Hedgerow harvests - what are you foraging atm?

[PreppingPingu]

Just picked a kilo of blackberries - ripe juicy ones and made 5 jars of blackberry jam. I will go out again next week and collect again and make some blackberry jelly and maybe knock up a few crumbles too! A bumper crop of blackberries, probably due to the copious amounts of water in the soil and the good sunshine we have had during the early summer. Last year I was very good and didn't take very much to leave for others and the wildlife ( - good foraging etiquette,) but I noticed lots of blackberries were left to rot on the bushes, so this year I will take more as it is silly for food to go to waste. I will go out armed with my book next time and see what else I can find to eat out there.

[jansman]

Just like you, blackberries. This morning I nailed those and elderberries. This afternoon they were both put into a fermentation bucket to brew!
I am also a fan of the catapult, something that goes with me everytime I go for a walk. Always have since I was a lad. Anyhow, nailed a pigeon too.
Well done with the jam btw. Something I have never made.

[dizzydays]

There are tons of blackberries here - and sweeter/larger this year. I wasnt a huge fan of blackberry jam when I last made it (years ago). Do you add anything to it, like apple? I'm wondering if I'd like that more. I really need to do something with all this fruit that rots on the bushes.
Last year I made blackberry vodka which was ok, but I'm also getting sloes at the moment for sloe gin and I think I'd rather stick to that.

Have discovered that I still have elderberries in the freezer from last year - does anyone know if they're ok or shall I chuck them and start again? I think I intended to make a cordial with them...

Bought damsons today for damson jam - my favourite. They were selling greengages too - anyone had greengage jam? I admit I've never had a greengage but they look like they'd make jam...


DD

[Decaff]

Going out for blackberries this weekend coming. Made jam last year but hate the bits in it so going to strain and make jelly with it this year instead which is gorgeous, like a jam with no bits in. Patience needed for straining it because if you squeeze rather than let it slowly drip through the filter the jelly will be cloudy and not look as good.

Going to get rose hips when ready also for rosehip syrup, very good for you and full to bursting with vitamin C to keep the colds away. Anyone else make this?

[junmist]

starting collecting the elderberry's for my elderberry syrup. Found a nice supply of rose hips but they are not ready yet.
Has anyone combined elderberry and rose hips in one syrup as I'm think of doing this and kill two birds with one dose

[dizzydays]

I only picked rose hips once and they had a million earwigs! Never touched 'em since

DD

[Arzosah]

I'm foraging blackberries, apples and plums. I make a jelly from the blackberries (I don't like the texture of the jam) then use the jelly to boil the apples and plums, *then* add sugar - which I guesstimate The first time, the plums weren't *quite* ripe, so I destoned them after I'd cooked them, which resulted in a fair few slipping through the net. Second time, last Friday, they were much riper, so I destoned before hand. I've got about 12lbs of jam

[Decaff]

I only picked rose hips once and they had a million earwigs! Never touched 'em since

DD

Oh yuck!! I wait tll the first frost which should get rid of the crawlies, never had that problem or I would avoid also

[Decaff]

I'm foraging blackberries, apples and plums. I make a jelly from the blackberries (I don't like the texture of the jam) then use the jelly to boil the apples and plums, *then* add sugar - which I guesstimate The first time, the plums weren't *quite* ripe, so I destoned them after I'd cooked them, which resulted in a fair few slipping through the net. Second time, last Friday, they were much riper, so I destoned before hand. I've got about 12lbs of jam

Mmmm that sounds delicious Arzosah!! Spread on freshly made scones or a sponge cake ooh or jam tarts.. Yummy!!

[Stasher]

Just picked a kilo of blackberries - ripe juicy ones and made 5 jars of blackberry jam. I will go out again next week and collect again and make some blackberry jelly and maybe knock up a few crumbles too! A bumper crop of blackberries, probably due to the copious amounts of water in the soil and the good sunshine we have had during the early summer. Last year I was very good and didn't take very much to leave for others and the wildlife ( - good foraging etiquette,) but I noticed lots of blackberries were left to rot on the bushes, so this year I will take more as it is silly for food to go to waste. I will go out armed with my book next time and see what else I can find to eat out there.

Wot?

I've just done a recce this afternoon and the local ones are at least a week off picking. But I agree this year looks to be a bumper year. Last year we only had enough to make some tarts. This year I'm going for tarts/jam/freezing.

It is silly for food to go to waste.