Wild food

[Jonny]

Not sure where to post this as it could cover many subjects, though I am thinking plants here...........
As a lot of you may know, I am into bushcrafting and love to sample what nature provides, so I was wondering, what plants etc do you know are edible and tasty in our countryside. Personally I like ramsons, blackberrys, wild strawberrys, nettle, pignuts and cleavers, to name a few.
I also need to state that anyone reading this thread would be recommended to make sure of identification and to take care before eating any species mentioned.
Also I need to state, please don't take plants from any area where permission is not granted and not to take from an area where the species is not abundant.
Saying this, we have a lot of wonderful edible plants and fungi in this country...............Jon

[nicole]

You might be able to help me with the answer to a question I have Jonny. A few years ago an old chap was telling me that during the war (lol it sounds like Uncle Albert) he used to use the leafs of a certain type of tree to make a tea-like drink. I cant for the life of me remember what type of tree he said it was....Do you have any ideas what it could of been?

Cheers matey

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by nicole

You might be able to help me with the answer to a question I have Jonny. A few years ago an old chap was telling me that during the war (lol it sounds like Uncle Albert) he used to use the leafs of a certain type of tree to make a tea-like drink. I cant for the life of me remember what type of tree he said it was....Do you have any ideas what it could of been?

Cheers matey

You can make an infusion from many plants, but pine needle tea is quite popular..............Jon

[Alan]

I can always remember making nettle tea on camping trips when we was kids. We made tea out of anything! Also did a lot or mushrooming. Often picked a few horse radishes by the river for Sunday lunch sauce. Loads of little things like that.

Have you read that book by Richard Mabey? 'Food for free' I thinks it's called.

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by Alan

I can always remember making nettle tea on camping trips when we was kids. We made tea out of anything! Also did a lot or mushrooming. Often picked a few horse radishes by the river for Sunday lunch sauce. Loads of little things like that.

Have you read that book by Richard Mabey? 'Food for free' I thinks it's called.

Nice one Alan, can you remember what types of mushrooms ? Food for free by Richard Maybey is a good book for edible plants and has lots of info, though no good for id purposes.............Jon

[nicole]

Thank you for the suggestions Jonny and Alan...im gana head off now and put the kettle on

[Bushcraft]

Originally Posted by nicole

You might be able to help me with the answer to a question I have Jonny. A few years ago an old chap was telling me that during the war (lol it sounds like Uncle Albert) he used to use the leafs of a certain type of tree to make a tea-like drink. I cant for the life of me remember what type of tree he said it was....Do you have any ideas what it could of been?

Cheers matey

When im teaching Wildfood and Bushcraft I often use leaves from many different trees, and sometimes the flowers too. The most common herbal tea from the flowers of a tree would be from the Small leaved Lime (Tilia cordata). We also use Beech and Hawthorn leaves among many many others. Its a wide and complex subject so I am not able to cover it all here although I am more than happy to help anyone if you have any questions. I will be running a few more courses this year too.

Best wishes
Kris

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by nicole

Thank you for the suggestions Jonny and Alan...im gana head off now and put the kettle on

If you use pine needles, it is best to cut them up a bit, to let the flavour flood out................Jon

[Alan]

Originally Posted by Jonny

Nice one Alan, can you remember what types of mushrooms ? Food for free by Richard Maybey is a good book for edible plants and has lots of info, though no good for id purposes.............Jon

They were the only ones I could recognise at the time! Field mushrooms, ST Georges, and what we called Blue stalks - I think these are Blewits!

[Gill Catton]

A few dead nettles chopped up in a curry are quite nice. I have a book called cooking with weeds or something and it's really good....... and at the office
so I'll post some more on Tuesday!!!

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

A few dead nettles chopped up in a curry are quite nice. I have a book called cooking with weeds or something and it's really good....... and at the office
so I'll post some more on Tuesday!!!

Excellent, well done Gill.
Has anybody on here not ever tried wild strawberrys ? They are nicer than the ones you buy in the shops.
Dandelion roots (best dug from autumn to spring) can be roasted for quite a good substitute for coffee.
Young hawthorn leaves have an excellent nutty flavour and are good in salads.
Cuckoo flower leaves have a strong flavour, similar to watercress and good in salads.
Beech nuts can be used to make flour.
Acorns can be used to make coffee.
Sloes are used to flavour gin (sloe gin) and I can tell you it is mmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Giant puffballs......Cut into 1/2" slices, dip in batter and then in breadcrumbs and then fry, serve with bacon for a top breakfast.
Elderflower, can be used to make champagne. Pm me for recipe.
Red clover, used to make wine.
Hogweed (not the giant hogweed) shoots make a superb vegetable.
Cleavers, boil as a vegetable.
Any more peeps..............Jon

[eeyore]

When I lived in Cornwall (and had very little money) i lived virtually off what could be gathered from the countryside around me.

my speciallity was limpet stirfry ( don't try this in the summer folks), with seaweed ( dont know the sort but it was sort of crunchy.) Sometimes for variety we would flavour this up with wild garlic and feral fennel and mint.

We also caught little brown trout in the stream using a light trap, and caught bass and various other unidentied fish in tidal traps (we alway let the bass go as they are endangered).

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by eeyore

When I lived in Cornwall (and had very little money) i lived virtually off what could be gathered from the countryside around me.

my speciallity was limpet stirfry ( don't try this in the summer folks), with seaweed ( dont know the sort but it was sort of crunchy.) Sometimes for variety we would flavour this up with wild garlic and feral fennel and mint.

We also caught little brown trout in the stream using a light trap, and caught bass and various other unidentied fish in tidal traps (we alway let the bass go as they are endangered).

Nice one Eeyore, how did it taste..............Jon

[eeyore]

Of limpets !!

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by eeyore

Of limpets !!

...............Jon