I won’t lie, for a long time I just couldn’t see what all the fuss was about. Trying to eat nettles without being stung, not sure if your salad dandelions might have been weed on or hoping the fungi you picked won’t kill you. Too complicated, too risky and quite frankly not enough food to keep me going until second breakfast.
Then someone explained why.
Foraged food grows wild. It is filled with the exact nutrients your body needs at the right time of the year. It has not been farmed for size or quantity, or transported from Spain, it is fresh and flavourful and really good for you. It is also packed full of nutrition so just a little goes a long way.
What wild gems can we enjoy while out and about? How do we know what is ok to eat?
The best thing to do is forage with an expert. Wood sorrel, wild garlic, nettles, dandelions, blackberries, elderflowers and field mushrooms are the extent of my knowledge, but the list is long and varied if you know what you are doing.
However, if you want to dabble from the comfort of your own garden, I recently came across a brilliant book you might like. The Flowerpot Forager by Stuart Ovenden. It’s perfect for those of us a bit worried about exactly what we can eat or not. It is also good for those who live too far from the wild or just don’t have the time to wander about picking this and that on a countryside walk. Not only does it explain how to grow, care for and eat each plant it also includes recipes. Such a great idea!