Lots of folks watching the thread with interest
I certainly am.
The pedantics need to calm down a bit and enjoy and learn something.
A week on foraged wild food.
- Thread starter xylaria
- Start date
I certainly am.
The pedantics need to calm down a bit and enjoy and learn something.
Not critical of the prior storage, but I'm not sure the experiment will provide any more than "food for free" will as it's moved from living on "foraged foods" including that previously gathered, to catching the bus to known high density areas and having a couple of hundred calories at the cafe.
I could drive to the beach and collect an awful lot of seaweed, shrimps, crabs, mussels and limpet, continue to munch on what's left of the 10kg of walnuts, sweet chestnut and Hazels I collected last year and top up with a medium soya latte with extra shot too
All it demonstrates is that I am able to recall the locations of high density food sources that are only "foragable" through the use of vehicles and that I have some credits on my Costa's card.
Only asking that the objective of the exercise describes the actual exercise, I would say it doesn't any more
End of the day the op is doing something he/she thinks will be educational and entertaining, there are no rules, limitations or guidelines except the ones the op wants to set, as said above if you did a similar experiment it would be entirely up to you how you'd want to set your limitations.
In this case this isn't an entry into any competition so who are we (the observers) to set limitations?
In this case the op got on his/her bike and cycled to as nearby spot to harvest some food from around the sea, how is that not foraging?
Even if he/she took the car then so what, again hows that not foraging?
What would gain would be had to being restricted to 1 mile of the home?
Even IF he/she stayed within 1 mile then even for the UK based members that's a BIG variation in terrain, vegetation, animal life, some here no doubt live in rural areas others in towns, some by the sea others in Midlands.
So even if the op stayed within 1 mile of home and foraged, that's not going to be the same food for every member here.
Only thing i'd like, is pics.
Be nice to see pics of the food please.
Nice going Fiona. This is an experiment that many of us have thought they'd like to try, so you are doing it for many of us and we're right behind you.
I don't understand the detractors. Taking their arguements to extremes they seem to suggest that, for this little bit of very interesting fun to be really valid, you should be time-warped back to the mesolithic or something. But we know the result of that experiment - we're here.
For me, it is what it is (given the circumstances) - and I like it.
Keep the fascinating reports coming.
I don't understand the detractors. Taking their arguements to extremes they seem to suggest that, for this little bit of very interesting fun to be really valid, you should be time-warped back to the mesolithic or something. But we know the result of that experiment - we're here.
For me, it is what it is (given the circumstances) - and I like it.
Keep the fascinating reports coming.
Brilliant, don't know how I managed to miss this thread for so long. Any chance of some pics Fi? It would be great to actually see the green coloured crud you are eating whilst I'm sitting back drinking Guiness and eating my Danish pastries.
...........it was never an experiment. An experiment needs a theory and testing criteria.
This is an attempt to show the potential of foraging a weeks food requirements and the effort involved in obtaining it.
Toddy
This is an attempt to show the potential of foraging a weeks food requirements and the effort involved in obtaining it.
Toddy
this is a great thread and well done for trying, i have done a foraged foods only for 72 hour, living of the land making shelter etc etc, with only 5 items, i was very hungry dizzy and feeling rather pants afterwards...
that was early summer so just proves my brain box is not very full with this type of info, for that reason im very happy to hear and learn any more that is possible...
some pictures would be very good to put names to faces or plants so to speek....
keep up the good work, i totaly understand what your doing and why.....
that was early summer so just proves my brain box is not very full with this type of info, for that reason im very happy to hear and learn any more that is possible...
some pictures would be very good to put names to faces or plants so to speek....
keep up the good work, i totaly understand what your doing and why.....
this is a great thread and well done for trying,
keep up the good work, i totaly understand what your doing and why.....
+ 1 well said that man.
ever thought about road kill Fiona ? or would that not be foraging ?
I shall retire from the thread in this case as the experiment has lost validity for me and my expression of that is being taken as unjust criticism
Hope you have fun Fiona
I agree 100%. I think we've been told off for mentioning the elephant in the room.
Good luck with whatever it is you are doing Fiona.
No, you were gently reminded that the OP's intention was not the one that you have suggested in another thread.
The OP made no claim, and stated no intention, to 'live in the woods for a week'; simply to live on foraged wild foods for a week and demonstrate availability and the effort involved in obtaining such food.
cheers,
M
The OP made no claim, and stated no intention, to 'live in the woods for a week'; simply to live on foraged wild foods for a week and demonstrate availability and the effort involved in obtaining such food.
cheers,
M
see my issues? surely?
the OP states they will live on what is foraged, supplemented by the three kilos of hazelnuts in their shells, quite a bit of fruit leather and some acorn flour. however, unaccountably, bullrush, apples and veg stock appear, not to mention the huge calorific value of a big steaming cup of hot chocolate. The OP says Also on personal level it is good to pressure test skills and i know been hungry makes you quite sharp for spotting wild food resources and It is enough food for a day or two, but not with amount of calories I spent today. The next sentence now eliminates the keen eye of hunger (already lessened by the appearence of bullrush, apples and veg stock, not to mention the big steaming cup of hot chocolate) as the bus will be utilised rather than the 16-20 mile round cycle trip
so calorific intake is on the up and calorific expenditure is on the way down. this hunger induced keeness of eye is going to be so blunted an opticians visit will be next on the foraging list, there will be little in the way of a pressure test
i care little if the OP wishes to post a list of what they have gathered or what they had for tea (we had an indian takeaway i gathered from up town, its not season dependant) but for there to be some inference from the OP and others that this is any more than that, is somewhat odd........ and serving what? i remain confused on that
just my thoughts and observations, i know you dont care and i dont care you dont care, have said them anyway
It's just one person trying to not buy or consume processed foods for a week, why does it have to be anything else?
I don't understand why you both insist on putting some weird restrictions in place or require a report where the bulrushes came from
Why on earth would a person restrict themselves to one place, what on earth is going to be learnt by that.
It's not even a realistic scenario in real world terms never mind as a educational experiment.
Apart from being on the run from the cops what possible events could occur where a person would be stuck in one location and only have food from that location
As it is the op is doing something they've set themselves a goal at and are writing about the experience for us all to share.
How on earth can anyone turn that into a negative i don't know.
Without trying to be factious if you want to do the "1 week in wood" thing then that's 100% your choice, i'll happily read every update and the conclusion to your experiences.
As it is this is the way the op wants to do it so that's the way it is.
There really is no reason to set some unrealistic rules and limitations or for any justifacation for why the op has done things they way they want to.
IMO
Cheers
Mark
and you were doing so well! Nearly made it 3 hours!
Good night (I can cope with someone being wrong on the Internet.
)i havent set any scene, "rules", context or tests
the OP did, that was potentially interesting
the goal posts have changed so much for the reasons i have explianed, that the thread content is so far removed from the origional as to be no more than what i have said, a list of whast been gathered, a list of what is "appearing" and a list of what has been had for tea
i see little real interest in that as i do in sharing with you the menu on my takeaway
my opinion, not asking anyone to like it
cheers
Jon
the OP did, that was potentially interesting
the goal posts have changed so much for the reasons i have explianed, that the thread content is so far removed from the origional as to be no more than what i have said, a list of whast been gathered, a list of what is "appearing" and a list of what has been had for tea
i see little real interest in that as i do in sharing with you the menu on my takeaway
my opinion, not asking anyone to like it
cheers
Jon
Bullrush, apples, acorns and hazelnuts are foraged foods. That they were previously gathered, in season, doesn't detract from that.
I (and I'm clearly not alone on this) don't see your problem.
Tell you what. Settle this.
*you* do what Fiona's doing, you source the same foods she's finding, or has found, you write it up and tell us how 'easy' *you* found it, and maybe then you'll start to appreciate what she is actually doing.
It's not easy, it's hard work. So Fi had a hot chocolate good for her after a bike ride like that I'd want one too
Oh, and vegetable stock is easy, especially in a pressure cooker, it's just anything veggie boiled up for flavour and a bit of substance, from tops, peelings, roots, herbs. It's not difficult if you know how to balance the mix for taste.
Fi hasn't taken herself off to the wilds of Rannoch moor to do this (where incidentally the locals say that the best survival strategy is to get your self *off* the moor asap), but in the area she calls home. If that means travelling to access resources, so be it.
That she has plainly said it's not easy, in an area she knows has a rich biodiversity, clearly demonstrates that in an area of limited diversity and resources, it would be a great deal more difficult.
Which iirc, is exactly what she said in her opening posts.
Away and read Fergus the Forager's blog for a bit, maybe it'll help make thing clearer for you.
Woodlice; they go somnolent, they settle down and hide camouflaged in the leaf litter, under stones and the like. Normally they're spotted by movement. No movement and they're a lot harder to find, thus woodstock's comment.
I (and I'm clearly not alone on this) don't see your problem.
Tell you what. Settle this.
*you* do what Fiona's doing, you source the same foods she's finding, or has found, you write it up and tell us how 'easy' *you* found it, and maybe then you'll start to appreciate what she is actually doing.
It's not easy, it's hard work. So Fi had a hot chocolate
good for her after a bike ride like that I'd want one too Oh, and vegetable stock is easy, especially in a pressure cooker, it's just anything veggie boiled up for flavour and a bit of substance, from tops, peelings, roots, herbs. It's not difficult if you know how to balance the mix for taste.
Fi hasn't taken herself off to the wilds of Rannoch moor to do this (where incidentally the locals say that the best survival strategy is to get your self *off* the moor asap), but in the area she calls home. If that means travelling to access resources, so be it.
That she has plainly said it's not easy, in an area she knows has a rich biodiversity, clearly demonstrates that in an area of limited diversity and resources, it would be a great deal more difficult.
Which iirc, is exactly what she said in her opening posts.
Away and read Fergus the Forager's blog for a bit, maybe it'll help make thing clearer for you.
Woodlice; they go somnolent, they settle down and hide camouflaged in the leaf litter, under stones and the like. Normally they're spotted by movement. No movement and they're a lot harder to find, thus woodstock's comment.
and you were doing so well! Nearly made it 3 hours!
Good night (I can cope with someone being wrong on the Internet.
i retired, but we all surely retain the right to reply to that being said regarding us?
your 'wrong' comment, how and why and what for?
Bullrush, apples, acorns and hazelnuts are foraged foods. That they were previously gathered, in season, doesn't detract from that.
I (and I'm clearly not alone on this) don't see your problem.
Tell you what. Settle this.
*you* do what Fiona's doing, you source the same foods she's finding, or has found, you write it up and tell us how 'easy' *you* found it, and maybe then you'll start to appreciate what she is actually doing.
It's not easy, it's hard work. So Fi had a hot chocolate
Oh, and vegetable stock is easy, especially in a pressure cooker, it's just anything veggie boiled up for flavour and a bit of substance, from tops, peelings, roots, herbs. It's not difficult if you know how to balance the mix for taste.
Fi hasn't taken herself off to the wilds of Rannoch moor to do this (where incidentally the locals say that the best survival strategy is to get your self *off* the moor asap), but in the area she calls home. If that means travelling to access resources, so be it.
That she has plainly said it's not easy, in an area she knows has a rich biodiversity, clearly demonstrates that in an area of limited diversity and resources, it would be a great deal more difficult.
Which iirc, is exactly what she said in her opening posts.
Away and read Fergus the Forager's blog for a bit, maybe it'll help make thing clearer for you.
Woodlice; they go somnolent, they settle down and hide camouflaged in the leaf litter, under stones and the like. Normally they're spotted by movement. No movement and they're a lot harder to find, thus woodstock's comment.
ok, you cant see the problem
i can
you win
i found it very easy to forage food from the cupboard that i got months ago to then consume this week under the guise of foraging this week
you cant see the problem because you dont wish to
but i really do not care, the pretentiousness speaks for itself
The thing is this is a thread the op started about what she felt like doing.
It's not a thread specifically about you or what rules you want to set.
There are no rules except the ones the op wants to set.
You can either take something from the thread by reading how the foraged food is collected/caught then cooked or you can complain that something isn't being done like you would do it, it's that easy IMO.
I have no idea who the op is, never spoken with them and i certainly have no sides in this.
To my understanding this isn't going to be a published medical paper or a de-facto "how to guide" it's just a bit of fun there really is no need to take it so seriously.
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