Wild, edible foods?

[BristolDave]

I've just added a few books to my Amazon wish-list.

I was reading the SAS Survival Handbook (John Wiseman) and that has some extensive wild food identification information. I'm inexperienced so I'm not sure how useful this info is. I notice there is a Collins Gem SAS Survival book.

BD

[Daveb]

I've just finished reading a brilliant book called 'the wild life', by john lewis stemple, it's about a man who buys a remote farm and land and lives for a whole year on only what he can forrage or catch/shoot, really interesting as he explains all of the foods in season throughout the year and good ways to preserve them for winter. Well worth a read, pretty cheap off amazon.

[firepower]

I've just finished reading a brilliant book called 'the wild life', by john lewis stemple, it's about a man who buys a remote farm and land and lives for a whole year on only what he can forrage or catch/shoot, really interesting as he explains all of the foods in season throughout the year and good ways to preserve them for winter. Well worth a read, pretty cheap off amazon.

On the way to my house now

[Reservior]

Just last week I bottled up just short of a gallon I'd sloe gin that's been sat in a demijohn for 2 years.

I do mine slightly differently to maddiecat, but only in a small way. I do freeze mine first but find it doesn't always burst the skins, so while still frozen I just slice the skins with a sharp knife. Much easier than faffing about with a needle! Traditionally you are supposed to prick the berries with a thorn from the tree they were picked from, but a sharp knife is far easier .

I'm being pedantic I know but it's not a sloe tree, it's a blackthorn tree

[the7ps]

Ive just seen this in the DM. Reader comments seem to disagree but my ( Blackthorn tree) sloe berries are still hard as marbles. Might be usefull ammo for the sling shot?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... rning.html

[Reservior]

The7ps, head over to your tree and take a berry. Have a small bite into it, don't chomp down, they have a large stone inside so just a small bite of the flesh round the outside. Go on, I dare you

[jansman]

I've just finished reading a brilliant book called 'the wild life', by john lewis stemple, it's about a man who buys a remote farm and land and lives for a whole year on only what he can forrage or catch/shoot, really interesting as he explains all of the foods in season throughout the year and good ways to preserve them for winter. Well worth a read, pretty cheap off amazon.

Very good book, and shows what is possible! Brother and I doing the same thing one meal a week.

[the7ps]

The7ps, head over to your tree and take a berry. Have a small bite into it, don't chomp down, they have a large stone inside so just a small bite of the flesh round the outside. Go on, I dare you

O.k, I'll be brave... Wait out for tonight; I'll either have a freezer full of berries or be in A & E...

[Arzosah]

Dooooooont! They're not ready, its only September! They'll definitely be slingshot material at the moment

[jameswhite]

Hi All great thread and i would like to contribute, as a profession i run wild food courses so any queries just ask i know pretty much every wild edible in the uk and the poisnous ones. Horse chestnut for example is not chestnut family but oak. Make a tea from the bark for treating lose bowels but best use is the leaves which are high in sapponins so when made damp and scrunched up will turn to soap, it is antiseptic as well so great to wash with. You can eat hawthorne berries tast like red apples try to spit pip out though. Makes a great haw sin sauce! Used medicinally for treating heart arythmia but you would need loads. Beech leaves are edible best in spring taste like green apple peel. All thistles are edible and every part is edible. Just ask about any others or if you want me to slowley put up a list of easiest to find and use happy to do so. I also have a degree in herbal medicine so will give medicinal uses as well if anyone wants.