Did you know that there is a myriad of goodness in nature right now and by going out and foraging you will also be taking part in a calm and mindful activity?
Foraging is a forgotten activity and it is having a comeback since the pandemic. In other European countries like Sweden people forage every autumn blueberries, lingonberries and funghi and either freeze or dry them for the upcoming winter.
Right now, you can find blackberries and sloe berries in our hedgerows and soon there will be rose-hips ready to be harvested too. All these berries have strong and deep colours and this means they will be full of antioxidants which is incredibly helpful for your immune system.
We have gathered a few recipes for you, should you like to go out and try a new and exciting activity. Do be careful though and be aware of the following when foraging:
- Only collect and eat berries/mushrooms if you are 100% sure of what they are. If in doubt, don’t.
- Only collect on common land (check it isn’t private property).
- Be careful not to damage or destroy wild plants.
- Avoid collecting near roadsides, due to car pollution or low down on bushes in dog-walking areas!
I have just foraged Sloe berries blackberries and elderberries and they are ready in my freezer for me to create different recipes in the next few weeks as I am keen to use nature’s free resources and find ways to improve my immunity this winter.
David Parker’s Blackberry vinegar
- Weigh the blackberries, then add to a large container with an equal quantity of vinegar
- What I do is put it in a kilner jar and cover plus, rather than just steep, I get a potato masher and mash them up so extracting as much juice as possible from the blackberries
- Allow the mixture to steep 7-10 days, covered – I left it a good two weeks
- Strain through jelly bag the mixture, reserving the liquid
- Add the liquid to a saucepan with 450g of sugar per 700ml of liquid
- Bring to the boil, then cook at a boil for 8-10 minutes – I found circa 380/400gm of sugar enough but mine are domestic blackberries, wild ones may be more tart
- If a frothy scum appears on the top of the blackberry liquid, skim it off
- Transfer to sterilized bottles and enjoy!
- It’s a bit like balsamic vinegar.
Here is a great recipe for elderberry syrupYou can either keep if fresh in the fridge and ix it with water or sparkling water, or freeze it into ice-cubes and put them in smoothies or add to drinks. But do remember that with elderberries you need to be cautious if you have autoimmune disease or take immune suppressants or are taking laxatives. Just check with your GP beforehand.
