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Forage food - Bramble
- Thread starter Anna xx
- Start date
Elena
Wise Old Thumper
The leaves do have some thorns, down the middle but you can either take these off with scissors or gently pull on the stem while holding the sides of the leaf. I don't bother myself, mine get them leaf thorns and all. I always cut the (generally) five leaves off the main stem and the stem goes in the burning pile on the allotment. Then they leave the smaller stems between the leaf (for me to tread on later :roll
When I get them I seem to end up getting loads and then air-drying them. I have loads and loads downstairs.
When I get them I seem to end up getting loads and then air-drying them. I have loads and loads downstairs. 
Blackberry & Co
Wise Old Thumper
Pick from high up in the bushes - above waist level, and they should be fine, as wildies will eat from the lower branches
Pick from high up in the bushes - above waist level, and they should be fine, as wildies will eat from the lower branches
Thank you, need to get going then, no excuses now
When I get them I seem to end up getting loads and then air-drying them. I have loads and loads downstairs.
Oh, if you dry them can you save them until winter? or do they only last a little while? I need to de-weed the end of my garden to make a shed and veggie patch but at the moment it is the source of all my dandelions, brambles, plantain and sticky weed. Be good if I could dry and save some of it. Do you just leave it out in sun? How long does it take to dry out?
Blackberry & Co
Wise Old Thumper
I pop mine into baskets/boxes either in the greenhouse or the porch, both of which get sunny and hot - they dry in a few days.
Some folks dry in the oven but I can never get that right :lol:
I store mine in cardboard boxes or paper bags in the airing cupboard after they are dry.
I'm still using brambles from last autumn - they are still green and crispy, and on wet days when I don't want to go out for fresh ones my buns eat these and love them
Elena
Wise Old Thumper
I dry them partly for the winter and partly because Nutmeg doesn't really like fresh food, she prefers it dry and crispy :roll: Provided they are in a dry environment I think they last a while, this is my first year of drying stuff so someone like PrettyLupin, Thumps or Blackberry might have more idea. The only things I've dried so far are nettles (tied in a bunch and hung up), sage (also tied in a bunch and hung), bramble leaves (scattered on trays and left out indoors) and hawthorn (which was in a paper bag and dried completely unintentionally).
This thread might be of interest to you...
http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?t=274136
It's long but very useful.
Thanks for your replies and advice, I want to start drying stuff! Although nowhere really to leave it out and we live so close to the beach it just blows away outside! We'll see!
I have had a look at that forum, loads of good info but your right, it is so loooong! I haven't had time to read it properly.
I have had a look at that forum, loads of good info but your right, it is so loooong! I haven't had time to read it properly.
