Foraging in Finland / October.

[oggiegb]

Hello All,

My first post on this site, I'm off to Finland (Lake Saimaa region) next week canoeing and wild camping. We're away all week and will have plenty of spare time. I'm taking a fishing rod and planning to fish, it started me thinking re: what else I can forage?
I'm familiar with common British nuts & berries but was wondering what to look out for in Finland?

I'll put a posting on a finnish forum I found while surfing but I'm interested in hearing any feedback anyone has from their experiences in the area. I've surfed around but not really found a lot of useful information.

Thanks

Rich

 

[Martti]

I'm taking a fishing rod and planning to fish, it started me thinking re: what else I can forage?
I'm familiar with common British nuts & berries but was wondering what to look out for in Finland?

You will not find Commol Hazel that north but something to look for this time of year includes lingon-, cran-, rowanberries and also rose hips. Juniper berries can give a nice flavour to the food but you will need a permission from the land owner before collecting them. This year has been titled as the best mushroom year for a decade so try to find a guidebook before you hit the terrain. The moose hunting season started a month ago so you might want to wear bright orange vests when foraging.

PS. Last night the lowest temperature measured in Saimaa region was -3.7°C or 25.3F.

 

[jackcbr]

Glad to hear you're having a great mushroom season, ours isn't looking so good so far.

 

[oggiegb]

Thanks, that's great advice,

Will pack a mushroom guide book along with a big down sleeping bag, lots of warm clothes & fire making kit.

Regards

Richard

 

[Martti]

As it happens, Lake Saimaa is the best site for Stone Age paintings. Here is an extensive list along with GPS locations (click "karttaote" for online map of the area) of known paintings by municipalities. The sites are mostly easily visited by canoes or within a short walking distance of the shore.

http://www.suomenmuinaistaideseura.fi/kalliomaalaukset/luettelo.htm