Do you have memories of childhood blackberry picking? Bramble, blackberry or Rubus fructicosus is probably the most well known and easily recognised of our native Irish edible wild plants. It is a wild food that anyone can pick with confidence, even if they know nothing at all about foraging. The clusters of deep purple-black berries ripen from…
When foraging for wild berries it is extremely important to remember that not all berries are safe to eat. While many wild fruits are delicious and nourishing, some are highly toxic and can cause serious illness, or worse, if consumed. Learning to identify poisonous berries is an essential part of safe foraging, helping you avoid…
It’s wild berry season, one of my favourite times of the year for foraging! The hedgerows here in Ireland are abundant with tasty and nourishing wild fruits at the moment. Most people have probably gone blackberry picking at some stage but there are many more fruits and berries that are ripening or ready for harvesting…
When we hear the word ‘gastronomy’, we often imagine some very complicated dishes, using expensive and exotic ingredients, and requiring lengthy and laborious preparation. One of the definitions of gastronomy, according to the Cambridge Dictionary, is ‘the art and knowledge involved in preparing and eating good food’. Simple food can also be good food. I…
Do you have a favourite weed? If I was forced to pick one, I think I would have to choose nettles. My garden is full of nettles, and probably unlike most people, instead of trying to eliminate them, I actually encourage them. In fact I have come up with a strimming regime that ensures I…
When I feel an infection coming on, which in my case often starts with swollen glands in my neck, the first plant I always reach for is cleavers. Depending on the season, I will use it to make a juice from the fresh young leaves and stems, or a tea from the dried leaves. Swollen…
Some of the most delicious and nutritious edible wild plants are at their very best in springtime. From wild garlic to nettles, these plants are abundant, local, seasonal and free. We all know that too much ultra processed food is not good for our health. Wild food is the total opposite to ultra processed food,…