A year in the life of a forager....
- Thread starter The Big Lebowski
- Start date
No problems... Its all a bit green at the mo, but I will have many interesting things over the next few months 
Some piccy's could be better, but I'm replacing them as I go along.
Some piccy's could be better, but I'm replacing them as I go along.
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Few more today...
Curled dock-Rumex crispus. Not unlike sorrel, young shoots pleasant. Unpastured farmland.
Wild Onion-Allium canadense. Use the stems like chives, or if you have permission from the landowner,
The whole bulb can be used. Similar to spring onion, just much better. Roadsides.
Curled dock-Rumex crispus. Not unlike sorrel, young shoots pleasant. Unpastured farmland.
Wild Onion-Allium canadense. Use the stems like chives, or if you have permission from the landowner,
The whole bulb can be used. Similar to spring onion, just much better. Roadsides.
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Nice one. There's a peice in the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean freebie paper this week offering folks a free "wild garlic" picking event in Abergavenny.
I may well pop along if the wife doesn't want me to paint or build something!
I may well pop along if the wife doesn't want me to paint or build something!
A cautionary Tale....
As with any type of collecting wild foods, some taste nice, some not so nice- although still edible, and some can be fatal.
I though I would add this next one to raise awareness as its very, very common to find when you are out and about. On some days at this time of the year it can look exactly like a type of flat leaf parsley,
the stems are near identical to celery and the bulbs like parsnip. Please be 110% exactly sure of what you are about to eat. I don't want to lecture anyone, I just want you to stay safe.
If in any doubt whatsoever, don't even pick something.
I have found learning the nasty stuff at the begging really helps.
Water dropwort-Several species in this gene are toxic, research thoroughly http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_dropwort
As little as 5 leaves (see yellow highlight) has been known to be fatal.
Right, back to the good stuff
As with any type of collecting wild foods, some taste nice, some not so nice- although still edible, and some can be fatal.
I though I would add this next one to raise awareness as its very, very common to find when you are out and about. On some days at this time of the year it can look exactly like a type of flat leaf parsley,
the stems are near identical to celery and the bulbs like parsnip. Please be 110% exactly sure of what you are about to eat. I don't want to lecture anyone, I just want you to stay safe.
If in any doubt whatsoever, don't even pick something.
I have found learning the nasty stuff at the begging really helps.
Water dropwort-Several species in this gene are toxic, research thoroughly http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_dropwort
As little as 5 leaves (see yellow highlight) has been known to be fatal.
Right, back to the good stuff
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Sounds like fun buddy... There's tons of ramsons, wild onion and three corner garlic/leek around at the mo..!
Agreed and same here!
What could be really useful as well would be a mention of any distinguishing features of the nasties. In other words, how do you tell them apart from something that looks similar.
Does that make sense?
The best way (well it works for me) is to fill up a flask and take a few books out for the day... Find a nasty (surprisingly easy) and explore the plant with a stick gently. Have a good look at the stems, markings and any other feature that makes it stand out from the rest. Its something you have to find a system for that works with you. Its a massive subject and the best thing is a field book!
Off out with camera today... More up later.
Off out with camera today... More up later.
Few more today...
Fennel-Foeniculum vulgare Fish/sauces ect. (ribbed plantain growing though)
Hedge (not of the jack variety) mustard-Sisymbrium officinale. Taken on waste ground.
Red dead nettle-Lamium purpureum. Salads ect. No real taste, Probably as nutritious as stinging nettle- so worth mentioning.
White dead nettle-Lamium album with a bit of wild pea for company Taken on roadside border.
Fennel-Foeniculum vulgare Fish/sauces ect. (ribbed plantain growing though)
Hedge (not of the jack variety) mustard-Sisymbrium officinale. Taken on waste ground.
Red dead nettle-Lamium purpureum. Salads ect. No real taste, Probably as nutritious as stinging nettle- so worth mentioning.
White dead nettle-Lamium album with a bit of wild pea for company
Taken on roadside border.
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And, there's more...
Wild Pea-Pisum sativum. I'll replace this once the pods are showing. 110% ID needed in this group.
Common hogweed or cow parsnip-Heracleum lanatum. Makes a great chutney or a simple veg.
Giant hogweed-Heracleum mantegazzianum for reference. Stay well clear.
Wild carrot-Daucus carota. Arable grassland. Thanks F.
Wild Pea-Pisum sativum. I'll replace this once the pods are showing. 110% ID needed in this group.
Common hogweed or cow parsnip-Heracleum lanatum. Makes a great chutney or a simple veg.
Giant hogweed-Heracleum mantegazzianum for reference. Stay well clear.
Wild carrot-Daucus carota. Arable grassland. Thanks F.
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xylaria
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
I'll get you a wild parnsip photo, they look more like hogweed that any other umbellifer at moment.
Cool
I'm so flat out at the mo its difficult getting time for piccy's, let alone hunting stuff down!
I'm so flat out at the mo its difficult getting time for piccy's, let alone hunting stuff down!
Few more yesterday... Did some tapping today for a change.
Wild rocket-Diplotaxis tenuifolia. So much better that the shop stuff.
Sea Aster-Aster tripolium. Nice crisp succulent with a salt aftertaste. One of my faves.
Birch Sap- genus Betula pendula A real spring treat. Might try a maple over the next few days.
Wild rocket-Diplotaxis tenuifolia. So much better that the shop stuff.
Sea Aster-Aster tripolium. Nice crisp succulent with a salt aftertaste. One of my faves.
Birch Sap- genus Betula pendula A real spring treat. Might try a maple over the next few days.
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xylaria
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Here is wild parnsip. It has gone quite downy now, the leafets are in pairs up the stem as they are in hogweed.
This is hogweed, it probably quite a bot bigger then this in most areas, but i am a way up hill so things a little slow around here. The downy leaf that is unfurling in the centre is the most edible.
Dont eat either wild parnips or hogweed unless you are absolutly sure you have IDed them correctly.
wild sorrel not to confused with;
cockoo pint/lords and ladies/arum. The root on arum can be processed into a starch, but the leaves and any part of it raw cause oxalic acid burns to skin and mouth. It is not unusaul to come across arum and sorrel growing next to each other on woodland paths, however sorrel much prefers open grasslands. It is a very common weed in lawns, cockoo pint is only found in shady woodlands the leaves are much shineyer. They can look a like when small and under developed.
cowslip, the flowers tastes lovely. a wine can be made from the flowers but it would require foraging a unethical amount.
woodsage, I think it tastes quite unpleasant.
watercress. I presume there will be liver fluke.
ground elder, nice treated like spinach this time of year. Lightly boiled, bit of ramson butter melted over teh top, mmm I know what I am having for lunch tommorrow.
another common plant that carpets woodland floor this time of year, dogs mercury, this plant is poisonous.
Great post thanks Xylaria..!
Been mad busy of-late, but back out with camera today, and there's a rumour the St George's are now showing
[h=1][/h]
Been mad busy of-late, but back out with camera today, and there's a rumour the St George's are now showing
[h=1][/h]
xylaria
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
not seen them yet. Had peas and weeds for tea though. chickpeas with satued ground elder and ramson butter. Saying that, my son said "doesn't this normally have them really nice mushrooms in it?". The old man made soem really nice chicken pakoras. Ramson riata is interesting, i am looking making fake turmeric with dock root.Great post thanks Xylaria..!
Been mad busy of-late, but back out with camera today, and there's a rumour the St George's are now showing
Food above sounds most tempting, I just had boring pasty and beans.
As promised St Georges! Calocybe gambosa.
A week later...
Good old Ramsons-Allium ursinum.
As promised
St Georges! Calocybe gambosa.
A week later...
Good old Ramsons-Allium ursinum.
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Few more...
Hop Shoots-Humulus Lupulus. Sadly just a few weeks of the year. Tastes like very good asparagus.
Wild Strawberry-Fragaria vesca. Flower form.
Borage-Borago officinalis. Tastes like cucumber (roughly) Traditionally used in Pimms! Sundowner old boy?
Coltsfoot- Tussilago farfara. Not tried this as-yet but it is edible.
Hop Shoots-Humulus Lupulus. Sadly just a few weeks of the year. Tastes like very good asparagus.
Wild Strawberry-Fragaria vesca. Flower form.
Borage-Borago officinalis. Tastes like cucumber (roughly) Traditionally used in Pimms! Sundowner old boy?
Coltsfoot- Tussilago farfara. Not tried this as-yet but it is edible.
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