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Post by beirn on Mar 29, 2007 13:12:19 GMT
...does anyone have it? I tell you I panic when i gather nettles  I would love to be more confident about identifying plants etc but tbh I find any book on the subject prtty useless - I've spent more time trying to identify x plant from the photo in the book, often quite artisitc and colourful but I find it terribly hard to decide if it's in fact X plant, or its deadly cousin... Does anyoen actualyl go out and gather wild foods and if so, how did you learn? are you very confident about your ability to identify plants? |
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Post by dazza on Mar 29, 2007 14:21:03 GMT
Yes. We gather wild all through the year. I was taught by my parent and I have taught my kids. I do sympathise to some extent however, in that most of the books I've see on the subject have been at best poor at worst misleading. There are some exceptions however.
On the other hand the degree of fear and paranoid that is encouraged over this I also find distressing. Have we really become this fearful as a society?
I have never had a problem with *informed* exploration and have always encouraged my children in this regard. Are there dangers and poisons out there? Sure - but there are plenty of guidelines both specific (don't touch the foxgloves they give you digoxin poisoning) and general (avoid the umbellates - sweet cicely and cow parsley look too similar to guess). And yes, some things give allergic reactions, but why do we have this fear over wildfoods but not when picking up a new 'exotic' from the Tescbury's fresh fruit counter? One's first thought is never "I wonder if this Dragon Fruit will kill me?", so why the stress when outdoors?
Obviously I am not, for one moment, advocating an unconstrained and uneducated 'munch fest' through the nearest hedegrow, this would be both silly and irresponsible, but like everything in life, start with basics and gain confidence from there to move on.
I'm glad to hear you've tried nettles - they're great eating and easily (if painfully!) identifiable. Other simple ones are blackberries (obviously!), dandilion leaves, and this time of year the young hawthorn leaves (once the blossoms have passed and the new green leaves have come out). Ramsons are also in season now and easily identifiable by their strong garlic smell annd small white flowers and can be visually identified from any wild food book. Red clover flowers are also a good one.
Have a little confidence, but stay within acceptable boundaries. Very few plants have 'deadly cousins' as you put it. Have fun.
Thanks.
- Dazza.
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Post by dazza on Apr 1, 2007 15:25:12 GMT
Oh, and if anyone's ever out here in West Wales way, I'll happily spend the day showing you what I know if you fancy! ;D
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Post by stormy on Apr 1, 2007 19:41:21 GMT
I'll happily spend the day showing you what I know if you fancy! ;D weyhey bring the baby oil ;D |
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Post by mickster on Apr 1, 2007 20:40:47 GMT
weyhey bring the baby oil ;D Aye Aye. ;D This sounds decidedly pervy.  Time to put another handful of sharp sand in the vaseline, just in case. ;D ;D Mick. |
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Post by stormy on Apr 1, 2007 20:44:30 GMT
well i have personally met dazza and he is rather handy in wooded areas, know all there is to know about those natural lubicants.
but im not going to say anything about types of moss, because i just know he will sulk
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Post by mickster on Apr 1, 2007 21:06:32 GMT
You can get natural LARD?? 'Pete Moss?' 'Kate Moss?' 'Moss Kemp?' ;D How about that Sphagnum Moss? ;D Oi Stormy! I was in B&Q and this old bloke in an orange waistcoat comes up to me and asked me if I wanted decking? Lucky for me I got my punch in first. ;D ;D Mick. |
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Post by dazza on Apr 2, 2007 12:49:40 GMT
Yep. About 8 pints a night should do it!!
Pete - never called, never wrote...
Kate - wasn't sure she was even there half the time...
Kemp - Kemp? Camp more like...
Sphagnum - now you're talking! A natural bacteriacide, it makes a fantastic wound dressing (it was used for this in WWI field hospitals) but more importantly makes the best natural bog roll you can get! Also you can use it to filter....whay's Stormy looking at me like that??....oh...<sulk>.
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Post by stormy on Apr 2, 2007 20:45:57 GMT
hurray the moss man is back
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cleiteag
Seedling
The Highland Heathen with a 4 x 4
Posts: 13
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Post by cleiteag on Apr 9, 2007 0:17:04 GMT
Francis Rose A Wildflower Key is a useful wee book if you can get you head around the key. Gathering from the wild is tricky, but doo-able. If you go for the books that identify specifics (btw AVOID mushrooms unless you are sure sure sure sure and surea gain) rather than a general gather this for this sort of book
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Time to put another handful of sharp sand in the vaseline, just in case. ;D ;D