Archive for NEEPS North East Eco-friendly People's Site          NEEPS Forum Index -> The Frugal Foodie wildgarlic Foraging for food What have you found lately? Foraged food is free food - obviously you need to be absolutely sure that what you are picking is the right thing, and that it hasn't been sprayed or contaminated by anything that will make you ill but there is a huge outdoor larder that we can all take advantage of. I've got a clump of wild garlic in the garden and I use it quite a lot - you can use the whole plant too but because I want it to spread I'm leaving the bulbs in the ground and just harvesting the leaves. The flowers aren't quite out yet but once they are I'll take some photos. Smooth Hound did you plant it yourself or was it there already, i was thinking of planting some here wildgarlic I planted some in the woodland area - it took very well and is spreading (as long as the chooks don't get it) - if I get any seeds I'll save some for you. zombiecazz we've got heaps at the lake here and the flowers are all out. Unfortunately the ones I transplanted into the garden are well loved by the chickens. Diana Re: Foraging for food wildgarlic wrote: What have you found lately? Wild Garlic Ground Elder Hairy Bittercress Hawthorn (leaves) Chickweed Nettle Also noticed Fat Hen coming up, but not quite ready to pick. wildgarlic How about marks out of ten for edibility? (is that even a word?) and a bit of a description of flavour. I'd give wild garlic 9 out of 10 - it's a much milder flavour than the garlic cloves that we're used to but it is very versatile. Smooth Hound zombiecazz wrote: we've got heaps at the lake here and the flowers are all out. Unfortunately the ones I transplanted into the garden are well loved by the chickens. itll hve to wait till ive got the chickens fenced off my garden area then. i was concidering wrapping food in it to cook things , not sure what yet though, maybe fish, meat, Forget-me-Not Nettles I've added nettle that's been boiled a little and whizzed into daughter's pesto for vitamin kick and she's enjoying it. Plus I make a fresh tea every night and have slept through ever since after 18 months of waking regularly with a back complaint that oly hurts at night. No painkillers needed. Beth JoH Have been making nettle wine (10/10) and soup (8/10) of late with the baby tips and had a nice squirrel burger (9/10 - point deducted for the shot) t'other day. Ramsons and chickeweed chopped in salad are a given (varying depending on recipe but generally 7/10)). Smooth Hound Re: Nettles Forget-me-Not wrote: I've added nettle that's been boiled a little and whizzed into daughter's pesto for vitamin kick and she's enjoying it. Plus I make a fresh tea every night and have slept through ever since after 18 months of waking regularly with a back complaint that oly hurts at night. No painkillers needed. Beth interesting, ill try that, i presume you mean nettle tea,doesnt sound too appetising but if it helps with pain then ill do it as you say better than painkillers no messing with your head kimmie sweet cicley is also out now....you cant miss it...hairy stems and an aniseed smell when you rub between your fingers....always reminds me of the aniseed sweets you got as a kid Diana kimmie wrote: ....always reminds me of the aniseed sweets you got as a kid I had one of those the other week - took me straight back, I was in heaven!!! Smooth Hound what do you do with sweet cicely JamesB Sorrel Sorrel is  out in force at the moment, fairly easy to find on grassland untreated by chemicals. we've got loads in our field. we mainly have it with fish, salmon wrapped in it is gorgeous. must try it in salad as well, just found this link http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeand.../2008/jun/07/recipe.foodanddrink1 James Forget-me-Not Nettles I know it sounds maybe not so good but honestly Smooth, I love it! It's refreshing but with a moreish (how spell?) flavour.  I drink tea, coffee and herbal and nettle tea is helping me reduce my caffeine intake. I want to try making a soup too. I'm sure the vitamins and enzymes would help to give a post op boost too.Ollie who adores her pesto, wiped the nettle one off her plate with her finger at the end of her tea tonight. Love this foraging thread. I probably have 100s of references to plants in books but not good at identifying. Admre everyone's wisdom. mUST TRY HARDER TO REMEMBER THEM. (oops) Beth kimmie Quote: what do you do with sweet cicely Quote: Appearance Sweet Cicely is a thick rooted plant. Its small leaves have a liquorice-like flavour. The seeds have a spicy taste. It grows to a height of 90cmand the whole plant with its lacey leaves and tiny white flowers is highly scented. Uses Sweet Cicely can be cooked with tart fruits to cut down the acidity. This works well with rhubarb, red currants and gooseberries. It can also be added to omelettes. The ripe seeds can be chewed as an aid to digestion and a tea made from the chopped leaves is said to soothe the stomach. its also good as a breath fresher for after a curry Smooth Hound JamesB chickweed just found chickweed growing in our polytunnel, the young plants are quite tasty. James        NEEPS Forum Index -> The Frugal Foodie Page 1 of 1