The Foragers' Thread

[gbb]

Been busy foraging again. Picked a load of blackberries the other day while waiting for the garage to do the MOT on my car. They're in the fridge, still need to think what I'm going to do with those. Also picked some greengages from the community orchard.

Found some plums in a nearby hedge that I wasn't sure if they were bullaces or damsons. Turned a small quantity into jam. I shall be going back to pick some more. The test batch of jam was a bit on the sharp side, so most likely bullaces. Will add greengages to the next batch to add some extra sweetness.

There's also a giant puffball coming up in my lawn. I'll let it get a bit bigger, and then it'll be going into a fry-up alongside some free range eggs and a nice chunk of black pudding.

Have you had puffball before ?
I found it quite woody in flavour...but it was from a football sized one. Perhaps smaller ones are more subtly flavoured ?

 

[Reynard]

Have you had puffball before ?
I found it quite woody in flavour...but it was from a football sized one. Perhaps smaller ones are more subtly flavoured ?

Yeah, they pop up in my lawn quite regularly. Mind you, I tend to drown the slices in parsley and garlic, so the actual flavour could be just about anything and I wouldn't know!

 

[Reynard]

Went hazelnutting this past week. One site that's usually productive wasn't (they flailed the hedgerow, and hazel bears the nuts on last year's new wood). Another site looked a bit pants, but I almost filled a wicker shopping basket! Photo with the suPURRvisor for scale.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I found loads of pineapple weed (wild chamomile plant) growing out of a stone wall.
I knew immediately what it was, uprooted a couple of shoots, planted them up in a pot in my garden.
I already have the commercial chamomile flowers, that I have grown from seeds, they come back every year.
Personally, I don't like teas, but I have several friends that do like them, so I shall give them a present of chamomile: I hear it's very expensive to buy in Tesco

 

[Reynard]

I found loads of pineapple weed (wild chamomile plant) growing out of a stone wall.
I knew immediately what it was, uprooted a couple of shoots, planted them up in a pot in my garden.
I already have the commercial chamomile flowers, that I have grown from seeds, they come back every year.
Personally, I don't like teas, but I have several friends that do like them, so I shall give them a present of chamomile: I hear it's very expensive to buy in Tesco

£1.75 for 40 tea bags in Tesco. Mind you, Aldi is 95p for 40 tea bags. I buy mine in Aldi. That said, I cut and dry nettle tops in the spring for tea. I see it as a good revenge!

Chamomile is a good base for nice blends. It's lovely mixed with lavender and lemon balm for a nice soothing bedtime cuppa.

 

[DRM]

Went hazelnutting this past week. One site that's usually productive wasn't (they flailed the hedgerow, and hazel bears the nuts on last year's new wood). Another site looked a bit pants, but I almost filled a wicker shopping basket! Photo with the suPURRvisor for scale.

View attachment 785237

The Boss looks decidedly unimpressed!

 

[sevenfourate]

On my dog-waking escapades I’ve come across a Sloe Berry bush. It’s got LOTS of fruit on it…..

Some years ago i tried some homemade Sloe Gin. And thought it was Devine. So naturally once I spotted this bush - making my own for the first time was on the agenda.

But…….They are growing beside what is a very busy roundabout.

Should I avoid for that reason ?

 

[Reynard]

On my dog-waking escapades I’ve come across a Sloe Berry bush. It’s got LOTS of fruit on it…..

Some years ago i tried some homemade Sloe Gin. And thought it was Devine. So naturally once I spotted this bush - making my own for the first time was on the agenda.

But…….They are growing beside what is a very busy roundabout.

Should I avoid for that reason ?

I tend to avoid picking fruit by busy roads, but I guess not everyone can / has the time to head off into the boonies to look for stuff. If you've no other alternative, don't pick anything below waist height (to avoid as many tyre rubber bits and exhaust particulates as you can), and then wash the fruit very thoroughly.

If you do have the option however, I would suggest you pick from a quieter spot. The crop this year is very good.