Wild Food

[redhappy]

Does anybody pick wild food?

I have LOTS of blackberries already, they have come into season early this year. Spotted a tree covered in ripe rosehips this afternoon, but I don't know what to do with them? Can anybody share some recipes please?

Also spotted a hazlenut tree. Don't think they're ripe yet. How do you know when they're ripe? Any good tried and tested recipes for them too?

And if you pick anything else can you tell me please and what do you do with it?
Thanks!

Horseradish grows in the verges here - looks a bit like a dock leaf on steroids.

red happy - where in Gloucestershire? I live there and love it.

got sloes here and damsons. love all this stuff!!

you see I've never dared to dig up horseradish in case it is dock! I'd also feel somewhat conspicuous wandering about the countryside with a spade (pity as I love horseradish!)

God, I'd love to find some horseradish.

LardyMa, there's a couple of places around Stroud. The best is in Chalford, all around the park. As someone said above, there is woodland and a stream

Ooh what an exciting thread! Haven't checked the links yet as am too eager to read (and post)!

In addition to the things people have mentioned above we have picked wild strawberries, some times whole table spoons of them!

Our most exciting mushrooms were morels and st georges. We frequently find oysters which are excelent too.

Horseradish grows on the verges like mad here too.

Check (safe) train lines for apple trees....I think it must be passengers lobbing cores out of the windows. Also DH swears vicarages can be a good source of fruit trees,obviously ask permission.Dont be shy with your neighbours many inherit fruit trees and bushes from previous owners they dont use themselves

I think Rosehips have a sort of fibreous tissue in that can irritate (remember using them as itching powder at school? maybe just me ) that's why they have to be strained (ie jelly or syrup) Or perhaps a leather?

The richard maybe book is good but some of the illustrations/photos are a bit lacking imo. There is a RIver cottage Hedgerow book out any time now. I'll be getting it. The Mushroom one is fantastic as the emphasis is very much on finding fungi that are worth eating and how to be sure they are not something else (ie bad for you)! They do a seashore one too that I haven't bothered with as I'm veggy and it's mostly shelfish etc.

Nettles also make a great spanakopita (sp) type thing and are lovely in gnocci (as you might spinach)

That's all I can think of for now, and hav been hugely distracted since starting writing so may be xposting now!

Ohyoubadkitten horseradish has longer leaves and they are very toothed, like a breadknife!

Moondog you could always consider guerilla planting some horesradish. Buy a plant and stick it somewhere local. It spreads too much to put in your garden.

Theplanningcommitee Glad you liked the brew recipie! Did you make some? Can't claim the credit, it's hugh F-W. Have addapted it to make others though. Elderflower was to die for, and just supping a lovely blackcurrant ribeerna now! Very fizzy though. Take care when opening!

I like the guerilla planting idea, been thinking about doing some of that myself!

Oh and op the hazels aren't ready here yet either. Ime you can tell when they are ready because they disappear as the squirrels make off with them.

But really, they should be crack-able so they come out of the shell, but will still be green outside and milky within. You can toast them to keep them apparently though I haven't tried this myself...bloomin squirrels! Aslo it's worth noting they fruit properly every other year so it's worth remembering which near you are fruiting when. There are a lot round here this year so maybe I'll get some...[hopefull emoticon]

There is also near us what I think is an almond tree. It's in a sort of municipal planting scheem (what, a usefull plant in a municipal planting scheem? It can't be! ) but doesn't produce much, I've put this down to the climate here not being almond friendly) but basically they drop off looking like hard green apricots...any suggestions anyone?

Lots of bilberries on the moors here but back breaking work to pick them!

I've just discovered bilberries this year. They grow on high land, usually near heather, and make the most delicious pies and jams. They are far, far nicer than their obese cousins the blueberries. Loads about at the moment, they do take ages to pick but are well worth the effort.

redhappy I know! I keep thinking about it! ALways seems such a shame to see town flowerbeds full of half dead pyracanthas when it could be delicious things! In Todmordon they have been doing just that, I keep meaning to go along and see. Also in shefield some people have created a publicaly available map of fruit trees, and they gather it up and give it to schools etc. ANd there are some community orchards abut now, one in Bradford I believe. It's a pipe dream of mine to set up a project like thay [whist emoticon]

Sorry, OT ramble

TPC Love the site you linked to

Molecule after those encouraging words I may now make the effort!

There is a lot of lavender planted in a nearby park, but it smells weird . But 30 seconds walk away, outside a hairdressers, is the most incredible lavender! it is so strong it's almost menthol!

I think I'm being too precious about the guerilla planting idea- too worried about disturbing the delicate eco-system!

SUppose it depends on what and where Redhappy but you are right to be cautious me thinks. The horesradish that grows near us is in a field margin so checked a bit by ploughing etc. SOme things that grow rampently are native eg raspberries, but they don't take over the country. otherthings fight them. ANd what might be considered aggresive by a gardener could seem timid in the wild, dwarfed by other things and greater space.

I have heared that tomatoes grow freely around sewage treatmen plants, but don't know wether this is appocraphal (sp, again!) They aren't native but don't mind our climate, but they aren't a threat to our wildlife...as yet...

I think most guerilla gardening takes place in towns in managed flowerbeds etc, that would otherwise be planted with other interlopers. We live in the country and have often eyed up bits of land on the edges of fields etc, but haven't had the time. I think I'd be more worried about introducing a disease or bug etc as I'm sure most garden plants would have made a bid for freedom by now were it possible (those that are a problem are banned etc eg japaneese knotweed) FOr instance I have picked passionfrits that have escaped over a fence.

Also, though not strictly wild, we glean spuds (and other stuff) from local fields. Those too big or small are thrown back so we try and rescue some before they are ploughed in! The waste is disgusting.

Think I should just put a massive SP over all of this as too tired to correct!

Redhappy - thank you. I will check this out.

MoonfaceMama - I remember a septic tank being emptied (this was the seventies so no rules and regs observed) into a wood. It was full of tomato plants a few weeks later!

OYouBadKitten - snap a leaf of the "dock" - if it smells like horseradish, it is. The leaves are also much longer and wavier than docks.

LardyMa- I was living in Stroud last summer and when my mil came to visit she took away 5 carrier bags full of leaves, I would be very surprised if you didn't find anything!