| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| cab |
Odd weekend foragingExcept for a few fairy rings, no fungi at all.But was delighted to find a wild gooseberry busy right underneath a rowan tree, both with fruit on. So also thinned out a wild apple tree, to let the remainder of fruit grow bigger and provide pectin for rowan jelly (which is now a pulp in the kitchen). Also found wild plums (and inexplicably lost some that I'd picked while out), and have now made plum jam. One more plum preserve to go this year (got the wine on, jam made, next comes chutney). Blaclberries are coming. Picked maybe a pound and a half. |
||||||
| cinders |
where do you go cab to find wild fruit i'm not far from you not sure where to look | ||||||
| cab |
Look up at the trees. Hedges, the edges of parks, anywhere thats been neglected really. |
||||||
| hedgewitch |
Think I might've found a wild plum tree but am not sure. Will take an ID book and camera with me when I go back that way sometime this week. | ||||||
| alisjs |
bilberries are ripe on the mountains.... I don't have the patience to pick loads though (takes forever!)...... eat as you walk! | ||||||
| cinders |
I've noticed some that overhang from peoples trees on to a lane not sure i'm aloud to pick | ||||||
| cab |
Knock on the front door and ask. Don't ask, don't get 
|
||||||
| cinders |
can't do that i'm shy and 
|
||||||
| hedgewitch |
go on - decide what you'd like to make, tell them and offer them some of your produce in return for being allowed to pick the fruit. 
|
||||||
| cab |
Sometimes they'll even present you with a big bag of fruit they're struggling to get through in return for a jar of jam or bottle of wine. |
||||||
| cinders |
sounds a good idea Now i need to experiment on wine and jam making. Guess i'll need some guinea pigs 
|
||||||
| skedone |
tell me about it mate finding fruit every were but the fungi i find are dead before fully grown i think its the mad weather its cold and wet one min then hot so the fungi is popping up coz of temp drop but then sun is killing them . prime example i found 12 dead parasols today about 1 quarter there size , the reason the temp dropped for 2 days with heavy rain but now its like a min of 20c which is far to hot for them.
as for the fruit if it over hangs public area it is legal to pick but better to ask i used to be shy about it at first but u will be amazed i have made many a new friend since i now ask for permission |
||||||
| Bodger |
Cab
To be getting blackberries you are months ahead of us. |
||||||
| cinders |
next week i'm going out foraging and will attempt to ask permission to pick the over hanging fruit | ||||||
| MarkS |
Where do you get that from ? If branches overhang then the landowner they overhang on has the right to cut them back BUT the branches cut MUST be given back to the owner of the trees. I'm not aware of any law that allows you to take fruit. In fact I was sure that it is theft. edit: In fact last year it was all over the papers when someone picked some fruit and made three jars of jam and were prosecuted. |
||||||
| skedone |
i got that info from 2 people last year 1 being a lawyer and one being chief inspector of local police station(friend of family) . so i am repeating what they told me but like i say i always ask i even make sure i have permission now days at local woods when im mush hunting | ||||||
| mimborin |
Was it a successful prosecution though? |
||||||
| MarkS |
Yes. |
||||||
| dougal |
'scuse me! I believe I clarified this previously
{Relevant law was quoted in this post http://forum.downsizer.net/viewtopic.php?p=266600#266600 interesting to check the rest of he thread ?} So if its - growing wild - and picked non-commercially it can't be a criminal Theft (though that doesn't mean that no other restrictions apply) And if you are on a Right of Way, you aren't trespassing. But fruit on a garden tree isn't "growing wild" - so taking it *is* a Theft offence - regardless of whether you happen to be on a public Right of Way when you pick it, you are still nicking it. |
||||||
| wildfoodie |
I've never been refused foraging after knocking on a door to ask first.
most people seem delighted their stuff isn't going to waste. |