wild food/foraging...has anyone started yet?

[redhappy]

Last year was my first year of foraging, and I didn't really get going til about July.

Now spring is definitely in the air, I have spinach growing in my garden and I've suddenly realised tere must be lots out there to eat already.

Has anyone found anything yet? Would love to hear what you've been picking and eating.

Mussels! We are lucky we live about 5 mins from a rocky beach with billions of mussels (even more winkles but they are just to fiddly, I can't be arsed).

We got enough to feed me, DP and DS(4) for 2 dinners, and a sunday afternoons free entertainment for DS.

I've just spent the morning in the garden, planting some squashes and pumpkins, and I've noticed my pear tree is starting to get leaves.

My nans got an allotment and brought round a bag of rhubarb last night. I love spring/summer for all the free food

That all sounds lovely. So far we have the spinach I have planted, and there is a raspberry bush in the garden to look forward to later in the year.

I know lots of local spots for later in the year- apples, pears, hazlenuts, blackberries, sloe berries and green gages.

I'm hoping to find some weeds to use in salads now.

I found this if anyone fancies adding flowers to their salads?

Thanks for reminding me i'm just popping into the garden to pick netttles for my lunch stirfry (they're best now when they're new) and they're delicious (wear strong gloves and cook well though!)

We moved house last year, we had a plentiful supply of nettles before and now we have none! Funny how we thought they were such a nuisance, but we really did take them for granted, we used them a lot.

mussels I wish!

That's a shame redhappy maybe in yr local park? They're also good for some rare butterflies.

We had rabbit friday night.
We also moved and I am just finding the new places for goodies.
Serious lack of decent nettles here too

I never think of nettles and they are so easy to find! I look forward to blackberries but that's autumn so I'll have to wait.

Wild free mussels........! Imsooooo jealous.

I know that sdd goes deep sea diving for scallops each season, but I have no idea what time of year that is. My own use of wild food is limited to blackberries, and occasionally nettles and dandelions, with the occasional wild strawberry.

The mussels are lovely but they are quite a lot smaller than what you get in a shop. They taste proper of the sea though. We should go more often. I live right near the sea so I'm hoping DS finds he likes fishing when he's older

wild garlic today, absolutely stunk the car out - it does not usually smell quite so pungent so maybe it's stronger at this time of year.
will make wild garlic bread, which is even nicer than normal garlic bread.

Oh that sounds delicious. PLanning to spend lunchtime on the common after I collecxt the kids today, hoping we can find some treats.

There are loads of nettles round us (DH has been cultivating them in the garden too :o)
Last year I saw a recipe for nettle soup and was so tempted but couldn't bring myself to eat something I usualy try not to touch - I bet it tastes nice though

Yes stealth not only taste nice they are SOOO good for you (but only when they're new like now!) think of it as one in the eye for the weeds!

I put nettles int he children maccaroni cheese too.
Challenge them to eat it without it stinging them. Of course it can't as it's cooked but it makes them eat their greens without thinking about what they are doing

For those that are on the coast, add seaweed to your compost; obviously not eaten directly, but in the spirit of the OP!

ha ha Bronze, brilliant idea!

lol. That reminds me, I need to buy worms.....

Littlepurpleprincess - NO NO!! do not buy them - you must know someone with a compost heap, if not, ask around. All you need is a small bucket full, to incult your heap. Take your own bucket. People are thrilled to be asked in my experience. Try Freecyle. It's catching!

oh...er...really? I suppose my nan might have some worms I can steal. lol. Your post made me pmsl for some reason. I got a wormery a couple years ago and managed to kill all the worms.

pigeon pie tonight, if I can get it made

what else is there available at this time of year. I need to ease the food budget even more

Hi there,

you can start foraging any time! it is really an all year around stuff :-) at the moment there are lots of lovely wild foods to forage. have you tried sorrel? very tasty and makes fantastic pies (sweet or savory), soups or salads. it grows in parks or open green spaces. then, there is dandelion - very easy to find at the moment and it is great for making jams and syrups...my 2 year old one helps me pick it and we both have fun!
nettle is out too, great to pick now, before it starts flowering and dry it to use as tea all year around.
check out our website www.wildaboutfood.co.uk for seasonal foraging, wild food recipes and much more!
we also run cooking classes for children if you are interested!

nettles and wild garlic here...nettle gnocci is yum.

The thing about this time of year is spotting things that will come later. Wild strawbs are up here. Later on they will have lots of tiny little super strawberries, but by then will be really hard to spot amongst everything that has grown up around it.

Cherries, plums, sloes and others are in flower and easy to spot now so yo can remember them in a couple of months when the fruit will be ready. Apples and pears flower soon, railway lines always seem to have lots of those.

Also hazel catkins are still about. They only fruit (or nut ) every other year so the ones with catkins on now will have hazels on come autumn. I might make some fake catkins for the others to trick the squirrels.