For me, and I know some of you foragers out there, late summer is a great time for the free hedgerow goodies. Last week whilst in West Sussex with my mum for a weeks holiday, we discovered an amazing bramble patch with the biggest, ripest blackberries ever. Of course, we filled a bag, over 3Ib. Then this evening, whilst working for one of my customers, I noticed her neighbours Mirabelle tree laden with lovely little golden orange plums. Several large boughs were draped over the fence heavy with fruit, so I asked if I could gather some, and of course yes was the answer, so I came home with 5Ib of plums. Than blackberries are in the freezer to make jam, the plums may do several things. I am thinking of putting some in my Rumtopf to soak in alcohol, and I may make some chutney with some, and then I think I will just stew some and freeze to enjoy as a fruity thick sauce over icecream during the winter. Yum.
Cor, EJ! You did good-- All those plums and blackberries... Somehow foraged harvests are seem to have that extra bit of flavour, don't they? It sounds like your biggest 'problem' will be what all to do with them...what a sweet dilemma.
Well done, you. I also love to snack on wildgrowing berries, mostly raspberries and bilberries here. It's mushroom season soon and then we'll get some of those too.
Free food is good! I get some from the farm market and share it with the neighbors. I made plum jam this summer and blackberry jam. It's been too hot to do much foraging here. dooley
This year I hit the jackpot on free wild grapes. Randy's folks picked about 9 pounds for me and the wife of one of his friends picked another 10 pounds for me. All have been cooked, strained and the juice frozen waiting cooler weather for making into jelly. I used to get pears and plums from his folks neighbors but not in several years now.
