Let's go foraging

[nogojones]

First time I've had a chance to try these. Wow. Really is chicken-y.

 

[nogojones]

Today's haul included a key of sea buckthorn - just being reduced to juice for jelly now, a few parasols and a meals worth of field mushrooms.

 

[bcuster]

this'll be an even more interesting thread to read late autumn/winter...

 

[Callie]

View attachment 342583

Can you mistake other things for field mushrooms? I was 99.99% sure some I picked the other day were field mushrooms, but they tasted funny when cooked (so I only ate a mouthful and put the rest aside), and I'm hoping it was just that the pan had been used to toast pine nuts last time it was used These ones I got today were from the same place, but later I saw some others you could mistake for field mushrooms but I don't think were, they had markings on the top, so I was thinking possible amanita family, which you def don't want to eat. The ones I ate the other day didn't give me any adverse effects, I waited 48 hours to make sure I didn't die Must do some more checking and brush up on my mushroom identification. I'm not sure I like the look of that one in the pic that's slightly shaggy with blades of grass on it. Not very smooth.

Yes you can get various Agaricus sp. mushrooms that look like yer standard edible field mushroom (Agaricus campestris). I think but might be wrong that most of the similar ones aren't deadly and are edible in the sense that they can be eaten...but they might give you gastro disturbances.

If they stain yellow when cut/bruised and they smell a bit medicinal they might be A. xanthoderma aka the yellow stainer

 

[chainsawjob]

Thanks Callie

 

[Johnny Vodka]

Sampling my foraged plum jam today, which includes cherry plums and some things which look like sloes but I don't think they are (bush not thorny). It has a certain sour/dry-ness - fine for me, but not sure I'd gift it to anyone! Will probably just use cherry plums next time. It took ages fishing out the stones from the tiny ones.

 

[Johnny Vodka]

It was the bottom left things that went in with the cherry plums.

 

[polly]

Haven't done any proper foraging in ages but went out to get rosehips today to flavour some vodka and found this giant puffball There were two but I left the other one for the beasts. Relocated all the woodlice inside my one to the compost heap. Anyone done anything delicious with one?



Rosehips too

 

[Johnny Vodka]

Couple of chutneys made from foraged brambles - one spicy, one with apples.

 

[chainsawjob]

Foraged field mushrooms for lunch.

 

[Johnny Vodka]

I plan on making some rosehip vodka. (I've never tried rosehip anything before.) I have some rosehips already collected, but I also notice a (presumably) different species around with still ripening hips. Anyone know if one is better to use than the other/if they lend a different flavour?

 

[Saunders]

I plan on making some rosehip vodka. (I've never tried rosehip anything before.) I have some rosehips already collected, but I also notice a (presumably) different species around with still ripening hips. Anyone know if one is better to use than the other/if they lend a different flavour?

I’ve done rosehip vodka with those small thin wild briar type hips and it was delicious. I did strain it a couple of times as I was worried about the little itchy fibres that they have inside. The big wide round fat hips from Rosa rugosa are a bit fruitier flavoured, I think. I have about 3lb in the freezer from last year that I still haven’t done anything with. My daughter has made really excellent chutney with them (rugosa) but spent ages picking out bits; my friend down the lane makes syrup every year and it’s really good. I’ve generally used hips (wild, long, thin) with apple for jellies and they really bring their flavour to it.

 

[seeformiles]

The apple season is really getting into gear. 30 gallons of juice so far and just collected this little lot from a tree owned by a lady who makes no secret of her lustful intentions whenever I call. Still, it’s worth some mild flirtation and suggestive remarks to get my hands on fruit of this calibre. These should make another 5-7 gallons and she’s invited me back to have a good rummage in her undergrowth for windfalls in a week or two. Oo-er!

 

[chainsawjob]

And got some hops for decoration.

 

[gentlegreen]

There is an over-enthusiastic fungus forager in the local park - had two separate harvests of chicken of the woods off a fallen log - and I didn't get to see these open ...
I see the park as off-limits - apart from a heavy cropping crab apple where the fallen fruits are ignored by the local wildlife and I grab one fruit off the tree each day ...

 

[seeformiles]

There is an over-enthusiastic fungus forager in the local park - had two separate harvests of chicken of the woods off a fallen log - and I didn't get to see these open ...
I see the park as off-limits - apart from a heavy cropping crab apple where the fallen fruits are ignored by the local wildlife and I grab one fruit off the tree each day ...



View attachment 347998

I found a huge chicken-of-the-woods wrapped around a tree a few days ago. I took as much as I planned to use and left the rest for others

 

[Johnny Vodka]

Picked up a load of windfall crab apples with the intention of adding them to hedgerow ketchup. As you can see, there are loads, so looking for other recipes too... I found a good one for crab apple whisky and will probably have a go at jelly as well.

 

[Epona]

Andy Hamilton's delicious crab apple wine

Continuing our seasonal series on booze for (almost) free

www.theguardian.com

 

[Johnny Vodka]

Andy Hamilton's delicious crab apple wine

Continuing our seasonal series on booze for (almost) free

www.theguardian.com

Actual brewing isn't something I'm up for at the moment, but hopefully try it within the next year or two.

 

[chainsawjob]

View attachment 347867

Made syrup.

 

[seeformiles]

Not sure of its edibility but came across it while looking for the more magic variety. I think it looks a bit like a Dryad’s Saddle. Mrs SFM took some pics:

 

[Callie]

seeformiles aren't dryads saddles tree dwelling shrooms?

Don't like the look of the brown juice on it

 

[seeformiles]

seeformiles aren't dryads saddles tree dwelling shrooms?

Don't like the look of the brown juice on it

I always thought so. There’s a tree along our regular walks that grows a massive specimen from the same hole in the trunk every Spring.

 

[Johnny Vodka]

Crab apple whisky, ready October 2025.

 

[gentlegreen]

seeformiles aren't dryads saddles tree dwelling shrooms?

Don't like the look of the brown juice on it

I guessed and google may be confirming
Brown rollrim Paxillus involutus

Distinctly unpleasant

 

[heinous seamus]

First time I've had a chance to try these. Wow. Really is chicken-y.

View attachment 343609

 

[seeformiles]

I guessed and google may be confirming
Brown rollrim Paxillus involutus

Distinctly unpleasant

Thanks for confirming. I figured it was a wrong ‘un

 

[Johnny Vodka]

Hedgerow ketchup

 

[Epona]

You must have a good source for reasonably priced cinnamon sticks, that much in a recipe could tip the scales on foraging as free/cheap food

It does look rather good

 

[Johnny Vodka]

I've no idea how expensive cinammon sticks are these days. 1.5 in the pot. They were lying around in the cupboard. Got five jars out of that.