Ray Mears Wild Food

[Bushcraft]

Originally Posted by nightshade

I do seriously worry about the sheer numbers of people that suddenly
want to forage,eat fungi and fruit (you can just picture them)
Soon everything will need protecting in this land there are already people
who do not understand that we do not eat ornamental fish or ducks

Having taught the subject of wild-food for years I can honestly say that most people even when shown, are to frightened to eat anything from the wilds. I teach groups of 10-40 at a time and there is usually only one or two that will try anything from the hedgerows.

When teaching Bushcraft the numbers that will try wild food are much higher, but even then rarely trust themselves to do it. Its just an interest for most.

Best wishes
Kris

[honeybee]

Originally Posted by Bushcraft

Having taught the subject of wild-food for years I can honestly say that most people even when shown, are to frightened to eat anything from the wilds. I teach groups of 10-40 at a time and there is usually only one or two that will try anything from the hedgerows.

When teaching Bushcraft the numbers that will try wild food are much higher, but even then rarely trust themselves to do it. Its just an interest for most.

Best wishes
Kris

I remember my mum getting me to try hawthorn berries and all sorts when i was a kid and all the teachers at school saying 'don't eat any berries they're all deadly'. I did eat yew berries once and nothing happened but I don't recommend it.

[Bushcraft]

Originally Posted by honeybee

I remember my mum getting me to try hawthorn berries and all sorts when i was a kid and all the teachers at school saying 'don't eat any berries they're all deadly'. I did eat yew berries once and nothing happened but I don't recommend it.

lol, I dont recomend that one either. Although as along as you don't crack the pit they are fine. Hawthorn I like but find most people hate. Sorrel and sloes I like best plus a few more unusual things that are less widley known as being edible.

My teachers were the same and now they feed the kids turkey twizzlers

Kris

[badgerwatcher]

You've got a point there, Bushcraft! I'm sure a lot of things children eat these days are further away from 'real food' than most of the things we can gather in the hedgerows. When you read the ingredients on packets, there is very little that is recognisably food, and people are happy to eat those things, because the producers tell them it's food!

[Dan Salter]

Ray mears was in town ( or local town of tonbridge wells) last two days doing his " An evening with ray mears"....couldnt get a ticket sadly....

and then.......just found out...he was right in MY town this afternoon...my friend has a shop selling antique watches and in walks Ray mears to pick up a watch !!!
missed him again


Dam

[smartie]

What will you do when you catch him, Dan?

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by smartie

What will you do when you catch him, Dan?

probably pack him in clay and roast him in a campfire before eating him with a garnish made from hawthorn berries

[Dan Salter]

Originally Posted by smartie

What will you do when you catch him, Dan?

I will feed him trifle and peanut butter and jam sandwiches.

[honeybee]

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

I will feed him trifle and peanut butter and jam sandwiches.

Do you call your beer , Ray Mears? .....

Ray Mears: Information from Answers.com

[honeybee]

Just found this article...

Mears in mourning for lover Sunday Mirror - Find Articles

Poor Ray

Really enjoyed the last episode. Gordon was of more use this time.

[Paul mabbott]

Yes, but there's a precautionary principal there, so both are right.
Your ma would be able to show you the particular berry and you would be able to recognise it &c.. Hopefully, she'd also show you the ones not to try ....
Your teacher would be telling you. 'Don't eat any berry .... ' because they couldn't show you all the alternatives. The safest option ....
I am exactly the same, my instructions are (and always have been), 'Eat nothing unless you know it's safe!'.

Originally Posted by honeybee

I remember my mum getting me to try hawthorn berries and all sorts when i was a kid and all the teachers at school saying 'don't eat any berries they're all deadly'. I did eat yew berries once and nothing happened but I don't recommend it.

[honeybee]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

Yes, but there's a precautionary principal there, so both are right.
Your ma would be able to show you the particular berry and you would be able to recognise it &c.. Hopefully, she'd also show you the ones not to try ....
Your teacher would be telling you. 'Don't eat any berry .... ' because they couldn't show you all the alternatives. The safest option ....
I am exactly the same, my instructions are (and always have been), 'Eat nothing unless you know it's safe!'.

I know Paul, I'm a big girl now Teachers obviously didn't want all us kids dropping dead on the playing field.

What gets me is generally people will be vomiting at the thought of the 'bush tucker' stuff yet they'll be happily munching on cochineal coloured food..It seems to be making a come back in processed food...they don't realise/care what it is.

[Paul mabbott]

I'm sure - but not everyone on this forum seems 'grown-up'!
In my own case, I suspect that some of the teachers would have been very pleased to see some of us rolling over from apparently natural causes ....
Yes, I agree, there's a lot of doublethink about food - natural or otherwise .... but in many ways (as long as I was informed) I would rather eat cochineal coloured food than food coloured by petrol-derived chemicals By and large, of course, I see no reason for adding colourants or anything else to foods ......
We shouldn't be too hard on the wider public who either don't understand the implications of food additive or can't understand what is actually put into their food. I'm a reasonable chemist (amongst other things) and I still have difficulty interpreting food contents labels .... all the more need for good education and legislation!

Originally Posted by honeybee

I know Paul, I'm a big girl now Teachers obviously didn't want all us kids dropping dead on the playing field.

What gets me is generally people will be vomiting at the thought of the 'bush tucker' stuff yet they'll be happily munching on cochineal coloured food..It seems to be making a come back in processed food...they don't realise/care what it is.

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

Anyone watch last nights? thought it was the best of the series so far

[Deer Stalker]

Nop, missed it. Whens it repeated? Saturday or Sunday?

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

Originally Posted by Deer Stalker

Nop, missed it. Whens it repeated? Saturday or Sunday?

Not sure to be honest, it's on "On Demand" on NTL digital if you have it, thats where i watched it

[jondalar]

It's repeated monday nights at 11.25pm on BBC2. And got to agree with Yellowbelly, it was easily the best. Next week's is about mushrooms among other things. BBC - BBC TWO - Ray Mears' Wild Food

[Brachystegia]

Originally Posted by badgerwatcher

I'm hoping there will be a book to accompany the series, to save us all killing ourselves by eating the wrong plants! Makes you want to get out there and do it!

Ray and the professor's book is available for pre-order on amazon.co.uk - £11.99.

[mrs fish]

I watched this weeks episode, ok I suppose but I said to my girls look this man eats all wild food and then he adds ingredients that must come from sainsburys He even used pastry

[smartie]

Originally Posted by mrs fish

I watched this weeks episode, ok I suppose but I said to my girls look this man eats all wild food and then he adds ingredients that must come from sainsburys He even used pastry

Yes, I thought it was a bit odd that he added carrots and celery to his stew and then came out with potatoes and a roll of pastry. Mind you, I rather fancied trying the sorrel tarts, but it's hardly what our ancestors would have eaten, is it? And he didn't carry all those huge iron pots in on his back, either.

Still, it was interesting.

[Dan Salter]

He did state that this week as they were living in the woods for a few days he would be cooking more traditionally and moving away from the bare bones...meat and leaves approach...It was a little splash of luxury for them both and yes the sorrell tarts looked lovely !

[smartie]

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

It was a little splash of luxury for them both

Ah, bless....

[mrs fish]

I'll let him off then

[badgerwatcher]

Thanks, Brachystegia, I'll go and look on Amazon.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by