Foraging books/ websites recomendations

[noviceveggrower]

Hi,
We have plenty of parks/woodland around by us. So I was thinking about trying to do some foraging and having a general hunt about.
I was wondering are there any books out there anyone could recommend or any websites.
Thanks

[bearded bloke]

Have a look here NVG .... Heart of England Foraging and Wild Edibles (Worcester, England) - Meetup

[Alison]

What do you want to forage? Hedgerow, mushrooms etc? If mushroom then the River Cottage Handbook is a good starter book which shows you a good few ones to work from. If hedgerow then the Food for Free book by Richard Mabey is a cheap starter but s lacking in pictures.

[Bren In Pots]

Alys Fowler's book The Thrifty Forager is a good read lots of photos plus recipes its for sale at about £5.

[sparrow100]

One with pictures is essential imho, Food for Free doesn't have many, doesn't go into enough detail and you could confuse something that is not good for you at all with something you can eat. I've got Food for Free and it feels like it depends on the reader having more of a clue than I do at what they are looking at.

On the plus side, it's a handy size!

[Alison]

One with pictures is essential imho, Food for Free doesn't have many, doesn't go into enough detail and you could confuse something that is not good for you at all with something you can eat. I've got Food for Free and it feels like it depends on the reader having more of a clue than I do at what they are looking at.

On the plus side, it's a handy size!

Interesting, I've found it useful but suppose I've picked wild stuff since I was a kid so have a reasonable idea what I'm doing. Was picking wild cherries with OH the other day in some local woods and we were discussing how sad it is that you rarely seem to see famillies out along the hedgerows anymore, was going to say it's free entertainment but actually it's better than that as you get the benefits of fresh air, exercise and free food. Bonus all round

[noviceveggrower]

Interesting, I've found it useful but suppose I've picked wild stuff since I was a kid so have a reasonable idea what I'm doing. Was picking wild cherries with OH the other day in some local woods and we were discussing how sad it is that you rarely seem to see famillies out along the hedgerows anymore, was going to say it's free entertainment but actually it's better than that as you get the benefits of fresh air, exercise and free food. Bonus all round

That's one of the things which got me thinking about foraging. There is a massive blackberry bush just up the road from us and no one picks anything off it. Then there are several cherry trees on the way to school and I don't know if they are eating cherry or ornamental cherry trees. Just don't want to pick anything poisonous.

[noviceveggrower]

What do you want to forage? Hedgerow, mushrooms etc? If mushroom then the River Cottage Handbook is a good starter book which shows you a good few ones to work from. If hedgerow then the Food for Free book by Richard Mabey is a cheap starter but s lacking in pictures.

Want to try and pick everything. Saw the River Cottage guy when he has been foraging and he seems to find a who load of stuff. Might have a look on Amazon and see if they have those books.

[veggiechicken]

Start with the plants you recognise and know to be edible, like blackberries, elderflower and elderberries, hazelnuts and chestnuts.
If you're sure its a cherry tree the cherries won't poison you - but they may not taste very nice - sour and more stone than fruit. Lots of plants are edible (won't poison you) but don't taste very nice. Maybe OK cooked though - like crabapples.
I'd start with a good field guide to wild plants and trees and try to identify everything you find. Once you know what it is, then look it up to see whether its edible or has other uses.
You can always post photos here and we'll do our best to tell you what it may be.

[sparrow100]

Interesting, I've found it useful but suppose I've picked wild stuff since I was a kid so have a reasonable idea what I'm doing.

Me too - within a limited range of fruits and nuts. For example sloes were very new to me 3 years ago, 'cos Dad made beer, not gin. When I pick them now I am asked by passing dogwalkers either if they are poisonous or if they are blueberries... I imagine I'd ask similarly daft questions about things that are new to me/unusual.