I got this fab book in the post today, it's a pocket sized guide to foraging by Richard Mabey. It's got over 100 plants, mushrooms and shellfish (is it still foraging if they're shellfish though?) and a calender at the front showing what's available for foraging each month of the year. For each thing it explains how it can be eaten and even has some recipes and advice on making jams and jellies out of wild fruit. I'm looking forward to taking it out with me on a walk and seeing if I can find anything. There's a phrase in the preface that made me laugh; the author says that now he's older he doesn't forage for large amounts any more but just likes something to nibble on whilst walking - 'ambulant consumption'.
Today we racked off the mead and strawberry wine into clean demi johns. The strawberry wine can be bottled in another couple of days and the mead needs one more racking off them a campden tablet to kill any lurking bacteria before being bottled and stored for as long as we can bear to leave it. We also started a quick brew kit today. It takes a week to ferment before being bottled and left for 3 months - just in time for Christmas!
omg I got that book this week too! And yes shellfish can still be foraged! They're still collectable food.
ReplyDeleteWhat was your mead recipe? I want to try one soon.
What a coincidence - happy foraging to both of us then! The mead recipe is from a book called 'Grandma's ways for Modern Ways'. I'll post it here once I've seen how it turns out.
DeleteSounds like there will be plenty of laughter and merriment in your household this winter then!
ReplyDeleteThere certainly will be...!
DeleteEnjoy your foraging adventures - and don't forget to show us lots of pics of what you find.....
ReplyDeleteCarly
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I'll certainly keep you updated; there's a big park and some woods next to where I live so hopefully there will be things to forage more or less on my doorstep.
DeleteSounds great, and in time for christmas too!
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