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

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The Big Lebowski

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Aug 11, 2010
2,320
6
Sunny Wales!
I thought people where getting sun tans... It appears to be in fact, rust :p

Me mushroom friend is hoping it will be a good year for the ceps if the rain continues. Always a positive I guess!
 

The Big Lebowski

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Aug 11, 2010
2,320
6
Sunny Wales!
Finally managed to get out for a stroll today, man, this weathers lousy :p

I seem to be in a constant battle with mowers lately. My second growth of horse mushrooms where kindly shredded half an hour before I got there then the EA decided to mow my fennel/wild carrot patch,
middle of nowhere, no real public access so no reason to be 'pruned'. It does make you wonder sometimes where they get them from, and how much the remote control robot mower was.

Anyhoo~ Found some nice new chanterelle mushrooms- Cantharellus cibarius.
xicoZ.jpg


There where also signs of a few other bits and bob's growing such as the odd penny bun/cep ect,
so it should pick up again over the next few weeks :)

We had some friends over for my daughters 5'th Birthday, so I knocked up a basic salt marsh salad to introduce them to wild foods.
I now have a few converts!
oDHaK.jpg
 
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The Big Lebowski

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Aug 11, 2010
2,320
6
Sunny Wales!
Two nice days in a row. Bonkers!

Lime flowers- Tilia Europoea. The lime tree produces edible leaves for a few weeks of the year, and then a month or two after,
the flowers make a great infusion in hot water. Its really worth trying and hugely popular in France. Limes pretty wide spread.
qJHpM.jpg


Bladder campion- Silene vulgaris. The young buds can be eaten, along with the leaves on more developed plants.
Tastes like mange tout. Taken in meadows.
52KAo.jpg


Sandwurt- genus Arenaria (several in group). Tried this recently after someone pointing it out. Blanched and buttered it tastes like
young spring greens. Would go superbly with a few lamb cutlets or a small rack. Really nice, now in my top 5 :) Seashore.
VtJUf.jpg


Was supposed to be shrooming today, but the fair weathers returned and the tree's are sideways :p
 
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lannyman8

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jan 18, 2009
4,005
3
Dark side of the Moon
i have been away for a while but as always thanks for all the hard work gents and ladies......;)

hope to have a shore forage this weekend, heading just over the border to the north east, should be a gooden....:)

regards.

chris.
 

The Big Lebowski

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Aug 11, 2010
2,320
6
Sunny Wales!
Arm yourself with a copy of edible seashore :)

You should find sea beet, asters, sand-wort, samphire (inc rock) and several other bits and bobs. Let us know how you get on!
 

lannyman8

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jan 18, 2009
4,005
3
Dark side of the Moon
Arm yourself with a copy of edible seashore :)

You should find sea beet, asters, sand-wort, samphire (inc rock) and several other bits and bobs. Let us know how you get on!

its with Andy by sea so i think he will give me a quick heads up as to whats about to eat, plan on getting some shore foods seaweed and critters, depending on how cold it is dive for some shell fish maybe, crabs and lobster..... never been to the area before so dont know what shell fish / fish are around.

will try and take some pics for the forum, and just incase i die....;)
 

The Big Lebowski

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Aug 11, 2010
2,320
6
Sunny Wales!
Another nice day! Anyone would think it was summer :p

Found these beauty's today, happy forager :) As posted above- Cantharellus cibarius.
sezwQ.jpg


aQBG7.jpg


The wild strawberry's (Fragaria vesca) are nearly ripe :)
NuLq0.jpg


Back out on Monday. Have a good weekend!
 

Russell96

Forager
Jul 19, 2005
242
12
50
Surrey
Only a few posts from me but can I say what a fantastic thread. I have really enjoyed reading from the start. Thank you for all the effort.
Russ
 

The Big Lebowski

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Aug 11, 2010
2,320
6
Sunny Wales!
Your welcome Russ, on behalf of the posters.
Weather seems to have it in for me, but as soon as it breaks I'll be back out. Managed a few additions yesterday.

Marsh samphire or glasswort depending on your region- Salicornia europaea.
Known as sea asparagus and tastes great uncooked in salads or pan fried in butter,
or with lardons of smoked bacon, black pudding and a poached duck egg.
hgtLy.jpg


Sea blight- Sueda maritima. Similar to samphire, but less succulent. Go's great in salads.
I think it has a slight floral/lavender taste.
D3qGs.jpg


Himalayan balsam- impatiens glandulifera. An edible plant with seeds that taste like a cross between cashew nuts and hazel.
As with knotweed, be cautious about transporting.
The seeds go great in salads, risottos or just eaten as-are. The plant also produces a sweet edible nectar.
0UwFF.jpg
 
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Al, I enjoyed our wee stravaig down the estuary at Merthyr Maw. Was the corriander flavoured plant called arran grass? Also the wee tasty morsel that looked like mini cactus plant. I thats the last lci Marsh Samphire? Seriously yummy.

Oh aye, and I caught a fish

1-0 to the Windy
 

The Big Lebowski

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Aug 11, 2010
2,320
6
Sunny Wales!
LoL, yep, you whipped me :) Next year I'll take you out on the bass ;)

The coriander tasting stuff was sea arrow grass, the cactus looking stuff marsh samphire. Was a good day out, despite some hard fishing!
 

mereside

Nomad
Aug 21, 2010
254
36
hornsea
i think its because its a prolific grower and will rapidly get out of hand. also not native so it doesnt want spreading
atb wayne
 

The Big Lebowski

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Aug 11, 2010
2,320
6
Sunny Wales!
Correct... They are both highly invasive, non native and can quickly dominate an environment. Merthyr Mawr is a prime example for Himalayan balsam.

al.
 

The Big Lebowski

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Aug 11, 2010
2,320
6
Sunny Wales!
Been kind-of quiet on the foraging front due to poor local weather and a lack of mushrooms so far.

Decided to head down the coast for a fun family day (despite the weather) and do some rock pooling for prawns and seaweed to knock up a risotto inspired by Frazer of the Coastal Survival fame :)
My daughter was fascinated with the whole concept and managed to bag biggest prawn of the day! The dish consisted of prawns poached in sea water, sea lettuce, laver and saffron.

T1ENE.jpg


VaEWe.jpg


The finished dish. I would highly recommend having a go next time you are
near a rock pool. Both the praws and seaweed where superb!
WJX8K.jpg


I'm back down the coast next weekend, so I'll add some piccy's of the seaweeds ect.
 
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