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A year in the life of a forager....

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That's pretty much why I didn't want to go go into it. A simple guide becomes a complicated library, not including photo time, editing, uploading...
I'm sure common names are fine but I'll add latin from now on anyhooo. If its slightly out of date, I'm sure a quick search will bring up the current for the researcher.

Your guide book wont be regional and you would obviously have one on one's-self at all times anyway :)
 
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Sorry to add to your workload Al. :sulkoff:

Yeah, I know what you mean about the Latin. It seems too swotty, academic and pretentious. At least that's what I thought until I found a friend in Romania who's an expert on fungi. His English is first class but talking about fungi required us to settle for a universal naming system and only the Latin name fitted the bill.

I can't name one plant by its Latin name but by using the Latin name there's no room for confusion when looking it up.

It ain't pretty - but it's practical.

BTW: If anybody is into fungi go to Romania (may also be true of other Eastern European countries) at the right time of year (autumn) the forest floors are carpetted! You can hardly put your foot down without stepping on a fungus......no really..... well almost! Unbelievable! Mostly they are the same ones we get here.

ATB Paul
 
Names (latin) updated and will now be included :)

Ichneumon said:
Yeah, I know what you mean about the Latin. It seems too swotty, academic and pretentious.
Click to expand...

Not really, they make perfect scene. They do change fairly often though, hence my reluctance to use them. Most 'common' names are a couple of hundred years old.

Steve.. Nice try:nana: Right, back on track!
 
Hey Al, top class work as normal, many thanks for your time and effort, i have managed to put it to good use already, when i walked the dog the other day i found some Yarrow and added some Daisy leaves ( contains lots of vitamin C ) and chopped them together and made some tea, i have a stinking cold and funnily enough felt better the next day, maybe it was just coincidence, but maybe not...;)

many thanks for all your effort though...

chris.
 
No probs buddy... Its all good fun!
Found some camomile a few days ago, so I'll try a brew at one stage along with Lime flowers when in season. Yarrow is supposed to be great for a cold, although I'm no herbalist.

Just waiting for the weather to clear up as its been absolutley lashing down here. Out with camera tomorrow :)
 
lannyman8 said:
Hey Al, top class work as normal, many thanks for your time and effort, i have managed to put it to good use already, when i walked the dog the other day i found some Yarrow and added some Daisy leaves ( contains lots of vitamin C ) and chopped them together and made some tea, i have a stinking cold and funnily enough felt better the next day, maybe it was just coincidence, but maybe not...;)

many thanks for all your effort though...

chris.
Click to expand...

Sad to say, coincidence, there is no proof that Vit C staves off a cold, at the end of the day its just a viral infection.
 
hey up Al, some thing seems to have helped, as Rick has said vitamin C does naff all it must have been the Yarrow. had a really bad throat with it and it stung like a right gooden, seems to have helped that too. just finished brewing up my last batch now, before we go to register little Harry Bear....:)

thanks again Al, an awesome thread....:)
 
I tried some yarrow last night, as I had that horrible gritty throat, just before you get a cold... Its deffo better for whatever reasons. New lens turned up today so I'm off out in a mo :)

Congrats btw, he's a a little cracker!
 
Update....

Red Clover-Trifolium pratense. The flowers can be used as fritters and salad garnishes.
FvUTm.jpg


Cowslip-Primula veris.
Far too rare (and now protected) to collect, but it always brings on a smile when I find a healthy patch (or three) :)
j61aq.jpg


Three corner leek or garlic-Allium triquetrum. Used as a flavoring as you would ramsons ect.
bMfDf.jpg


Spear Thistle-Cirsium vulgare. The stem and root base (if you are brave enough) can be peeled and supposedly have a taste like artichoke.
I'll get back to you on that one as I'm waiting for mine to get to a decent size... then the fun begins!
tCqcZ.jpg
 
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Superb thread still

As for the thistles etc. I dig them up with one of these

$(KGrHqN,!rkE88hC-)(oBPWtBZdtmQ~~60_12.JPG


Very good gardening kit - but useful for digging up deep rooted plans
 
Ahh... Cheers for the tip Red.
I'm slowly building up a foraging tool kit so if the thistle turns out any use... I may have to make a purchase :)

There will be a bit more color in the next few weeks, weathers turned awful after a nice spell.

Waiting for the black morels to show, lime leaves and beech for some Noyau.
 
Spear thistle unless it is growing on well cultivated ground with plenty of nutrient, the root and tops is better younger when still rosette like. The roots can go a bit woody with age. I like the taste of them, they are very mild almost potato like. They making weeding more rewarding.

The green stalks just need pelling and eating, i dont why they arent eaten more.
 
Feel free to delete any of my pics Al, but here's one I took today of some Woodruff, Gallium odoratum, my all time favourite flavouring for drinks. A few sprigs of this in some apple juice, leave overnight, and wow!

IMGP0831.jpg
 
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