you will find them on.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&biw=1004&bih=575&q=sloes&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=1766l2625l0l7750l5l5l0l0l0l0l391l1797l3-5l5&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi

Local tradition says to pick them after the first frost!
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sion01 on July 22, 2011, 15:21
If you wait until the sloes are a really dark blue almost black you can make sloe gin or substitute whisky for the gin and it's still really good stuff.You can also make jam with them if youv'e got the patiance to pick all the stone's out before potting it.
You can also collect dandelion flowers about this time of year to make a great country wine and all that chickweed you weed from the plot is great in salad as is the cornsalad.

You can also collect elder flowers for champagnea ,fat hen for salads and fennel oh yes hairy bittercress(my favourite) not bitter at all and as nice and succulent as any lettuce you can grow.Then theres wild garlic,rowan flowers,yarrow and wild marjoram.If you find a patch of feral borage the young leaves and flowers are great in a salad as is wood sorrel but only a couple of them because they containe oxalic acid (like rhubarb leaves) which is a great chemical for giving you a kidney stone.

Their all available in July ( around here anyway) but even though I'm a keen collector of wild and feral plants I do stear clear of all the carrot family although wild carrot and wild parsnip are edible the carrot family contains some of the most deadly plants too.Hemlock,hemlock water-dropwort and quite a few others so I stay clear of anything that just might be one of them.So if you cant be 100% stay clear ,be safe.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on July 22, 2011, 15:35
So who's going to tell me about samphire? Is it around very flat shoreline you need to look for it? Does it grow all around the UK shores? Or is it worth trying to grow?
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Ice on July 22, 2011, 16:53
I love the idea of this thread but I think it ought to be split up into what is available month by month.  Of course that will vary according to location, but would make it clearer than lots of suggestions that are either too late or too early.

Just a thought.  :)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: mumofstig on July 22, 2011, 17:00
we have samphire hoe down here
http://www.samphirehoe.com/plants.asp
which they made from the earth extracted when they dug the Channel Tunnel, at least it made something worthwhile rather than just leaving the waste  in a heap somewhere :)

Samphire itself just tastes like crunchy/crispy greens with it's own saltiness, already inside  :D   It's not nasty, neither do I think it's anything special  :unsure: It grows on salt mudflats near Whitstable, on the North Kent coast
Pick June - September
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Kleftiwallah on July 22, 2011, 17:09

There definitely needs to be some sort of month by month order for what there is 'to hand'.  Cheers,   Tony.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on July 22, 2011, 17:18
we have samphire hoe down here
http://www.samphirehoe.com/plants.asp
which they made from the earth extracted when they dug the Channel Tunnel, at least it made something worthwhile rather than just leaving the waste  in a heap somewhere :)

Samphire itself just tastes like crunchy/crispy greens with it's own saltiness, already inside  :D   It's not nasty, neither do I think it's anything special  :unsure: It grows on salt mudflats near Whitstable, on the North Kent coast
Pick June - September

That's handy thanks! I quite like it, just wondered whereabouts people pick it, or is it a big secret.....

:D
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: tosca100 on July 22, 2011, 17:49
We have samphire around here as we are close to the Dee estuary, but I have to admit I wait for someone else to collect it and then buy it in our local Farm Shop, loose. I love it, the texture and the salty bite. If it froze well I would make an effort to go and collect my own, but then I expect everyone would. As it is, it's a hike and a half over dodgy ground hence letting someone else do it!  Not worth it as you need to use it quickly for best results. Some people like it pickled, I would rather have it in season. In Asda you can buy little packets from Egypt!!!!! :ohmy:


Any where that there are tidal mud flats will probably have samphire and a lot of other tasty sea vegetables, but as with mushrooms, you have to know what to pick.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sion01 on July 22, 2011, 18:35
In an earlier post I mentioned wild carrot and parsnip (available now if your'e brave enough to pick them out of the other nastys that can look like them) but there's the issue with these of actually digging up a wild plant which is a criminal offence so don't do it.
The same could be said about wild garlic as only the bulb itself is any good at this time of year as the leaves are a bit bitter by now.I'm lucky enough to have a friend with a small wood that is covered with wild garlic which is so thick in some parts that I'm allowed to thin them from now until my own garlic is ready in a couple of weeks.

So if you don't have the landowners permission actually digging them up is a no no(also try to pick you're booty where dogs can't get access or is above large dog wizzing hight) :D
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on July 22, 2011, 18:41
I have planted wild garlic in my garden. ;)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sion01 on July 22, 2011, 18:56
The bulbs nice but I love the leaves in early spring and I make a blinding nettle and wild garlic soup (even though I do say so myself).I get a great feeling useing stuff that some think are weeds.

I made the soup the first time while the wife and kids were out and told them when they came home that it was a spinach and garlic soup.They loved it with some homemade bread but their jaws dropped when I told them what it was.It just shows what preconceptions we have.The only down side is that every time I cook something they ask 'what is it really Dad'
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: tosca100 on July 22, 2011, 19:28
My sister has a wooded area in her garden full of wild garlic. Unfortunately two labradors and the local badgers also like the area.......(http://yoursmiles.org/tsmile/disgust/t9409.gif) (http://yoursmiles.org/t-disgust.php?page=)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sion01 on July 22, 2011, 21:27
Stear clear ,even free food has it's limits
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on July 23, 2011, 06:21
That's a shame Tosca!  ::)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sarajane on July 23, 2011, 10:36
I to have wild garlic planted in a shady corner of the plot. Delicious warmed in cream on pasta.

I can't wait for September as last year discovered puffballs, luvly fried in garlic butter.

Tosca100, can you divulge where you get your sampphire from.  We often go with the dog and grandkiddies up on the coast, Talacre area and I,ve never seem it  -  mind you I,ve not been looking.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: tosca100 on July 23, 2011, 12:38
Try this.
http://www.geolocation.ws/v/W/4d5195a51d41c86ece006310/marsh-samphire--salicornia-europaea-it/en

Hope it works, if not, there is a path along the Dee at Flint. It can also be found near the Blue Bridge at Queensferry, but the cattle tend to scoff it! :D
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: tosca100 on July 23, 2011, 12:42
OH tried to get some samphire from the farm shop this morning and was told they had to chuck a load out last week because no-one will buy it! They might be more inclined to try it if it didn't cost so much! :dry:
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sarajane on July 23, 2011, 13:58
ah ah.  Will have to go and investigate.  I know where you mean as the OH goes there a couple of times a year to catch flatfish and its only a 20 minute drive from us.

I've never tried it but have never bought it either  -  prob due to the high cost and I just love getting something for free.

Cheers Tosca100 :)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on July 23, 2011, 14:03
It goes really well with a lovely bit of fish, such as Bass. ;)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: mumofstig on July 23, 2011, 14:07
Make sure you just pinch off the tops, leave the roots to grow on ;)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on July 23, 2011, 14:09
Good advice! :D
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sarajane on July 23, 2011, 14:17
Most certainly folks, just the tops.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: kegs on July 25, 2011, 12:01
I'm in the Bedfordshire area and the wild cherry plums are ripe right now.  Another few days and they will be mushy and on the floor.  We picked 2 big bags yesterday of both the red and orange varieties for compotes and jams.  Delicious!  :tongue2:

Here's a link  (http://www.google.co.uk/search?um=1&hl=en&biw=1004&bih=575&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=wild+cherry+plums&oq=wild+cherry+plums&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=0l0l0l58610l0l0l0l0l0l0l0l0ll0)to google images for wild cherry plums:







edit to fix very long link
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sion01 on July 25, 2011, 17:47
Your'e really lucky the local bird's seem to get most of them around here.O hold on are cherry plumbs cherrys or bullace ,I'm confussed now.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: tosca100 on July 25, 2011, 17:55
Autumn fruit! (http://yoursmiles.org/tsmile/tears/t2319.gif) (http://yoursmiles.org/t-tears.php?page=1)

What happened to summer?
(http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv100/tosca100-dog/fflint030.jpg)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sion01 on July 25, 2011, 22:08
I always start picking blackberries on thr first of august.I know of a patch that are always early and big and juicy MMMMMMMM
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sarajane on July 26, 2011, 07:55
I,ve never ever had blackberries this early.  Sign of the type of topsy turvey year we have had so far
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on July 26, 2011, 09:05
So what are your favourite recipes for Brambles (blackberries)? :)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: DonnaM on July 26, 2011, 09:13
Bramble jelly and bramble and apple crumble for me :)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: stompy on July 26, 2011, 09:15
Bramble wine hic hic  :lol:
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: DonnaM on July 26, 2011, 09:22
Ive only just seen this :) Thanks!
Stmpy, where did you get the Wild Food Yearbook from? Ive found it on amazon and one seller wants £50 for it!  :ohmy: Is it a really expensive book?
The other seller wants £25 which is still very expensive! All other books by the same author seem to be selling for around £5 which is more like what I was thinking.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on July 26, 2011, 09:23
Ive only just seen this :) Thanks!

Of course Donna, it was you who suggested it or something similar. :)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: mike1987 on July 26, 2011, 10:23
So what are your favourite recipes for Brambles (blackberries)? :)
barmble and elderberry port :)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sion01 on July 26, 2011, 20:40
Bramble Jelly,sunshine in a jar and bramble wine
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: plum crumble on July 26, 2011, 20:50
well - blackberry brandy as per this website - delicious - but doesn't seem to last long for some reason!!? And a new recipe which I got inside my kilner jars for spicy blackberry chutney - I will try to post it on the recipe section - mmmm. Started picking them 3 weeks ago around the lottie - already frozen 6lbs of them!!!!
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sarajane on July 27, 2011, 00:01
HOW MUCH  -  Hubby bought me this a couple of years ago at Christmas for abouta fiver from sains-----ys.

Favourite blackberries .. obviously bramble wine but then baked apples, stuffed with blackberries, brown sugar, butter and elderberries..  delish
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sunshineband on August 03, 2011, 22:00
Picked a whole pound of blackberries off the bushes opposite our house earlier this evening -- got my eye on blackberry pie  :D :D
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sarajane on August 03, 2011, 22:45
Ive only just seen this :) Thanks!
Stmpy, where did you get the Wild Food Yearbook from? Ive found it on amazon and one seller wants £50 for it!  :ohmy: Is it a really expensive book?
The other seller wants £25 which is still very expensive! All other books by the same author seem to be selling for around £5 which is more like what I was thinking.

If you google kelsey wild food year book you will find it in stock for £10.49.

Just picked  -  well a couple of hours ago, 4lb of blackberries from our plot.  Popped in the freezer till the weekend when I'll make Val's blackberry and apple jelly . mmmmm
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on August 04, 2011, 06:57
Hm. With all this talk of brambles (blackberries ;)) I shall have to keep a look out here. :D
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: DonnaM on August 04, 2011, 08:06
Ive only just seen this :) Thanks!
Stmpy, where did you get the Wild Food Yearbook from? Ive found it on amazon and one seller wants £50 for it!  :ohmy: Is it a really expensive book?
The other seller wants £25 which is still very expensive! All other books by the same author seem to be selling for around £5 which is more like what I was thinking.

If you google kelsey wild food year book you will find it in stock for £10.49.

Thank you - I will do that  :)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: JaK on August 04, 2011, 09:52
We have these books and find them very useful-
Collins Gem - Food For Free by Richard Mabey
River Cottage Handbook no 1 Mushrooms
River Cottage Handbook no 7 Hedgerow

If anyone has good books one seashore and sea fishing please let us know about them.  :)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: rhysdad on August 04, 2011, 14:57
Well i picked 5lbs of ripe damsons yesterday, a couple of litres of damson gin in the offing as well as a few pots of damson jam. I picked about 5lb's of lovely ripe Discovery apples as well as 2lb of large fat Blackberries!! I've got my work cut out tonight as i also have another 5lbs of Plum jam to make as well!!!  :ohmy:
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sion01 on August 04, 2011, 19:14
I found a fresh supply of garlic mustard(alliaria petiolata).They often have a second flush at this time of year.Really nice sort of garlicy and mustardy :wub:

Sorrel has a second flush of nice young growth too at this time of year.Dont confuse them with Lords and Ladies (Arum Maculatum)  which is quite poisonose.But don't overdoo it on the sorrel either they contain oxalic acid and another slight toxin which i've forgotten about now ,but if you're in good health you should be OK
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sion01 on August 05, 2011, 12:25
We have these books and find them very useful-
Collins Gem - Food For Free by Richard Mabey
River Cottage Handbook no 1 Mushrooms
River Cottage Handbook no 7 Hedgerow

If anyone has good books one seashore and sea fishing please let us know about them.  :)

A really good book that I happend upon by accident is 'Wild food' by Roger Philips it contains a lot of plants that most books don't containe and it also contains which seaweeds are good to eat.There is also a river cottage handbook no5 Edible Seashore.I don't know of many good books on sea fishing as they all seem to be a bit daunting for begineers.The best way to learn is to ask a friendly fisherman or ask at you''re local tackle shop if they know someone who will show you the ropes.

My advice would be to stick to spinning as all the species you will catch this way are nice to eat(mackerel,pollock,whiting,garfish,large sandeel.I even caught a sea trout once which I returned alive of course as I don't have a licence to catch them :D)

Bottom fishing can be more expensive and some of the fish you catch although edible will never make it to a resteraunt table wrasse,dogfish,pout etcetc.Theres also the chore of getting/buying bait for this method.

One alternative to fishing with rod and line is to set a gill net on the beach at low tide.I've got a 30 yard one and it keeps me in fish all year with some left over for barttering for eggs,fruit,veg,plants,beer and even meat on the od occassion.It's a really good way as all the fish you catch are a good size as the holes have to be by law 4 inches so the small one get away as opposed to a traul net.There are legal restrictions on when and where you can put them but a phone call to you're local fisheries dept would put you straight on that one(they call them fixed engine's for some reason ).
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on August 05, 2011, 13:01
Sion, I didn't think garfish were meant to be very good eating? And thanks for explaining the rules around the use of gill nets. If anyone tried to put one of those up where or when salmon were involved I'm sure that would be highly frowned upon.

:)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: mike1987 on August 05, 2011, 13:23
Sion, I didn't think garfish were meant to be very good eating? And thanks for explaining the rules around the use of gill nets. If anyone tried to put one of those up where or when salmon were involved I'm sure that would be highly frowned upon.

:)
garfish make great eating but the bones in them go green when cooked  :ohmy: so its a case of closing your eyes and going for it lol
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sion01 on August 05, 2011, 13:39
Garfish are good eating if cooked properly :D :D :D
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on August 05, 2011, 13:45
Thanks for that both! :D I've just seen them so often on these fishing programmes where they don't seem to bother with them...... ::)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sion01 on August 05, 2011, 13:57
Sion, I didn't think garfish were meant to be very good eating? And thanks for explaining the rules around the use of gill nets. If anyone tried to put one of those up where or when salmon were involved I'm sure that would be highly frowned upon.

:)

Netting isn't allowed within a mile of most salmon spawning rivers during the salmon run and I belive catching all the fish yourself is a much more sustainable form of fishing then trawling with it's current quota system(see Hugh's fish fight).

A large % of what they catch is thrown back dead.With a legal sized gill net only large fish are caught .There is a preconception that gill netting in this way is bad but there are fishermen who employ this method of fishing to earn a living and they have earnt a Marine Stewardship Council certificate because their methods target a specific number of species with no bycatch.There are people who will frown upon it but they are mostly ill informed and will tut tut at you before going to a large supermarket to buy a piece of cod or tuna.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on August 07, 2011, 16:02
I observed my nearest bramble patch this morning, the odd tiny green going red fruit but mostly covered in flowers still!  :ohmy:
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: tosca100 on August 07, 2011, 17:56
I observed my nearest bramble patch this morning, the odd tiny green going red fruit but mostly covered in flowers still!  :ohmy:
OH brought in some wild plums today from a field where he walks the dogs. Will freeze them and put them with other wild fruit for jam or....mmmmmm...summer pudding. :)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Janeymiddlewife on August 07, 2011, 21:19
I observed my nearest bramble patch this morning, the odd tiny green going red fruit but mostly covered in flowers still!  :ohmy:

Our blackberries are beautiful here at the mo, been ripe for about 2 weeks now and still coming along. So sweet that I've added them straight to a fruit salad and nobody flinched, told them they were tayberries  :D
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: operabunny on August 11, 2011, 10:56
Blackberries, blackberries and more blackberries! Amazing crop already this year and lots more flowers still appearing. Keeping a careful eye on the elderberries as the first few are just ripening.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sion01 on August 21, 2011, 21:39
I'm jealouse of all the talk of blackberries.It's been so damp and humid here that they seem to be going mouldy as they ripen.I found a bullace tree fully laden this afternoon and they were fully ripe but it was covered in wasps.
I manager to pick 9lb and decided to shake the tree to see if some of the fruit I couldn't reach would fall and I was showered with annoyed wasps.I wouldn't recoment that tactic to anybody.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Alastair-I on August 21, 2011, 22:48
Blackberry and elderberry gathering today.. blackberries for the freezer, elderberries bottled as a syrup/cordial.  Checked on the sloes last week and they're swelling nicely.. must resist a little longer to let them frost.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: grendel on August 21, 2011, 23:08
we picked 23 lbs of cherry plums by the roadside last weekend, they really were the last knockings as tey started deteriorating as we drove home, all prepped and cleaned, depitted (cherry pitter works fine) bagged up vac sealed and in the freezer.
Grendel
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: finleyfreyaseth on August 25, 2011, 18:52
Blackberry and elderberry gathering today.. blackberries for the freezer, elderberries bottled as a syrup/cordial.  Checked on the sloes last week and they're swelling nicely.. must resist a little longer to let them frost.
read somewere u dont need wait for frost for sloes jst freeze them it as same effect,dont know if its right?
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: mike1987 on August 25, 2011, 19:21
Blackberry and elderberry gathering today.. blackberries for the freezer, elderberries bottled as a syrup/cordial.  Checked on the sloes last week and they're swelling nicely.. must resist a little longer to let them frost.
read somewere u dont need wait for frost for sloes jst freeze them it as same effect,dont know if its right?
no wait for the frost to hit then they have had there full season growing and will be sweeter for it
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sion01 on August 27, 2011, 20:01
Hazelnuts are getting to the size where their edible around here .Their far from mature but are nice,sweet and milky at this stage.Around here if you leave them to mature the squirrels eat them all so it's the only chance I get to taste them
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Janeymiddlewife on September 15, 2011, 22:06
Hazelnuts are getting to the size where their edible around here .Their far from mature but are nice,sweet and milky at this stage.Around here if you leave them to mature the squirrels eat them all so it's the only chance I get to taste them

Hah - managed to beat the squirrels this year - whacked the tree with a broom to "encourage" them to drop. Got pounds of them, but they're not as big this year as some years - any ideas what I can do with them - was hoping to utilise them into gifts at Christmas.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sunshineband on September 15, 2011, 22:25
You could make hazelnut marzipan  :)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sion01 on September 16, 2011, 09:38
Hazelnuts are getting to the size where their edible around here .Their far from mature but are nice,sweet and milky at this stage.Around here if you leave them to mature the squirrels eat them all so it's the only chance I get to taste them

Hah - managed to beat the squirrels this year - whacked the tree with a broom to "encourage" them to drop. Got pounds of them, but they're not as big this year as some years - any ideas what I can do with them - was hoping to utilise them into gifts at Christmas.

That's fantastic.I'm a bit jealouse as it's been about 20 years since I've had more then a handfull of hazelnuts so recipes have been something I've had no use for unfortunatly What about musili or granola
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on October 02, 2011, 16:00
Just curious really... Loads of wild fungi grow here and, as previously discussed, I'm far too wary to try and ID any myself so I don't pick them. I came across this yesterday, after some hours of heavy rain the previous day. I wondered what it is and is it that colour through being rain saturated?

Any ideas?

 :)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sarajane on November 06, 2011, 16:39
Just returned from a walk in our local forest, delamere, and picked up 6 1/2 lb of chestnuts.  A far better size than last year.  I'll spend the week boiling them for 3 mins and then peeling and putting in the freezer.  The whole ones will be roasted for ten minutes with the spuds at Christmas and the broken bits put into the stuffing.

Quite time consuming job but they will be lovely  -  and free so get yourselves out there folks before the squirrels get em all  ;)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on November 06, 2011, 16:58
Love Delamere! :D OH is from near there. :)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sarajane on November 06, 2011, 19:19
Wow  -  small world they say.  We're just about 7 miles from delamere and have been going there since I was a nipper,  Probably nearly 50 years.  It was a free day out and Dad was lucky to have a car so we used to end up taking half of the street with us.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: tosca100 on November 06, 2011, 20:24
We go there too, with the dogs. But we have a local supply in our village, courtesy of our local estate. Will have to wander down and see.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: ANHBUC on November 06, 2011, 23:18
Went for a walk on the lovely North Yorkshire Moors today and was amazed that there were still a few blueberries left.  Not enough to take home but a tasty snack which was a bonus.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sion01 on January 26, 2012, 18:34
Alexander's are getting harvestable here now.Sorrel is really obviouse in the hedges as it's almost the only green thing.Little tender nettle shoot's are also pushing up,full of iron.Just what you'r body needs after a long dark/cold/wet/miserable winter.Cornsalad and hairybitter cress is also really obviouse now.

Shake off those winter cobwebs forager's and get out there
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on January 26, 2012, 18:39
Well done sion! Its good to know things are growing again. :D
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on February 09, 2012, 18:16
Anybody picking or foraging in February? :)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: tosca100 on February 09, 2012, 18:19
Had wild garlic already, very strong but so fresh. mmmmmmmmmmm
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on February 09, 2012, 18:26
Really Tosca? That's good to hear. :) I hadn't even thought to look at mine, but I will in daylight to see if there's any sign.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sarajane on February 09, 2012, 21:38
the tips of my wild garlic is just peeping through  -  not really foraging though as it grows in the corner of my plot
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: ANHBUC on February 09, 2012, 22:48
Unfortunately mine is in the hen enclosure so they have already nipped the new shoots off a couple of weeks ago.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on February 10, 2012, 06:51
not really foraging though as it grows in the corner of my plot

Not if you grow it, but you can find it in the wild. ;)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Thrift on February 10, 2012, 06:55
I haven't found any garlic but there is masses of pennywort growing in the banks. I haven't tried it but saw Matt Baker try it ( on the One Show I think ) and he said it had a runner bean flavour.

Must do a taste test today.  ::)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on February 10, 2012, 07:56
That sounds interesting Thrift, I didn't see it. Let us know how you get on. :D
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: tosca100 on February 10, 2012, 10:16
the tips of my wild garlic is just peeping through  -  not really foraging though as it grows in the corner of my plot

Don't know if mine was (legally) foraged or not. Went to view a cottage with 2 acres of woodland attached and it was growing in the wood. Couldn't resist! :D

Oh how we want that cottage! :(
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Thrift on February 10, 2012, 10:32
That cottage sounds idyllic tosca ........ make it happen, somehow!  :D
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on February 10, 2012, 11:02
That does sound lovely Tosca, I won't tell. ;)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: tosca100 on February 10, 2012, 14:11
That cottage sounds idyllic tosca ........ make it happen, somehow!  :D

It was. There was a greenhouse, two veg beds (one with established asparagus) the base of a large chook house, fruit trees, rest of the trees native, stream. The cottage was heated by wood, (no kitchen, but hey :D)

Unfortunately the people interested in our house are no longer. :( Not much likelihood that something like that will come up again in our price range.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on February 10, 2012, 14:53
No kitchen?  :unsure: No room which was one once, or just a shell so old you have to fit it out? (Like we did here).
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Thrift on February 10, 2012, 15:09
No kitchen is good. We started from scratch too ....... much better, you're not paying for someone else's unecessary fittings.

Tosca I do hope you suddenly get a miracle sale on your house; the cottage sounds fabulous.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: tosca100 on February 10, 2012, 15:38
No kitchen?  :unsure: No room which was one once, or just a shell so old you have to fit it out? (Like we did here).

A small room with pantry and sink, no units. The eco person selling it says she never felt the need. I love to cook. there is a good sized dining room next door so no problem putting in what I want. Brand new thermostatically controlled wood burner for heating and water.

Oh dear, Getting all wanting again. It sure would be a miracle to get a buyer, but I try not to think about it too much.

And the lady really wanted us to have it too, anyone else seeing it just wanted to extend it and cut the trees down.

Sorry, gone a way off topic.

Sigh, sigh and thrice sigh......
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on February 10, 2012, 18:17
That's exactly what we had here Tosca, with the addition of a rusty old Raeburn range we couldn't salvage. :) Yes, we've gone off topic, but hey its mine so its allowed this once. :D
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: tosca100 on February 10, 2012, 18:41
That's exactly what we had here Tosca, with the addition of a rusty old Raeburn range we couldn't salvage. :) Yes, we've gone off topic, but hey its mine so its allowed this once. :D

Awww thanks Argyllie. The dream is still alive according to OH. Cottage is still for sale and he's working on a plan...............
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Mosslane on February 10, 2012, 18:48
Hi Tosca, really hope you can get your dream, I know how much you have been trying. Fingers crossed, :)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: conteasy on February 15, 2012, 22:23
Should be some nettle tips coming up, I love nettle souflee and nettle haggis, and in pasties with potato and onion . . . .
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: snowdrops on February 15, 2012, 22:27
Should be some nettle tips coming up, I love nettle souflee and nettle haggis, and in pasties with potato and onion . . . .

Do you have recipes for those,I've never tried nettles. :unsure:
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Swing Swang on February 15, 2012, 22:49
Roadkill pheasant last night - it was a 3years+ c0ck bird - slow cooked for 4 hours in white wine and apple and ginger chutney - delicious - SS
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on February 16, 2012, 06:58
I'll have to look out for the local nettle patch coming up although it seems on the early side. Nettle soup is very tasty and very easy to make, you just have to be careful when picking the tips.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Madame Cholet on April 19, 2012, 21:17
Started eating camanulas last year as I discovered they are good in salads. I have now found some really beautiful ones that will grow in my new revamped shade garden.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on April 20, 2012, 08:34
That's interesting to know. I eat nasturtium flowers sometimes, but I'd love to know more about edible flowers as I think they make a dish look great. :)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Madame Cholet on April 22, 2012, 21:05
The leaves of nastursiums are a good cress substitute great with egg mayo. All the viola family are ok in salads violets , pansy and viola. I tend to hatvest the leaves more and just pick the odd flower as a garnish.
Hairy bitter cress is pleasant as is speedwell

Bedding begonias are good in salads a nice crunch, the mexicans eat them a lot too.

alchemila molis sorry can't remember the common name is ok in salads in small amounts, quite a strong flavour as is ground elder and purple dead nettle.

Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: snowdrops on April 22, 2012, 21:20
Alchemilla mollis- ladys mantle
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Madame Cholet on April 22, 2012, 21:27
thank you snow drop ;)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Mafro on April 22, 2012, 22:11
Picked two great big handfuls of chickweed on the plot today and made a really nice chickweed soup.

I also found some morel mushrooms yesterday and had these on toast with PSB and cream.  Ohhh that was gooood!
Title: Mmmm some Horse mushrooms I foraged today
Post by: Stratts on May 09, 2012, 14:44
The groundsman at work came to see me coz he'd ploughed through a load of mushrooms when cutting the grass and I managed to gather these before they bit the dust  :D

Out shooting tnite if it stays fine so it would be nice to bag something to accompany them for tmoro's tea  :tongue2:





Title: Re: Mmmm some Horse mushrooms I foraged today
Post by: chrissie B on May 11, 2012, 10:42
they look nice , we used to get given these big meaty mushrooms form out lady next door in greece bless her she used to wash them to an inch of their life and store in zero temps so when you got them they were black, freezing and slimy , but when you got them properly they were meaty like steak yum .
chrissie b
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Can you eat that? on May 13, 2012, 11:28
I must admit I stay away from fungi, I just haven't got the knowledge. This week I've pickled dandelion buds, last week nettle haggis and dandelion pancakes. And I've finally got up the nerve to pick snails, remarkable harder than you'd think to find a meal full. 
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Ice on May 13, 2012, 17:01
I must admit I stay away from fungi, I just haven't got the knowledge. This week I've pickled dandelion buds, last week nettle haggis and dandelion pancakes. And I've finally got up the nerve to pick snails, remarkable harder than you'd think to find a meal full. 
Note to self.........Don't accept a dinner invitation from this member. :lol:
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: tiasmum on June 10, 2012, 21:18
Its a really good time to collect elder flowers, both for cordial and champaign,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambucus
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sunshineband on June 11, 2012, 07:26
I must admit I stay away from fungi, I just haven't got the knowledge. This week I've pickled dandelion buds, last week nettle haggis and dandelion pancakes. And I've finally got up the nerve to pick snails, remarkable harder than you'd think to find a meal full. 

I hadn't realised until I saw aprogramme on TV this week that the large Roman snails (which do not inhabit gardens!) are in fact a protected species now  :ohmy:
Title: Foraged Food
Post by: Raven50 on June 18, 2012, 23:00
Hi Everyone,
We are great foragers for wild food, it's a great way to supplement the produce from your plot, and gives access to flavours and textures you won't find anywhere else  :)

At this time of year it's all about Elderflowers. These large shrubs/small trees grow everwhere, and are something whose smell you love, as I do, or think it smells like tomcats, as my daughter does  :dry:
Elderflower cordial is really easy to make, and is great for flavouring ice-cream (cheat and buy a good quality plain ice-cream, defrost a little and beat the cordial in to taste, then refreeze!) or for glugging into a cold glass of fizzy wine on a hot day. There's a couple of good recipes on the bbc.co.uk/food website, or at the same thing on the Channel 4 one.
Note - several recipes mention citric acid, which you can get from Boots and other chemists for a pound or two, and it lasts for ages.
Once you've made the cordial, there are loads of ways to use it in different recipes.  :)

Another way to use them is to make champagne, we have tried this ourselves once and it was lively, to say the least! There's a good recipe here -
 http://www.channel4.com/4food/recipes/chefs/hugh-fearnley-whittingstall/elderflower-champagne-recipe.

But PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING WARNING taken from the webpage -

"Use STRONG bottles and strong seals. A really active mixture can produce a lot of gas if left for a long period, so do remember to let it off regularly to prevent explosions!"

It's a good job they were in the allotment shed, is all I can say  :ohmy:

I'll try and update the topic as the year progresses, and if anyone has any suggestions for other foraged favourites I'd love to hear about them!

A Note about the berries - I collect equal quantities of hawthorn hips, blackberries and elderberries from the playing field at the back of our house, cook and strain the juice through a muslin bag and use it to make jelly/jam. Delicious! But be warned, elderberries are a laxative if you use too many or try to eat them raw  :)
Title: Re: Foraged Food
Post by: arugula on June 19, 2012, 06:26
This post fits in fine with our free and wild food topic. ;)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: allotmentann on June 19, 2012, 07:08
Elderflower cordial is good, I have just made 9 litres of it! I discovered recently that a lot of Indian grocers sell citric acid (in with the spices), it is far cheaper than buying from the chemist. I am hoping to find something nice to do with the berries. :)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sunshineband on June 19, 2012, 07:38
Ann, elderberry wine is an excellent use for the berries  :D

They also go well in hedgerow jam, in smallish quantities  ;)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on June 19, 2012, 07:41
Ann, elderberry wine is an excellent use for the berries  :D

They also go well in hedgerow jam, in smallish quantities  ;)

I'll second both those statements sunny. :D
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: ANHBUC on June 19, 2012, 15:26
This is a recipe for a cough syrup made with elderberries, it had an excellent review.  I haven't tried doing it yet as we didn't have any berries last year due to much needed pruning!  :wub:

www.greenmanherbalist.co.uk/elderberry_syrup.html
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Madame Cholet on June 19, 2012, 19:44
made some elderberry and apple jam last year I liked it!
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: rhysdad on August 23, 2012, 09:03
Apart from blackberries, this year is going to be a bit thin on the ground for wild food. Even my local damson trees are nearly bare! No apples or pears on the trees I've found, no hawberries, zilch! I do worry for the wildlife if we have a cold Winter...
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: mobilekat on August 23, 2012, 15:26
I have been feeding the birds all 'summer' and its been the busiest every- they have gone through more food this summer than they normally do in winter.
And like you said many trees are bare. Only think I have seen doing well is one local Rowan.

Hope for everyones sake that next year is better!
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on August 23, 2012, 15:51
Apart from blackberries, this year is going to be a bit thin on the ground for wild food.

There are lots of brambles on the bushes, its just that they're tiny.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: grendel on August 23, 2012, 20:31
unfortunately near here is a nice patch of wild plums bullace and damson trees, they are totally not able to be picked as they are on the hard shoulder of a very major dual carriageway half way up a steep hill, you only see the top 10 foot ofr so of the trees as they are on a steep bank, and you cant get to the bottom of the bank, so every year I am foced to watch the plums fall and slowly rot as I drive past. stopping at that location would be suicide as there is only a few feet width of hard shoulder to the barrier, and huge lorries hug the edge of the white line going up the hill as all the cars pass them, the nrearest spot to pull over has to be a mile away, so its just sad.
Grendel
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Raven50 on August 27, 2012, 18:54
I picked my first blackberries mid-week, from the alleyway behind my terrace that leads to a playing field. There were far more than I could pick in one session, so I just had a few to put in a crumble with some apples - lovely  :)
The last couple of years I have made a 'Hedgerow Jelly' from berries and haws I collect from the playing field. It's an easy recipe - collect equal quantities of blackberries, Hawthorn haws and elderberries, put in a large pan with about a pint of water (for approx 1 kilo of berries) and simmer gently to bring the juices out. Leave to drain in muslin or a jelly bag over a large bowl overnight, then measure the resulting juice and add an equal quantity of jam sugar (the sort with the pectin already added). Bring up to setting temperature and decant into sterilised jars. That's it! It goes equally well with meat as well as sweets - it makes a great filling for a victoria sponge - and tastes, oddly, a bit like blackcurrant jam...
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sion01 on November 10, 2012, 10:11
Couldn't belive it a few months ago when I was walking on a surf beach near by when I noticed a whole scallop on the tide line.I presumed it was dead but when I picked it up I felt it closeing.Walked along and found another 6.Not believeing my luck I put them in a bucket of salted water when I got home and yes they were alive.

Haveing never cooked /eaten scallops before(theyre so expensive) I read my river cottage books and cooked them.They were fantastic.Ive been back to the beach many times after and after a storm I always get 2-10 scallops :D.Added bonus was that the dunes behind the beach had a good supply of field mushrooms too.Its a really great place and is well worth the petrol to get there.

Its a big beach and on one of my scallop walks a week ago I found a patch of millions of cockle shells (empty) makeing up part of the beach.I went down do the low tide mark and eureka COCKLES.I take a little rake there with me when I go there now and collect enough cockles for myself.Top Top spot
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sunshineband on November 10, 2012, 10:16
I love fresh gathered cockles --- so much more flavourful than those that have been hanging around somehow.

Lucky you, being able to get scallops too  :D
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Growster... on November 10, 2012, 10:48
Nice one, Sion!

I used to love going shrimping, and have forgotten just how rewarding a pastime it is!

Agree about scallops, for some reason, I never touch them (had a nasty vongole once, which turned me right off them, and mussels), but perhaps I should try again now!
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: joyfull on November 10, 2012, 11:13
wow lucky you - I love scallops.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Auntiemogs on November 10, 2012, 14:27
What wonderful luck Sion!  :) 

I remember (in a previous life) chasing scallops across the sea bed.  They can really shift and we used to collect them in a bag and poach them in the galley in some milk.  Wonderful flavour (especially after working up a healthy appetite).   :tongue2:

Thanks for the memory, was good times.  :D
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: superpete on February 12, 2013, 23:18
I go all ga ga when I find something out on walks that I can eat and is as fresh as – I don't know much... blackberries, a few mushrooms... I lived on the south coast for one winter and pretty much just ate fresh mackrel (were 10p then) and mash – I'm envious of you coastal dwellers now.

I agree sion01, “Wild Food” by Roger Phillips and Martyn Rix is a very informative and a lovely book, as are all the the books in that Pan series - the one that's just entitled “Vegetables (http://Vegetables)” is a must have for veg growers (I think) as is the the one about mushrooms if you're into foraging... (but I'd still want a Frenchman with me)

What I wanted to share was this website – I haven't fully explored, only found it today...
(http://www.eatweeds.co.uk/)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: superpete on February 12, 2013, 23:22
wish you'd made this a Ning site John ----

the link I tried to post was to this :- http://www.eatweeds.co.uk/
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on February 13, 2013, 06:23
wish you'd made this a Ning site John ----

the link I tried to post was to this :- http://www.eatweeds.co.uk/

Excuse my lack of knowledge of the name, but what is a Ning site? You appear to have managed to post the link, or is it missing some sort of functionality in its present form?

:)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sion01 on February 22, 2013, 17:19
wish you'd made this a Ning site John ----

the link I tried to post was to this :- http://www.eatweeds.co.uk/

I've given up on all mushrooms exept for the common field mushroom.My nerves culdn't take it anymore.You have to have the memory of an elephant.What finally did it for me was discovering that one of the inkcaps I'd been eatting for a while was highly poisonouse if you consumed alcahol within 5 or so hours of enjoying the mushroom.Most of what I ate wern't up to fieldmushrooms anyway so other fungai are now off my list for safetys sake.It was either that or giving up alcahol.No contest Scrumpy 1 Fungus0
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: superpete on February 23, 2013, 11:19
arugula - In the “post reply” section, the BBC tags don't tell us what they are when we hover over them (link; add image etc)  like the smileys do.

I didn't know before I posted whether my two links had worked, (“Vegetables”and “www.eatweeds”) then after I posted I couldn't see how to edit or delete it so that I could try again

 Ning sites are social networking sites like this is. I'm a member of one but now I think back, I had a hell of a job trying to upload my first picture.. New techy stuff is always difficult for me but I'll get the hang of it - - - I found out how to add pictures in my gallery two days ago but they haven't been approved yet?

Oh and by the way I'm not really superpete - just pete.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on February 23, 2013, 11:23
Ah, thanks for the explanation (super)pete. :D

And I'll go and approve now. ;) That's a manual process of someone remembering to look. ::)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Joss on February 27, 2013, 19:28
I think theres nothing better than taking my dirt bike , or old bsa out when its blackberry time and having a day picking blackberrys , and sloes at the same time (I put the sloes in the freezer ) And I get my horse muck from a friend , i have to go and shovel it up out of her field sometimes and theres always Mushrooms to be picked as well . I'm also thinking of getting my Air rifle out and sorting the rabbit problem she has as well , I'll only take 2 or 3 at a time to eat , food for free is great  :D
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Armleywhite on March 10, 2013, 12:48
I use the dandelions I find on my plot and from other sources not anywhere near habitiation.  Leaves can be used in salads etc and the roots dried and made into coffee. 
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Growing4mykids on August 06, 2013, 18:51
Have lucked upon an area within 10 mins from our front door with cherry, apple and pear tree's and wild fennel, absolutely made up, needless to say we came home with a pound and a half of cherries  :D each of the tree's seemed to be laden so i'm guessing, apart from the birds, not many people bother, oh well  ;)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Growster... on August 06, 2013, 20:40
Of no real interest to anyone in particular, but as this is such an old starter post, isn't it nice to see all these old friends joining in all that time ago!
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: RubyR3d on August 14, 2013, 22:53
While picking and eating wild food is a fun thing to do please remember you can eat other stuff but to wildlife it is a matter of life or death.After a couple of really bad winters the wildlife has suffered huge losses and hunting for meagre offerings while trying to keep warm is a step too far for many and they die trying.Please don't pick too much from any one tree or bush and only pick what you will use not just for the sake of it.Taking stuff then wondering what to do with it afterwards seems wrong to me.Its been a wonderful spring and summer with numbers of birds ,butterflies and small mammals on the up.Let's leave plenty of wild food on plenty of trees to help them through what could be another hard winter. ;)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: gypsy on August 15, 2013, 18:22
While picking and eating wild food is a fun thing to do please remember you can eat other stuff but to wildlife it is a matter of life or death.After a couple of really bad winters the wildlife has suffered huge losses and hunting for meagre offerings while trying to keep warm is a step too far for many and they die trying.Please don't pick too much from any one tree or bush and only pick what you will use not just for the sake of it.Taking stuff then wondering what to do with it afterwards seems wrong to me.Its been a wonderful spring and summer with numbers of birds ,butterflies and small mammals on the up.Let's leave plenty of wild food on plenty of trees to help them through what could be another hard winter. ;)
Well said, I agree with you.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: arugula on August 15, 2013, 18:27
Thanks both for reminding us. We've had regular responsible posts throughout, but for anyone who hasn't read through all the pages a reminder is handy. ;)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: diospyros on September 04, 2013, 18:13
In a bush in my garden is a pigeon nest at head height, despite my best efforts to discourage them.  There are now two chicks. They look like dodos.  So do I/should I have them for tea in about four weeks time as per John Seymour's instructions for domestic pigeons?  Is this actually legal seeing as pigeons are game/pests, or is it still illegal to disturb them on the nest and I should wait until they leave it and then nab them straight away??
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: RubyR3d on September 04, 2013, 20:12
 :( Can't you just leave them alone. It seems very cruel to take them from the nest knowing the parents will be distressed. Live and let live :(
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Madame Cholet on September 04, 2013, 20:48
I'm vegetarian but pigeons and rabbits are fair game if you are prepared to wring their necks.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Sparkyrog on September 04, 2013, 22:26
No comment would get slapped by the Mod's  :D
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: compostqueen on September 05, 2013, 08:59
I had pigeons nesting in my allotment hedge and I watched the mother feeding the squabs; a happening I have never witnessed before or since.  Most people never get to see a squab. I've not seen one since and I'm glad I let them be. I'm not that starving that I have to eat squabs. With an allotment full of veg it would be hard to justify

 

Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: diospyros on September 05, 2013, 19:22
I could always eat the parents as well... and if I don't the sparrowhawk which treats my hawthorn as a drive-in will probably have them.  Oh OK, I give in.  The children are threatening dire consequences anyway!
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: ANHBUC on September 24, 2013, 13:08
I could always eat the parents as well... and if I don't the sparrowhawk which treats my hawthorn as a drive-in will probably have them.  Oh OK, I give in.  The children are threatening dire consequences anyway!

You are welcome to some from my garden, they really are a pest.  In the winter they steal the food I put out for smaller birds despite being in feeders they should not be able to feed from.  I have also had to treat one of my hens for scaly leg mite, as I hatched her from an egg and none of my other birds had it I think they must have come from the wood pigeons.   I counted 17 on the lawn last winter so there is no shortage here.   >:(
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: surbie100 on September 24, 2013, 14:03
We have lots here too, and I'd have no objection to eating them either! Thankfully, and unlike the crows, they haven't figured out that I have a window-feeder.

On something completely different, are other people seeing a bumper crop of sloes this year? The hedgerows near my Mum's are completely covered in fruit.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Sparkyrog on September 24, 2013, 22:13
We have lots here too, and I'd have no objection to eating them either! Thankfully, and unlike the crows, they haven't figured out that I have a window-feeder.

On something completely different, are other people seeing a bumper crop of sloes this year? The hedgerows near my Mum's are completely covered in fruit.
No the sloe's are dodo round here some idiot went out with a hedge trimmer ! cousin and I have had words  >:( Re wood pigeons lovely flavour but beware of eating  too many as in bulk they are meant to be poisonous  :)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Ema on October 14, 2013, 19:53
Been out collecting walnut and chestnuts recently
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: BigPaddy on October 14, 2013, 23:13
Sloes have been really big. Odd thing is I don't know where to collect the around here. Stompy started this, any suggestions? I got all min in the Lake District,.

Paddy
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Nobbie on December 13, 2013, 09:59
Sloes have been really big. Odd thing is I don't know where to collect the around here. Stompy started this, any suggestions? I got all min in the Lake District,.

Paddy

No sloes around here :( . Went on a special journey a few weeks back to a supposedly good spot and loads of sloe bushes, but no fruit. Not seen a hint of one locally and I do a loat of running around trails keeping an eye out. Loads of rosehips though :) so I've made some rosehip jelly which is really nice, although I'm not sure what the rosehip taste is or if I'm just tasting the lemon and orange which goes in with the rosehips :unsure:
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: snowdrops on December 13, 2013, 10:01
Sloes have been really big. Odd thing is I don't know where to collect the around here. Stompy started this, any suggestions? I got all min in the Lake District,.

Paddy

No sloes around here :( . Went on a special journey a few weeks back to a supposedly good spot and loads of sloe bushes, but no fruit. Not seen a hint of one locally and I do a loat of running around trails keeping an eye out. Loads of rosehips though :) so I've made some rosehip jelly which is really nice, although I'm not sure what the rosehip taste is or if I'm just tasting the lemon and orange which goes in with the rosehips :unsure:

Can you share the recipe please Nobbie
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Nobbie on December 13, 2013, 15:59
I just googled it, but can't find it now. Basically a load of rosehips, a big bramley apple, an orange and a lemon. Roughly chop up the last three and put in a saucepan with water to cover. Bring to boil and simmer for an hour and then give it a good mash. Strain of the liquid in a muslin bag overnight and the boil up with a pound of sugar to each pint of juice until setting point is reached and then put in jars :)

Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: snowdrops on December 13, 2013, 20:33
Thank you
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sion01 on February 05, 2014, 17:24
I know that all this wild weather is wreaking havoc around the country and many people are suffering in many ways and my heart goes out to them and wish that things get back to normal for them as quickly as possible.

One positive outcome around this area of these high winds are that scallops get washed on to the beach,sometimes by the bag load.I suspect that it happens in a lot of places where the beaches are sandy.If the shell is intact and it closes when you pick it up its alive and good to eat.If you'r not confident that it is alive put it in a bucket of salty water and after a few minutes it should open up and push its little feelers out.They won't be as plump as they are in the summer at this time of year but taste out of this world.Just make sure it is safe to go on the beach and be aware of the tides,it might be worth a look
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Dilly Dom on November 04, 2014, 10:28
I'm on my way - I just love scallops :lol:
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: mumofstig on November 04, 2014, 12:43
I should think they're all eaten by now  ;)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Dilly Dom on November 04, 2014, 13:23
oops silly me :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Ema on June 15, 2015, 13:19
I have 10L of elderflower fizz brewing at the mo, I love this stuff! This batch is a little odd looking so I will probably make another 10L before the flowers disappear in a few weeks.

I normally buy 20p 2L plastic water bottles to bottle them in so there's no exploding glass in the kitchen.

Including sugar, lemonds, a little yeast and the bottle its about 60p for 2L last years batch was quite alcoholic but who knows what this will be like
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Aled on April 12, 2016, 10:37
Another interesting thread I've missed. Marking to read again!
Cheers
Aled
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Aled on April 14, 2016, 09:00
I have caught up with this thread. Nice to read of others foraging exploits. I love foraging, and quite enjoy pot hunting, and fishing. Most years I gather sloes (this years sloe gin being decanted next week), blackberries, apples, and  hazel nuts. I also try to catch my own fish, sea trout & trout mostly, but the odd salmon and mackerel has graced my table. Finally I have a gun (licensed by the way), and pheasant, duck, pigeon, woodcock, and the odd rabbit are also enjoyed. An interesting book written in the 70's is "Living off the land" written by John Humphreys, its a laid back look at how we can enjoy a more sustainable lifestyle.
Cheers
Aled
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: BSRobin on November 06, 2016, 17:48
Brambles... annual free food if you train them.

If you are Fortunate to have Brambles aka blackberry's growing at yr Allotments...don't just kill them all. Instead cut one or two down far enough to dig them out, roots and all. Then move the root ball (you can dig under them as they don't got that far down- perhaps a foot,) to a spot where you can let it grow and then "Train" the laterals along as you would a grape or espalier. You can as I do weave the laterals sideways along a fence, in and out until next year when the fruit forms you will have blackberry's but under yr control.  I'm fortunate to have a wire and stick boundary fence for this, and have two or three young seeded brambles I identified and potted into buckets until I decide where to place them/train them. I keep them in check and only allow shoots that will grow along, not out before the "side shoots," start flowering. It's worked for this and last year... The fruit from the brambles at my Bristol East Allotments in St George, BS5 are to die for. The last fruit I picked was in late September. I'd had weeks of picking, without the prickles and scars!  Lastly, a top with being stung by nettles...never ever touch the spot where you have been stung. I simply "Ignore," the fact that I have been stung. By not allowing myself to dwell on the issue, the feeling goes away...80% of the time with twenty minutes. If you scratch you will feel the sting for hours.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Aled on November 07, 2016, 09:45
Sounds Interesting BSRobin. My Aunt in Gosport used to leave the bramble bush on her back fence, to harvest the blackberries in the autumn, she made some lovely pies!
Cheers
Aled 
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: cc on July 28, 2017, 11:52
Told sloes are looking like a great year. Only just started checking don't look great to me. Need to look at different area. On other hand elderberry and Blackberry look like bumper crops.
Mushrooms so far excellent....fairy ring good, saint George early and good and The Prince...see pictures!!
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Aled on July 28, 2017, 13:11
Nice one cc, hazel nuts are going mad near me, will be harvesting soon.
Cheers
Aled
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: cc on July 28, 2017, 20:38
Nice one cc, hazel nuts are going mad near me, will be harvesting soon.
Cheers
Aled
I don't pay much attention to trees other than firewood. I put a couple of apps on my phone to identify trees. Need to use it more. Spot hazel a few times but not recently. Need to put them on my list for foraging. One of my mushroom apps has a good map save. Need to add hazel to it. AND sweet chestnut. Thanks go out now and look for them.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: sunshineband on July 29, 2017, 09:29
Nice one cc, hazel nuts are going mad near me, will be harvesting soon.
Cheers
Aled

Ooh I wish! Squirrels always eat them before we get to them.

Blackberries are plentiful though, and elderberries beginning to ripen. Considering hedgerow preserves .....
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: cc on August 12, 2017, 10:46
Nice one cc, hazel nuts are going mad near me, will be harvesting soon.
Cheers
Aled
Walked a couple hedges which are regularly trimmed but not relaid. No point as they don't keep cattle. All of them have been taken over by other plants/trees.
BlackBerry, field Maple, blackthorn elder and hazel.
4 of the above are forageable. I am not going to try it but all maple trees produce maple syrup..supposedly!
Blackberry bushs absolutely hammered elderberry look the same.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: cc on August 18, 2017, 00:09
Nice one cc, hazel nuts are going mad near me, will be harvesting soon.
Cheers
Aled
Did a bit of opening my eyes the other day. A hawthorn hedge had been taken over by blackthorn (sloes), Hazel (nuts) elderberry (elderberry wine), blackberry...blackberry! And field maple, the latter would be pushing it!!
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: lillyjane on August 18, 2017, 09:04
  A sunny good morning to everyone. As a newbie I'd thought I'd share with you my free and wild food attempts this year. From my two Elder tree/shrubs in my backyard I made 12 gallons of Elderflower champagne which then became wine as there was not enough fizz to call it champagne, and yesterday I made a gallon of Elderberry wine which is nicely fermenting. I'm now on the lookout for more Elderberries to make more wine. Also made a pot and a half of greengage jam which has set really well - maybe a little too much, but I'm not complaining.
  Today I'm thinking about making Plum Jam, Plum Sauce, Plum Pickle, Spiced Roasted Plums as we were given a lot of Victoria plums the other day.
  I've also noticed some gorgeous looking blackberries not far from our house, so they are next on the list for converting into wine perhaps, or maybe jam, or use in a blackberry and apple crumble.
  Later on when the sloes are ready, it's Sloe Gin making time. At the moment our sloes are very small and not in abundance for the second year running. Prior to that we had a very good harvest, so I was able to make Sloe Gin, Sloe wine from the left-over pulp (very dry and an acquired taste as it's not what we call a glug-able wine) and lastly Elderberry cheese. I like to try and make the most out of the left-overs!
  What's next I wonder?
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: New shoot on August 18, 2017, 10:46
Morning lillyjane and welcome to the site  :)

There is a brewing bit of the forum, where you will find some ideas.

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?board=8.0

Also a group who like preserving - this is 1 thread, but there are lots more around.

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=124043.0

There are also loads of recipes in the main site.

http://www.allotment-garden.org/recipe/category/chutney-jam-val/

That should give you lots of ideas  :D
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: lillyjane on August 18, 2017, 11:41
Thanks New Shoot...I'll be taking a look shortly as there's so much going on on this website.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: New shoot on August 18, 2017, 11:54
We do have a lot of interests on here as well as gardening  :lol:

Foraging, cooking, preserving and brewing/wine making seem to go hand in hand with the growing side of things though.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Growster... on August 19, 2017, 18:44
Elder Daught gave me a trio of sloe bushes for my birthday, Lillyjane, and they're safely potted up to get going before we find a permanent home for them!

Several chums in the village have told me where to get some free, and I suppose I should really go and find them, as sloe gin is just fabulous!

BTW, if you're anywhere near Marden, try their Anno gin, it's fabulous and also, if your pocket's deep enough, let me know what the elderflower vodkas is like...

And also, welcome to the site, we are all good chums here!
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: cc on August 20, 2017, 10:30
Anyone noticed near them that some Sloesare a early this year? Not all trees just a few and not the normal amount. This maybe normal not sure anyone?
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: cc on August 20, 2017, 10:39
Trying to work out how to destone fruit. Found 5 damson (I think) trees. Want to use them in my blender? Also want to freeze a lot again for the blender. Any ideas for an easy method?
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: lillyjane on August 20, 2017, 10:55
Hi Growster and many thanks for the welcome. 
We have tried the Anno Gin as MOH had a gift pack given to him earlier on in the year. Very very nice! I tried making the elderflower vodka earlier this year but it didn't turn out well, so I'll give it another try next year.
Looking forward to making the sloe gin later on this year though. Hope you find a good place to plant your sloe bushes. How long will it be before you can start picking the berries?
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: lillyjane on August 20, 2017, 11:01
Hi CC... our sloes are small but they are not ready for picking yet and there are not as many in previous years. Guess I'll have to wait until later on this year.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: lillyjane on August 20, 2017, 11:07
Luck to have found the damson trees CC.... the only method I know of to remove the stones is to cut the fruit in half longways and then twist the two halves. Most of the time one half will come away clean leaving the stone in the other . You can then pull or gently remove the stone using the point of a knife. It's very labour intensive though. Good luck. :)
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Growster... on August 20, 2017, 20:11
Hi Growster and many thanks for the welcome. 
We have tried the Anno Gin as MOH had a gift pack given to him earlier on in the year. Very very nice! I tried making the elderflower vodka earlier this year but it didn't turn out well, so I'll give it another try next year.
Looking forward to making the sloe gin later on this year though. Hope you find a good place to plant your sloe bushes. How long will it be before you can start picking the berries?

You're very welcome, Lillyjane!

I need to sort out a bed for them as they turn into a big bush (apparently), and at the moment, there really isn't room... I'm a true novice on sloes, but have just this hour been offered a load of damsons by a chum in the High Street, so life is just great!

Glad you liked the Anno gin, we'll be over there in Marden in The West End Tavern again soon, and no doubt the optic will be lowered by several centimetres after elder daught gets going...

Must try the elderflower though...
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: cc on August 27, 2017, 12:23
Luck to have found the damson trees CC.... the only method I know of to remove the stones is to cut the fruit in half longways and then twist the two halves. Most of the time one half will come away clean leaving the stone in the other . You can then pull or gently remove the stone using the point of a knife. It's very labour intensive though. Good luck. :)

Turned out to be 8 trees Damson.  Neighbour said I owe her a favour so I cycled over for some. All the trees are far to tall to get at most of the damsons but easily filled 2 shopping bags for neighbour. Away from home till Tuesday so will go back and hammer it when I get back. Fruit always left to rot so don't feel the urge to ask permission!!  Neighbour gave me apples will freeze for my nutribullet device. I would guess I have about 4 probably more kilos of blackberrys . will also hammer the field and wood blewits as they have turned out to freeze really well. Glad I bought the spare freezer!!
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: cc on August 27, 2017, 16:06
Looks like I need to buy a telescopic fruit picker!
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: cc on August 27, 2017, 16:13
Nice one cc, hazel nuts are going mad near me, will be harvesting soon.
Cheers
Aled
I don't pay much attention to trees other than firewood. I put a couple of apps on my phone to identify trees. Need to use it more. Spot hazel a few times but not recently. Need to put them on my list for foraging. One of my mushroom apps has a good map save. Need to add hazel to it. AND sweet chestnut. Thanks go out now and look for them.
When is it normal to collect Hazelnuts?  Don't want to miss out.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: New shoot on August 27, 2017, 17:09
You could start picking now for the young versions of the nut.  They are sweet, crunchy and very moreish.  I found quite a stash on my twisted hazel in the garden.

Strictly speaking cobnuts are something a little different, but young hazelnuts are just as nice.  If you wait too long, squirrels tend to strip the tree and you get nothing.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: mumofstig on August 28, 2017, 16:34
Anyone noticed near them that some Sloesare a early this year? Not all trees just a few and not the normal amount. This maybe normal not sure anyone?

I went to pick some more blackberries and found the sloes are ripe here, as well. I could only reach a few, must remember to go back tomorrow with the old walking stick, so I can bring the branches down so I can reach them.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Aled on August 30, 2017, 09:30
Spotted some sloes over the weekend, need to make some sloe gin me thinks!
Cheers
Aled
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: cc on October 24, 2017, 11:34
Cheating I know. Bought at pub. Charity auction for retired hunt beagles. The egg box is for comparison. Supplied by retired game keeper. Offered both my daughters if he would tell me the location. Alas refused.
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: mumofstig on October 24, 2017, 11:51
Luckily for them  :lol:
Title: Re: Free and Wild Food
Post by: Aled on October 24, 2017, 12:04
Cracking picture cc. And a nice bit of fungus!
Cheers
Aled