A bit of a bimble

[John Fenna]

---

I managed to get out between rain storms for a bit more foraging and wildlife spotting.
It was too wet to pick any more blackberries (I have 2 gallons of Blackberry wine on the go already

next comes the Blackberry Vodka

) so I went in search of Sloes - for sloe gin!

A better crop than last year but although all the fruit is early this year they are still not quite ripe for picking...
Next stop was the wilder parts of the woods where I found evidence of fresh badger activity and some work being done ar the sett itself.

I also had a brew of tea here using my Hobo stove - but I forgot to take any photos!
I then moved on and checked out my "resin well" - an injured pine tree,

then harvested some Rose Bay Willow Herb (Fire weed) to make some fire bundles

and checked out the forthcoming Rose Hip harvest (for Rose Hip and Apple jelly - great with roast chicken and pork - and rose hip wine)

Far from ripe yet!
__________________

 

[welshwhit]

Looks good, I have both crab apple and rosehips in my garden! Might have to have a go at some of that jelly! Does it go well with rabbit?

Drew

 

[John Fenna]

Indeed it does!

 

[welshwhit]

Brilliant, Thanks John.

I'll make sure to have a crack at that this year!

 

[jackcbr]

daft question,
how do you know
when a sloe
is ready to go

sorry, couldn't resist the rhyme, but really, how do you tell. We've got loads growing round us. I've never tasted them, let alone harvested them

 

[John Fenna]

daft question,
how do you know
when a sloe
is ready to go

sorry, couldn't resist the rhyme, but really, how do you tell. We've got loads growing round us. I've never tasted them, let alone harvested them

When they are intensely blue/black with a pale "bloom" over the surface (not always present) and some wrinkles.
Best picked after a frost has aged them
Or you can stick em in the freezer!
Do not try them as a fruit - your face will turn inside-out!
Best used as the vital ingredient in Sloe Gin

 

[Shewie]

A nice day out, hoping for a similar one tomorrow myself.

We're still a few weeks behind though up here but I'll take a couple of carrier bags just in case.

 

[Scottishwanderer]

Nice

Can i ask what you mean by a fire bundle?

 

[udamiano]

Nice pics John.

 

[Mesquite]

Nice day out John with lots of goodies to pick

 

[John Fenna]

Nice

Can i ask what you mean by a fire bundle?

Just a bundle of stuff that I can quickly start a fire with - normally using flint and steel and charcloth - tinder, first kindling and secondary kindling all in one.
Dried out the Rose Bay Willow Herb has it all in one bundle

 

[Scottishwanderer]

Just a bundle of stuff that I can quickly start a fire with - normally using flint and steel and charcloth - tinder, first kindling and secondary kindling all in one.
Dried out the Rose Bay Willow Herb has it all in one bundle

Thanks sir might try to find some dead stuff to try. You can also eat the pith?

 

[John Fenna]

Thanks sir might try to find some dead stuff to try. You can also eat the pith?

Yeah - but it is not top of my favourite taste and texture list

 

[Mesquite]

Yeah - but it is not top of my favourite taste and texture list

I quite like the taste and texture... fresh melon springs to mind, just very fiddly to process

 

[BOD]

Thanks,

Just out of curiousity what would a badger taste like?

please don't say chicken

 

[Mesquite]

Thanks,

Just out of curiousity what would a badger taste like?

please don't say chicken

Badger

 

[John Fenna]

I quite like the taste and texture... fresh melon springs to mind, just very fiddly to process

OK - but for that you have to get it good and young - best before it flowers
As to badger flavour - seemingly a bit like a mix of monkey and snake
Or Pork

 

[Scottishwanderer]

Might have to give rosebay willowherb pith a try. What an awesome plant, Good firestarter, food and cordage. Awesome. Working as a gardener got me thinking these were weeds.

 

[Mesquite]

Might have to give rosebay willowherb pith a try. What an awesome plant, Good firestarter, food and cordage. Awesome. Working as a gardener got me thinking these were weeds.

A weed is but a plant in the wrong spot...

 

[Scottishwanderer]

A weed is but a plant in the wrong spot...

Thats what my boss say's. I prefer somoene on heres sig line which goes something like "a weed is a plant whose virtues are not yet known"