Earthnuts (Pignuts)

May 2013 - Time for Earthnuts - not actually a nut, but they do grow in the earth - and they are somewhat nutty!

Nettle Burgers

This recipe is based on my previous one for Nettle Pudding - these are hearty and delicious vegetarian burgers.

I'm an omnivore, but I found these every bit as enjoyable, filling and satisfying as a meat-based burger.

Garlic Mustard - Another Try

April 2013 - a slow, late spring that started bitterly cold has yielded a lush crop of foliage growth, including roadside hedgerows crammed with Garlic Mustard.

Last time I tried this, I found it inedibly bitter, but as this plant has a long-standing reputation as a vegetable, I thought it was worth another try.

Sweet Chestnuts

October 2012 - it's a great year for sweet chestnuts - must be all that rain we had instead of a summer.

It's a race against the squirrels for these tasty treats - but this time, I won, and returned home with a couple of pounds of lovely plump chestnuts.

Guelder Rose (Don't Eat This)

October 2012 - Although it looks delicious, here's a berry I won't be eating.

Some of my older wild food references describe Guelder Rose berries as 'edible once cooked', other, more recent sources say it's toxic and best consumed only in small quantities. Actually, I think I'll not bother.

Sea Pea (Don't Eat This)

August 2012 - Whilst on a short camping holday in Dorset, we visited Chesil Beach - one of relatively few locations in the UK where the Sea Pea may be found.

Described as edible by many wild food references, this is actually not one to make a habit of eating.

Bog Myrtle

July 2012 - This summer of rain finally let up, so we headed off to the New Forest for a walk; I picked some Bog Myrtle to make Gale Beer.

Wall Pennywort

Wall Pennywort, also known as Navelwort, is a common plant on coastal cliffs, stone walls and banks, especially in the southwest of England.

Sea Buckthorn

September 2011 - I went for a walk along Portchester shore where I sampled the surprising and delightful berries of a common seaside shrub - Sea Buckthorn.

Hops

August 2011 - I'm planning to brew my own beer later on this year, so I set out to find some hops to use in it.

Hazelnuts

August 2011 - This doesn't happen often - although hazel trees are common, and produce nuts in abundance year after year, it always seems like the squirrels, mice, jays and weevils snaffle the crop before humans can get a look in.

Time and chance was kind to me on this occasion though and I was delighted to gather a satisfying heap of hazelnuts.

Horseradish

August 2011 - All along a broad roadside verge near where I live, Horseradish grows - I've been noticing it for years, intending to forage some.

I finally got around to that - and picked some of the flowers to make fritters.

Wild Marjoram

August 2011 - I went for a sunny, breezy walk atop the chalk downland of Old Winchester Hill.

Wild Marjoram is abundant in this habitat - and it's a useful kitchen herb, so I picked some to take home for drying.

Mulberries

August 2011 - this is urban foraging, rather than true wild food, but it's still a great free food resource - Mulberries. Find some of these, and you're in for a real treat.

Wild Radish

July 2011 - Taking a walk along the sea front at Hill Head on a warm summer evening, I found wild radishes growing on the shingle banks.

Rose Petals

May 2011 - Wild roses are in full and copious bloom. Let's see what we can do with rose petals.

Hops

May 2011 - I found some hops growing wild in a hedgerow. It's a little early to be looking to harvest the fragrant flowers, but in spring, the tender shoots are available to pick as a green vegetable.

Mini Dandelions - Sprouting Dandelion Seeds As A Micro-Salad

April 2011 - I have been collecting dandelion seeds for an experimental oil extraction project, but wondered if the seeds could be sprouted like mustard and cress, for an unusual micro-salad.

Thongweed

April 2011 - I spent the day with friends at Lulworth Cove and got my boat tangled up in some floating Thongweed - it seemed like a good opportunity to snag some for experimental use in the kitchen.

Thyme

April 2011 - I spent a week in Murcia, Spain - one of the very many things I love about this place is the fact that plants known normally to me as cultivated herbs in the garden can be found just growing wild. A while ago, I wrote about Rosemary - now, it's Thyme (no pun intended).

Alexanders

April 2011 - we're in Minehead, Somerset, and there is a great abundance of a wild food I've often seen, but the time or season hasn't been right to give it a try, but this time, it's fresh and available - it's Alexanders

Cleavers

Elsewhere in my wild food adventures, I've used the seeds of Cleavers (also known as Goosegrass) in an attempt to make coffee substitute. Now, in the early spring of 2011, I'm looking to the emerging shoots of the cleavers plant as a fresh green vegetable.