Let's go foraging

[seeformiles]

More wild raspberries this morning

 

[Johnny Vodka]

Two days later & another good picking.

 

[sojourner]

Cherry plums for me at the mo. My local park is chockful of them, so I just pick a load, dump them in the fruit bowl, and take a handful to work when they ripen

 

[chainsawjob]

So far, I’ve got 2 gallons of elderflower cordial and 6 gallons of elderflower wine. This morning, we went for a ramble and picked a lb of wild raspberries! A very satisfying find as it’s about a month before the blackberries and elderberries come out in force so getting my boxes and barrels ready for action

I had my first blackberry yesterday. The only ripe one. It was tasty. There's about a month's difference between down here (Hampshire) and where you are then?

 

[bcuster]

I eat backyard dandelion leaves regularly

 

[chainsawjob]

Found a good crab apple tree, big ones. If I find time I'll go back and get some.

Is crab apple jelly worth making? Could add it to other jam for pectin I think?

I found quince jelly wasn't worth the bother.

 

[chainsawjob]

I eat backyard dandelion leaves regularly

Didn't know you could.

The stem (the juice) is diuretic.

 

[chainsawjob]

Didn't know you could.

The stem (the juice) is diuretic.

This says the leaves are too, also an appetite stimulant.

Dandelion Information | Mount Sinai - New York

Learn about Dandelion or find a doctor at Mount Sinai Health System.

www.mountsinai.org

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

We've got burdock plants, great big ones, growing at the end of our garden. Anyone ever tried doing anything with the roots? I've seen recipes in Roger Phillip's Wild Food, but never tried them. Ideas?

 

[bcuster]

Didn't know you could.

The stem (the juice) is diuretic.

grandma custer told me they are"good for you"
the taste is a little bitter; reminds me of arugala.

i get dandelion at a much better price (free)

 

[chainsawjob]

grandma custer told me they are"good for you"
the taste is a little bitter; reminds me of arugala.

i get dandelion at a much better price (free)

Oh, is it sold on that site?

All I know is I was persuaded by other kids at school to eat a dandelion stalk, and it was certainly diuretic.

See also itchybacks (rosehips) that were put down my jumper. Not fun. Kids eh.

 

[seeformiles]

I had my first blackberry yesterday. The only ripe one. It was tasty. There's about a month's difference between down here (Hampshire) and where you are then?

I’m in Leeds. Anticipating the first blackberries in the next week - been checking my favourite spots and they’re green but ready to go

 

[Epona]

Didn't know you could.

The stem (the juice) is diuretic.

Foraging Guide Dandelion | UK Foraging

Find out more about the common and often overlooked Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) in this guide created by The Foraging Course Company

www.foragingcoursecompany.co.uk

There are loads of still not fully ripe blackberries everywhere, the kids who were doing work experience where I volunteer yesterday tried some and said they were still very sour, so I will wait a bit and hope the birds don't get them all first! My parents have loads so I will hopefully get some from them at some point. Bramble jam is one of my favourites, so will try to get enough to make some Hopefully with some for an apple and blackberry crumble too, although if I play my cards right, I might get one fully formed and ready to go in the oven off my mum

 

[Chilli.s]

Saw some blackberries that looked edible today, didnt try them as have had a ton of Tayberries from the garden which are better than both raspberries and blackberries

Once made pickled dandelion flowers, were ok used them in things and as salad

 

[Calamity1971]

Oh, is it sold on that site?

All I know is I was persuaded by other kids at school to eat a dandelion stalk, and it was certainly diuretic.

See also itchybacks (rosehips) that were put down my jumper. Not fun. Kids eh.

Always wondered why they were called 'piss the beds' when I was a kid.

 

[a_chap]

Shocked to see ripe blackberries this morning.

 

[Saunders]

View attachment 332300

Found a good crab apple tree, big ones. If I find time I'll go back and get some.

Is crab apple jelly worth making? Could add it to other jam for pectin I think?

I found quince jelly wasn't worth the bother.

Crab apple jelly is delicious so I would def say it’s worth a go but then I also love making and eating quince jelly. Lucky you finding them, i don’t ever see any. I remember my mum being given a load when I was a child and watching her make jelly, and that magical process where a bowl of what looks like dirty dishwater is transformed into jars of rich pink jelly that look like huge rubies.

 

[TopCat]

Shocked to see ripe blackberries this morning.

View attachment 332328

Loads out here. Starting the pick today. Making wine this year as the harvest will be huge,

 

[TopCat]

Loads out here. Starting the pick today. Making wine this year as the harvest will be huge,

I visited several huge patches near me a month ago with a massive spray bottle filled with canna nutrients and folier fed them!

 

[TopCat]

Just picked for 40 mins and got a half gallon. Already fermenting by the time I had finished. In the freezer. Do 40 mins every day for a month. Will pick the berries for jam at dawn before it’s warm.

 

[seeformiles]

Good lb of ripe blackberries this morning. Looking forward to a few weeks from now when we should be drowning in them

 

[nogojones]

Had a couple of ripe blackberries on a wander yesterday, so will head out this week and do a full pick in my local spot. Think I'll just stick to jelly this year as my teeth just ain't up to the seeds any more.

Also found a load of sea buckthorn yesterday, but that won't be ready for at least a month, so that ones going in the diary.

 

[seeformiles]

Picked just under a kg of blackberries this morning. If I get the same result in next couple of days then (combined with the raspberries and blackberries in the freezer) I should have enough for the first 5 gallons of hedgerow wine this year.

 

[TopCat]

Picked two kilo of blackberries today. Then made jam. I’m pleased as I only eat my own jam and last years had run out.

 

[seeformiles]

Just got back after half an hour’s picking in our secret spot - got 4.5kg in total

 

[TopCat]

Gonna have to get on my jacksie and go picking today. Got new brewing equipment coming.

 

[seeformiles]

Gonna have to get on my jacksie and go picking today. Got new brewing equipment coming.

After today’s haul I think the season is starting proper. I’ve already got 10 gallons of blackberry and apple started and saw my first ripe elderberries this morning. It’s going to be a bumper year

 

[Saunders]

Where are you all getting ripe blackberries at this time of year?

 

[TopCat]

Where are you all getting ripe blackberries at this time of year?

Big thicket on some waste ground near my house in SW London.

 

[TopCat]

I got 3.7 kilo today.