[Rosemary]

Annie, raise it with Euan Hills, our Countryside Ranger, tomorrow night.

There used to be loads of blaeberries at Schawpark Golf Course. When I was a child, Dad and I used to pick them, then Mum made blaeberry jam.

[doganjo]

Sandy's coming too so we'll see if we can get something started on the foraging side - Forth Valley Foragers is good - I couldn't think of anything else than Fife being close - how stoopid is that! Duh!

[Fluffywelshsheep]

on my side of thing i contacted Tracy Gibson  (community Development Officer0  who in turned told me to contact cvs who have a person who is doing a green mapping for local area.
So i'll have to contact them. Also Tracy said if it is to be set up as a proper group there might be comunity funding availble.

[mackbear]

This is a great thread....the whole foraging idea is GREAT and well done to you guys for getting on with it!!!

I can add something to the discussion...masses of wild raspberries to be found through July (weather permitting of course) at Polkemmet Country Park between Harthill and Whitburn.  I picked around 3 kilos on one afternoon in August with a friend and that was fairly late in the season.  We promptly made raspberry vodka and are still drinking it *hic*

Also it made a fantastic alcoholic base for trifle which we consumed at Christmas

There are also wild blackcurrants there and brambles but we were too early to pick them at that point.

Almondell Country Park in Broxburn also has masses of wild garlic (ramsons) in April/May.

Martin.

[sandy]

I love comming home from walks with my dogs with my gifts!!! I always have something, even if it's just some nettles or greens for my chickens. I have a 1971 VW camper and my dream would be to chug around with the dogs in that, stop off at places, gather stuff, take a tea break and chug on some more and have a lunch break then chug home full of forraged things, best sense of achievemnet and good to clear your head!! Sandy

[mackbear]

you are right, Sandy...there is nothing like knowing you have collected edible 'treasures' for a meal or to help fill your larder.

A friend and I collected lots of elderberries in the autumn and made some pontack and some rosehips which we made into delicious syrup.

Oh...and me and my partner own a VW camper too....a bay window from 1978!  Who knows...we may pass you on the road sometime

Martin

[sandy]

We have owned a VW for about 12 years, Bumble is our third and we have had her around 6 years, we drove to Scotland in Bumble when we moved and it was running great, then I left it a few weeks and the battery went flat but after buying a new battery, off it chugged than the MOT had run out so we left it again, I since took it to a garage and they said it only needed new brake's and some welding on the chasis, that was in August and we promised a local friend he could drive it up to Loch Lommond and we would treat him to a meal and I was going to England for Christmas in it laden with bit and bobs and some homemade bramble and apple pies but of course it is still in the garage, I am a bit peeved but cannot do much about it now as I don't suppose it will run and I don't know anyone w
else close to take those jobs on, more of a problem is our savings put aside to get it done are depleting!!!!! I shall be realy happy when I get it back, it was named Bumble, due to the colour's, by a friend, anyway, I realy hope to get in some good foraging, most days I come back with stuff for the chickens and I have places earmarked already for Raspberries, Brambles and Strawberries as well as wild Garlic and other herbs, well I am rambling on a bit but carn't waite to get started properly, Sandy...has your VW a name?

[mackbear]

hey Sandy,

Sorry to hear about the problems with Bumble.  We use a garage based in Grangemouth called 'Automotive'.  The owner there, Graham, is really into classic cars and especially camper vans.  He has a lovely bay camper of his own which he has restored from scratch and we entrusted our van to him too when we got it done a few years ago.  He made a lovely job of the body restoration and a new paint job. He's done quite a few of them and really knows what he is doing.  I can thoroughly recommend him!!  Plus he is reasonable price-wise!!

Yeah, all these goodies around the countryside - it's great fun treasure seeking and then finding them.  Don't forget to mark an 'x' on the treasure (forager's) map!!

Oh yeah, our camper, although not actually christened, is often referred to as 'Morag'.

Martin.

[sandy]

I am a dreadful wimp but I may pluck up some corrage and take my Camper somewhere else, that is is it moves now after 6 months sitting in his yard, maybe the garage wants me to take it somewhere else? Anyway, thanks for that, we moved here from Leicestershire and I knew lot's of people and places that specialised in VW's as I said this is our third, the last two were bought by the same people over a space of 4 years, they took bits from each and now have a mixed heratage camper van!!!!

[Fluffywelshsheep]

hiya all when do  you want to get the ball rolling ? with the foraging, Is it to cold/early to start now?
is there something someone want to collect this time of year?

Linz

[sandy]

Hi. I generaly go out with my dogs dialy and pick up stuff for the chickens but there is not much about where I go, not even many nettles, I will look  at my book but the problem I have is time, we have guests now and I go out when I can as it is hard to make a time often BUT, will see if we can all go out together at least once a week and find stuff each month, not keen on fungi finding as they all look a bit similar to each other and I am not sure I want to chance it....I will be back later after checking out what to look for, not bothered about the cold or wet.... I also work pt so have to fit that in as well, CU soon Sandy

[rustyme]

you could look for some ICE ......if you look hard enough you should find some somewhere.
  as for fungi , you could always try it on the guests first !!! Timing would be the only problem there .....ie ..last breakfast ,    bill paying .....

cheers

Russ

[sandy]

I find lot's of ice but it is hard to transport home as for some strange reason it's always gone, none in my freecycled carrier bag, when I get home with all my other bit's!!!! I dare not try fungi, I am such a guilty person. For Christmas I had some mushroom's to plant, I shall have to look up the spelling otherwise I will be a laughing stock. They need planting in a tree trunk, I have loads of them, anyway, I have just been to Clackmannan Tower, the wind was blowing cold but it was very refreshing, I have some dock leaves and a few dandelion leaves for my chickens, that's all folks, now I had better do something and untangle my hair....Sandy

[doganjo]

I am a dreadful wimp but I may pluck up some courage and take my Camper somewhere else

I'll come with you - just phone when you want to go round.  We can take it to David along from me if youm want.

[sandy]

Thanks, I can hide behind you then . Who is David? I have booked my CItron into Kennet tomorrow so I will have a nice walk home with my dogs, hope that isn't 6 months comming back, I have work!!! Did you get the pet food and mussel? Have you done those books? I need to do mine