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Ipso-phyto

Selling the hedgerows

Is it simply more exploitation of nature for profit dressed up in fashionable clothes in fancy restaurants, or a valid way to introduce people to forgoten flavours and foods?
I can't decide whether to pursue it... Its an ethical nightmare.
Cathryn

Will be interesting to see what happens if the supermarkets feel the need to produce ready meals with gorse flowers in it.
marigold

I am opposed to commercial foraging - gathering wild food to meet your own needs is fine, picking to support a foodie fashion available only to the very wealthy is not. IMO.
Rob R

Re: Selling the hedgerows

It depends upon the management plan you operate on the hedgerows, but there are certainly a lot easier ways to make a living.
Rob R

I am opposed to commercial foraging - gathering wild food to meet your own needs is fine, picking to support a foodie fashion available only to the very wealthy is not. IMO.


On the other hand, if 100 people did the former there would be no plan for the management of the area being harvested, it would be pretty random & uncontrolled. Whereas a commercial forager could [note could, not necessarily would] supply 100 people but do it in a way that doesn't damage the ecology of the whole area, particularly if they are working with the agreement of the owner of the land.
Hairyloon

Good point.
And I think you would have to do it with the landowner's agreement. I am pretty sure the law that allows foraging does not allow it for commercial purpose.
Nick

I am opposed to commercial foraging - gathering wild food to meet your own needs is fine, picking to support a foodie fashion available only to the very wealthy is not. IMO.


You've managed to highlight both ends of a large scale, and miss out the 90% in the middle. marigold

I am opposed to commercial foraging - gathering wild food to meet your own needs is fine, picking to support a foodie fashion available only to the very wealthy is not. IMO.

You've managed to highlight both ends of a large scale, and miss out the 90% in the middle.

I'm debating something on Downsizer, what do you expect? wildfoodie

Ipso-phyto wrote:
Is it simply more exploitation of nature for profit dressed up in fashionable clothes in fancy restaurants, or a valid way to introduce people to forgoten flavours and foods?
I can't decide whether to pursue it... Its an ethical nightmare.

so what's your viewpoint?
Marigold wrote:
I'm debating something on Downsizer, what do you expect?

Laughing Ipso-phyto

selling hedgeows

Well my view is that if you can get rape leaves for £1 per kg from farmers and sell them to posh eateries for £15 per kg (and 3 people can collect 60kg in a few hours)...then it is money for old rape or rope.
I also have a view that selling for foodie fashions is morally pretty twisted...
I also think that introducing people to the forgotten flavours of hedgerows is a good idea...im thinking now of the mushroomy taste of ribwort here, the spicey sweeness of ox eye daisymade, or sea arrow grass which is heavenly and tastes like coriander.
The ecological view that well governed, mindful foraging for commercial purposes is probably more likely to be sustainable than the same amount being taken by a myriad people, i do happen to think is correct, even if it sticks in my craw to admit it...aaaarghhhh now im confusing myself... Tavascarow

Considering a large proportion of landowners flail their hedgerows indiscriminately & use herbicides & pesticides regardless of risk of drift, anything that may make them see there's a value to maintaining them for wild flora & fauna is good. But I fear the lure of easy money will result in exploitation. Mistress Rose

I hadn't heard of that one, but not surprised.

As has been debated, a properly managed hedgerow for commercial foraging can be a very good thing. A few people foraging for their own use is not too bad as long as they don't do damage, like trampling other plants to get to what they are after. A lot of people, or unauthourised commercial foraging is going to do a lot of damage.

In our woods, we get people picking wild fruit and mushrooms. Don't mind as long as they don't pick the lot and leave some for us and the animals and birds. What I do object to is where they do damage to get to them or pick the lot. I suspect someone has been at the parasol mushrooms in one place over the years, as I find only the odd one or two damaged ones left. Possibly commercial? That, without the land owners permission is wrong.
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