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Normally I'd have a few kg's of St George's Mushroom by this stage of Spring - but not this year.

Tiny harvest this morning from the only local patch producing anything.

#needsomeproperrain

#stgeorgesmushroom
#calocybegambosa

Normally I'd have a few kg's of St George's Mushroom by this stage of Spring - but not this year.

Tiny harvest this morning from the only local patch producing anything.

#needsomeproperrain

#stgeorgesmushroom
#calocybegambosa

246 Hop Shoots

Risotto con bruscandoli incoming

#bruscandoli
#hopshoots
#spring
#ffffffffffffforaging

246 Hop Shoots

Risotto con bruscandoli incoming

#bruscandoli
#hopshoots
#spring
#ffffffffffffforaging

Harvesting Fireweed for pickles
#fireweed
#rosebaywillowherb
#foraging

Harvesting Fireweed for pickles
#fireweed
#rosebaywillowherb
#foraging

Fireweed

Back at the start of March I was recceing a spot for my first private booking of the year......

.....Was disappointed to find forestry workers (with cool remote controlled machines) removing the growth from around new native species trees planted about five years ago (after harvesting of a conifer plantation).

They were removing undergrowth rich with many species including wild raspberries, wild angelica and rosebay willow herb (aka fireweed). Presumably they thought it would help the recently planted trees.

Of course Fireweed (also known as Bombweed) got these names as it is an early coloniser of damaged/disturbed ground.

So whilst it was disappointing not to be able to show the early shoots to the mid-March foraging group, the site is now covered in 100's of tasty shoots!

#patienceisavirtue

#fireweed
#bombweed
#rosebaywillowherb
#forage
#forager
#spring
#wildfood
#wildpicker

Fireweed

Back at the start of March I was recceing a spot for my first private booking of the year......

.....Was disappointed to find forestry workers (with cool remote controlled machines) removing the growth from around new native species trees planted about five years ago (after harvesting of a conifer plantation).

They were removing undergrowth rich with many species including wild raspberries, wild angelica and rosebay willow herb (aka fireweed). Presumably they thought it would help the recently planted trees.

Of course Fireweed (also known as Bombweed) got these names as it is an early coloniser of damaged/disturbed ground.

So whilst it was disappointing not to be able to show the early shoots to the mid-March foraging group, the site is now covered in 100's of tasty shoots!

#patienceisavirtue

#fireweed
#bombweed
#rosebaywillowherb
#forage
#forager
#spring
#wildfood
#wildpicker

Truffle of the Sea.

Never foraged for this before but using my local knowledge checked a spot where I thought it might be hiding.

Thanks to the water baby that is @food_fire_knives for confirming my id.

#truffleofthesea
#pepperdulse
#seaweed
#seashore
#isleofwight
#springtides
#yeahbaby

Truffle of the Sea.

Never foraged for this before but using my local knowledge checked a spot where I thought it might be hiding.

Thanks to the water baby that is @food_fire_knives for confirming my id.

#truffleofthesea
#pepperdulse
#seaweed
#seashore
#isleofwight
#springtides
#yeahbaby

Massive mollusc

#massivemollusc

Probably a #pulletcarpetshell

#isleofwight
#seashore
#fotaging

Massive mollusc

#massivemollusc

Probably a #pulletcarpetshell

#isleofwight
#seashore
#fotaging

More spring shoots - wild hop tips.

A delicious wild edible and certainly plentiful around the lanes here.

I assume the farms previously grew hops to supply the local brewery and the plants have "naturalised" in the margins.

#hopshoots
#hoptips
#bruscandoli
#poormansasparagus
#spring
#forahe
#wildfood
#feralfood
#alittleknowledgeisadangerousthing

More spring shoots - wild hop tips.

A delicious wild edible and certainly plentiful around the lanes here.

I assume the farms previously grew hops to supply the local brewery and the plants have "naturalised" in the margins.

#hopshoots
#hoptips
#bruscandoli
#poormansasparagus
#spring
#forahe
#wildfood
#feralfood
#alittleknowledgeisadangerousthing

The Spectrum of Edibility.......... sometimes it's just not a simple yes or no!

Invariably I talk about "The Spectrum of Edibility" on my foraging courses. Whether some plants (or fungi, or animals) can be described as "edible" might depend upon - culture/tradition, stage of growth, which part of the organism, treatment in the kitchen or attitude to risk etc.

The fertile shoots of Horsetails are a good example of this - currently popping up in a field or on a grass verge near you.

No culture of being eaten in the UK - but considered a delicacy in some other countries.

Known to contain a heat soluble toxin that may lead to thiamine deficiency if eaten in sufficient quantities. But how much (or little) is "sufficient quantities"?

Risk v Reward

#thespectrumofedibility
#horsetails
#forage
#spring
#wildpicker
#alittleknowledgeisadangerousthing
#riskversusreward

The Spectrum of Edibility.......... sometimes it's just not a simple yes or no!

Invariably I talk about "The Spectrum of Edibility" on my foraging courses. Whether some plants (or fungi, or animals) can be described as "edible" might depend upon - culture/tradition, stage of growth, which part of the organism, treatment in the kitchen or attitude to risk etc.

The fertile shoots of Horsetails are a good example of this - currently popping up in a field or on a grass verge near you.

No culture of being eaten in the UK - but considered a delicacy in some other countries.

Known to contain a heat soluble toxin that may lead to thiamine deficiency if eaten in sufficient quantities. But how much (or little) is "sufficient quantities"?

Risk v Reward

#thespectrumofedibility
#horsetails
#forage
#spring
#wildpicker
#alittleknowledgeisadangerousthing
#riskversusreward

I think this is my favourite wild allium (from a taste perspective) - #alliumparadoxum

I know of only 2 spots where it grows locally but am advised that it becomes more prolific as you travel north.

Considered an "alien invasive" 👽 and in the UK it is a criminal offence to introduce it to the wild. Once established it crowds out the native species. So I make it a priority each year to uproot and eat as much as possible 🤣

I have a special private booking on Wednesday when we will be revisiting this spot!

#fewfloweredleek
#spring
#alieninvasion
#wildpicker
#foraging
#wildallium

I think this is my favourite wild allium (from a taste perspective) - #alliumparadoxum

I know of only 2 spots where it grows locally but am advised that it becomes more prolific as you travel north.

Considered an "alien invasive" 👽 and in the UK it is a criminal offence to introduce it to the wild. Once established it crowds out the native species. So I make it a priority each year to uproot and eat as much as possible 🤣

I have a special private booking on Wednesday when we will be revisiting this spot!

#fewfloweredleek
#spring
#alieninvasion
#wildpicker
#foraging
#wildallium

Local pork, new potatoes crushed with Alexander's and a wild garlic velouté

#forage #forager #wildfood #spring #wildgarlic #alexanders #wildgarlicveloute #supper #dinner #itswhatweeat

Local pork, new potatoes crushed with Alexander's and a wild garlic velouté

#forage #forager #wildfood #spring #wildgarlic #alexanders #wildgarlicveloute #supper #dinner #itswhatweeat

Cultivated Morels heading into the dehydrator.

#morels
#morchella
#morchellaimportuna
#morchellaelata
#fungi
#dehydrator

Cultivated Morels heading into the dehydrator.

#morels
#morchella
#morchellaimportuna
#morchellaelata
#fungi
#dehydrator

Alexander's hearts.

Superb wild coastal vegetable - at it's prime now.

#alexanders
#wildvegetable
#coast
#spring
#forage
#forager
#wildfood
#wildpicker

Alexander's hearts.

Superb wild coastal vegetable - at it's prime now.

#alexanders
#wildvegetable
#coast
#spring
#forage
#forager
#wildfood
#wildpicker

Scurvy Grass living it's best life by the rainwater run-off outlet.

Quite bitter, spicy and astringent at this time of year.

Often touted as a wild wasabi substitute.

#scurvygrass
#spoonwort
#sprung
#forage
#forager
#wildedibles

Scurvy Grass living it's best life by the rainwater run-off outlet.

Quite bitter, spicy and astringent at this time of year.

Often touted as a wild wasabi substitute.

#scurvygrass
#spoonwort
#sprung
#forage
#forager
#wildedibles

Hazel Catlin's - edible but only just!

Very bitter on the palate. I did "crystallise" some once which made them slightly better.

I see they can be dried and ground for use as flour. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has done that.

#catkins #hazel #wildfood #wildedible #eatthetrees #spring #forager #forage

Hazel Catlin's - edible but only just!

Very bitter on the palate. I did "crystallise" some once which made them slightly better.

I see they can be dried and ground for use as flour. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has done that.

#catkins #hazel #wildfood #wildedible #eatthetrees #spring #forager #forage

This season I took my first Wild Garlic harvest near this spot on 18th November. Now it's popping up all along the valley slopes.

#gonnabesickofitbymay

This season I took my first Wild Garlic harvest near this spot on 18th November. Now it's popping up all along the valley slopes.

#gonnabesickofitbymay

A lovely second flush of Velvet Shanks locally plus the usual Scarlet Elf Cups. Also harvested some extremely aromatic naturally dried Mugwort.

#velvetshanks
#flammulinavelutipes
#scarletelfcups
#sarcoscyphacoccinea
#mugwort
#artemisiavulgaris
#forage
#forager
#fungi
#wildfood
#wildfoodlove
#alittleknowledgeisadangerousthing

A lovely second flush of Velvet Shanks locally plus the usual Scarlet Elf Cups. Also harvested some extremely aromatic naturally dried Mugwort.

#velvetshanks
#flammulinavelutipes
#scarletelfcups
#sarcoscyphacoccinea
#mugwort
#artemisiavulgaris
#forage
#forager
#fungi
#wildfood
#wildfoodlove
#alittleknowledgeisadangerousthing

Needed a bit of colour on the Grid 😉

Getting some good sized Scarlet Elf Cups now.

#scarletelfcups
#mushroomsofinstagram
#mushroomhunter #mushroomhunting #forage #forager
#wildmushrooms #fungi

Needed a bit of colour on the Grid 😉

Getting some good sized Scarlet Elf Cups now.

#scarletelfcups
#mushroomsofinstagram
#mushroomhunter #mushroomhunting #forage #forager
#wildmushrooms #fungi

Ivy-leaved Toad Flax is an often overlooked edible plant.

Typically found flourishing in the cracks of old walks and stonework - as in this location spotted today.

High in vitamin C and can be eaten raw or cooked. It's bitterness can be challenging for modern day palates.

It's a plant of many names - Aaron's Beard, Climbing Sailor, Coliseum Ivy, Creeping Jenny, Devil's Ribbon, Female Fluellen, Fleas and Lice, Ivy Weed, Ivy Wort, and Kenilworth Ivy.

#ivyleavedtoadflax
#winter
#wintergreens
#wildedible
#urbanforage
#forager
#foraging
#wildpicker
#natureprovides
#alittleknowledgeisadangerousthing

Ivy-leaved Toad Flax is an often overlooked edible plant.

Typically found flourishing in the cracks of old walks and stonework - as in this location spotted today.

High in vitamin C and can be eaten raw or cooked. It's bitterness can be challenging for modern day palates.

It's a plant of many names - Aaron's Beard, Climbing Sailor, Coliseum Ivy, Creeping Jenny, Devil's Ribbon, Female Fluellen, Fleas and Lice, Ivy Weed, Ivy Wort, and Kenilworth Ivy.

#ivyleavedtoadflax
#winter
#wintergreens
#wildedible
#urbanforage
#forager
#foraging
#wildpicker
#natureprovides
#alittleknowledgeisadangerousthing

Just over 7lbs of lake brownies.

Will be cold smoking these.

#browntrout
#trout
#fishing
#wildfood
#coldsmoked
#wiltshire
#winter

Just over 7lbs of lake brownies.

Will be cold smoking these.

#browntrout
#trout
#fishing
#wildfood
#coldsmoked
#wiltshire
#winter

I preserved a kg of these anchovies around 18 months ago. Dry salting followed by raw pickling and then packed under a good oil.

Then @maxvolpi74 told me about anisakis! So I froze them in small containers still covered with the oil.

We've been eating them every now and again over the 18m and they keep improving. This is the last few and they are really good.

#anchovies #preserved #salting #pickling #freezing #fish #wildfood #sustainablefood #slowfood

I preserved a kg of these anchovies around 18 months ago. Dry salting followed by raw pickling and then packed under a good oil.

Then @maxvolpi74 told me about anisakis! So I froze them in small containers still covered with the oil.

We've been eating them every now and again over the 18m and they keep improving. This is the last few and they are really good.

#anchovies #preserved #salting #pickling #freezing #fish #wildfood #sustainablefood #slowfood

Early Wild Garlic spot flourishing!

#wildgarlic
#wildgarlicpesto
#alliumursinium
#forage
#forager
#foraging
#winter
#nature
#natureprovides
#wildedible
#foragednotfree
#wildpicker
#alittleknowledgeisadangerousthing

Early Wild Garlic spot flourishing!

#wildgarlic
#wildgarlicpesto
#alliumursinium
#forage
#forager
#foraging
#winter
#nature
#natureprovides
#wildedible
#foragednotfree
#wildpicker
#alittleknowledgeisadangerousthing

#natureprovides - well it certainly provides plenty of fresh plant edibles on the coast - even in December.

#alexander's - tastes like celery
#seafennel - like fennel
#wildcabbage - like cabbage
#threecorneredleek - like grelot onions
#seapurslane - like nice salty things
#rocksamphire - like kerosene!

Not #goodsfromthewoods but.....?

#morefromtheshore
#stufffromthebluff
#stockfromthedock

?

#natureprovides - well it certainly provides plenty of fresh plant edibles on the coast - even in December.

#alexander's - tastes like celery
#seafennel - like fennel
#wildcabbage - like cabbage
#threecorneredleek - like grelot onions
#seapurslane - like nice salty things
#rocksamphire - like kerosene!

Not #goodsfromthewoods but.....?

#morefromtheshore
#stufffromthebluff
#stockfromthedock

?

An old foraging haunt on the Isle of Wight where wild cabbage survives as a perennial.

A few fresh young leaves coming through in mid December!

An extremely hardy coastal plant that was most likely the ancestor of all the brassicas we know today.

#wildcabbage #Brassicaoleracea #forage #forager #winter #seashore #seavegetables #isleofwight #natureprovides

An old foraging haunt on the Isle of Wight where wild cabbage survives as a perennial.

A few fresh young leaves coming through in mid December!

An extremely hardy coastal plant that was most likely the ancestor of all the brassicas we know today.

#wildcabbage #Brassicaoleracea #forage #forager #winter #seashore #seavegetables #isleofwight #natureprovides

Proper Winter fungi popping now - this is The Velvet Shank.

Tasty and slightly sweet. It's advised to remove the cap skin and stems before use as they can be difficult to digest.

If you are going to forage these then make sure you are very familiar with the differences between them and The Funeral Bell (which is a killer).

#velvetshanks
#flammulinavelutipes
#fungi
#winter
#wildmushrooms
#mushroomhunting
#mushroomphotography
#mushroomhunter
#forage
#foraging
#alittleknowledgeisadangerousthing

Proper Winter fungi popping now - this is The Velvet Shank.

Tasty and slightly sweet. It's advised to remove the cap skin and stems before use as they can be difficult to digest.

If you are going to forage these then make sure you are very familiar with the differences between them and The Funeral Bell (which is a killer).

#velvetshanks
#flammulinavelutipes
#fungi
#winter
#wildmushrooms
#mushroomhunting
#mushroomphotography
#mushroomhunter
#forage
#foraging
#alittleknowledgeisadangerousthing

New spot for a few Field Blewits buttons.

#piedviolet #fieldblewit #wildmushrooms #fungi #mushroomsofinstagram #mushroomhunter #forage #forager #winter

New spot for a few Field Blewits buttons.

#piedviolet #fieldblewit #wildmushrooms #fungi #mushroomsofinstagram #mushroomhunter #forage #forager #winter

Isle of Wight wild tuber uncinatum!

It must be six years since I paid retail for truffles but as I was born and brought up on the Island, I couldn't resist treating myself to some of these.

Foraged locally by a lady and her truffle hound and available @harvey_browns

I know the old-timers (mostly the Collins family) used to come over to the Island for truffle hunting expeditions.

#truffles #blacktruffle #autumntruffles #burgundytruffles #tuberuncinatum #isleofwight #i🖤w

Isle of Wight wild tuber uncinatum!

It must be six years since I paid retail for truffles but as I was born and brought up on the Island, I couldn't resist treating myself to some of these.

Foraged locally by a lady and her truffle hound and available @harvey_browns

I know the old-timers (mostly the Collins family) used to come over to the Island for truffle hunting expeditions.

#truffles #blacktruffle #autumntruffles #burgundytruffles #tuberuncinatum #isleofwight #i🖤w

Goods from the Woods.

So many wild "Spring greens" flourishing at the moment.

#goodsfromthewoods #wildgarlic #alehoof #wildchervil #alexanders #cleavers #stingingnettles #hairybittercress #forage #forager #foraging #foragednotfree #autumn #winter #sprung #wildfood #wildpicker

Goods from the Woods.

So many wild "Spring greens" flourishing at the moment.

#goodsfromthewoods #wildgarlic #alehoof #wildchervil #alexanders #cleavers #stingingnettles #hairybittercress #forage #forager #foraging #foragednotfree #autumn #winter #sprung #wildfood #wildpicker

Egg stage Octopus Stinkhorn aka Devil's Fingers.

Possibly edible at this stage? Interested to know if anyone has tried?

#Clathrusarcheri #octopusstinkhorn
#devilsfingers #mushroomhunter #mushroomsofinstagram #mushroomphotography #autumn #winter

Egg stage Octopus Stinkhorn aka Devil's Fingers.

Possibly edible at this stage? Interested to know if anyone has tried?

#Clathrusarcheri #octopusstinkhorn
#devilsfingers #mushroomhunter #mushroomsofinstagram #mushroomphotography #autumn #winter

Yellow Field Cap

Saprobic on rotting hay

Nov 24

#yellowfieldcapmushroom #eggyolkmushroom #Bolbitiustitubans #autumn #winter #fungi #mushroomsofinstagram
#mushroomhunter
#mushroomphotography

Yellow Field Cap

Saprobic on rotting hay

Nov 24

#yellowfieldcapmushroom #eggyolkmushroom #Bolbitiustitubans #autumn #winter #fungi #mushroomsofinstagram
#mushroomhunter
#mushroomphotography

Proper Winter fungi starting to appear.

Scarlet Elf Cup spotted this morning.

Considered to be a decent edible in the UK (decent in February when there isn't much else around!) but inedible in some countries.

#scarletelfcups
#fungi #wildmushrooms
#mushroomhunter
#mushroomsofinstagram
#mushroomphotography
#mushroomsofinstagram
#allthemushroomtags
#autumn
#winter
#foraging
#wiltshire
@igerswiltshire

Proper Winter fungi starting to appear.

Scarlet Elf Cup spotted this morning.

Considered to be a decent edible in the UK (decent in February when there isn't much else around!) but inedible in some countries.

#scarletelfcups
#fungi #wildmushrooms
#mushroomhunter
#mushroomsofinstagram
#mushroomphotography
#mushroomsofinstagram
#allthemushroomtags
#autumn
#winter
#foraging
#wiltshire
@igerswiltshire

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