my foraging diary

[Omi]

Thanks Omi. I never knew cowparley could have completely purple stems so now I'm aware I shall stop avoiding them.

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Just make sure they are "u" shaped

 

[MightyMax]

That is funny j&b. I'm often being told off by OH for trespassing in farmers' fields when I've been for walks.

I am actually quite shocked about the Hemlock. I thought I could tell Hemlock and Cow Parsley apart quite easily, but I have obviously failed here as I was not aware that these Hemlock plants were there. Now that they are twice the height of the Cow Parsley it's very obvious, but when they were both much shorter I clearly haven't picked them out as being different.

dp Cow Parsley can have a completely purple stem i.e. no spots or splodges on green. Hemlock has purple spodges on green. However, in younger Hemlock plants there can sometimes be a lack of purple spodges altogether. I think the problem with a lot of this identification business is that I sometimes come across a plant that I "feel" confident about, but something just doesn't seem right and I think that is because some plants can have atypical specimens. Cow Parsley always has a "u" shaped stem. Also Hemlock leaves are much more feathery than Cow Parsley.

MM- Regarding how much Hemlock is necessary, I came across this http://www.thepoisongarden.co.uk/atoz/conium_maculatum.htm It doesn't say how much, but I found a lot of it interesting and I was particularly shocked about the reports of the Italians eating wild birds, who had consumed Hemlock :shock:

Oooh, quite horrific :shock:

 

[joey&boo]

I can't access my favourite private foraging areas anymore owing to massive overgrowth of stinging nettles and brambles ..narrowly escaped falling face first in them just now. Lots of boy ducks around, I'm hoping all the girlies are hatching ducklings !

I think I have willow. Do only willow trees have catkins?

 

[Omi]

I can't access my favourite private foraging areas anymore owing to massive overgrowth of stinging nettles and brambles ..narrowly escaped falling face first in them just now. Lots of boy ducks around, I'm hoping all the girlies are hatching ducklings !

I think I have willow. Do only willow trees have catkins?

The girl ducks are probably all thinking, "Thank God all that gang-raping is over with for another year!".

No, several trees other than Willow have catkins, e.g. Hazel, Alder. They don't all look the same though.

 

[joey&boo]

The girl ducks are probably all thinking, "Thank God all that gang-raping is over with for another year!".

No, several trees other than Willow have catkins, e.g. Hazel, Alder. They don't all look the same though.

thank you. I just googled & it said the same. I was pretty sure it was willow before I saw the catkins so reckon we're safe

 

[willow and squiggles]

not been on here for a while, feel like ive missed loads with being up to the elbows in bonding and building. ive been foraging every day and finding new areas with new plants. i didnt take my camera with me but i will next time. Ive found a hornbeam tree, i thought it was beech until i brought a sample home, i cant find anywhere that says if its safe or not. Has anyone fed it to their buns before. I cant even find to sample now so im hoping bella and bleu havent ate it.

 

[Omi]

not been on here for a while, feel like ive missed loads with being up to the elbows in bonding and building. ive been foraging every day and finding new areas with new plants. i didnt take my camera with me but i will next time. Ive found a hornbeam tree, i thought it was beech until i brought a sample home, i cant find anywhere that says if its safe or not. Has anyone fed it to their buns before. I cant even find to sample now so im hoping bella and bleu havent ate it.

Nice to see you posting again Sorry I haven't been able to find anything about Hornbeam either. I certainly haven't ever come across any to feed and typically I can't find it on safe or unsafe lists.

 

[joey&boo]

my parents are well trained - arrived with huge bag of fresh forage & several dried. they are refusing buddleia though

 

[MightyMax]

my parents are well trained - arrived with huge bag of fresh forage & several dried. they are refusing buddleia though

You served it to your folks?

 

[Omi]

my parents are well trained - arrived with huge bag of fresh forage & several dried. they are refusing buddleia though

My greedy three won't eat Buddleia either :shock:

 

[willow and squiggles]

ive missed you all. Now im back in a routine i will be on more. Thanks omi, there is enough about without the hornbeam so no worries. My hubby is getting really good at identifying forage now too, ive trained him for if im ever ill lol.. he found the first lot of vetch the other day. Ive now upgraded to a pull along shopping trolly and an extra large sports direct bag for collecting. we make a lovely sight lol.. All the buns now are all fully weaned onto the forage, they get excited when they see my trolly. Joey&boo how fab that your parents know what to pick. xx

 

[MightyMax]

My greedy three won't eat Buddleia either :shock:

Mine love it

 

[MightyMax]

ive missed you all. Now im back in a routine i will be on more. Thanks omi, there is enough about without the hornbeam so no worries. My hubby is getting really good at identifying forage now too, ive trained him for if im ever ill lol.. he found the first lot of vetch the other day. Ive now upgraded to a pull along shopping trolly and an extra large sports direct bag for collecting. we make a lovely sight lol.. All the buns now are all fully weaned onto the forage, they get excited when they see my trolly. Joey&boo how fab that your parents know what to pick. xx

Reminds me of the first time my kids saw me with a trolley. They walked on the other side of the street :lol:

 

[joey&boo]

ive missed you all. Now im back in a routine i will be on more. Thanks omi, there is enough about without the hornbeam so no worries. My hubby is getting really good at identifying forage now too, ive trained him for if im ever ill lol.. he found the first lot of vetch the other day. Ive now upgraded to a pull along shopping trolly and an extra large sports direct bag for collecting. we make a lovely sight lol.. All the buns now are all fully weaned onto the forage, they get excited when they see my trolly. Joey&boo how fab that your parents know what to pick. xx

I've had them in training for years :lol: I also sent my foraging book to them so they could expand their selection. They are awesome grandparents though, never miss a birthday, lots of suitable edible gifts, always fuss them & show interest. Many years ago they drove from their place in Cheshire to Hull (where I lived) to collect take Ralph to bunny specialist in Harrogate then returned him to me in Hull

Anyhoo, good to see you back on your own thread W&S. Your absence means we deserves a photo of all your bunnies eating foraging delights

 

[Omi]

Mine love it

I know, you've said before. It's odd isn't it. I do find that when a food is rejected here, they all reject it, which is also interesting. I do wonder if they were eating alongside one of your rabbits, they would decide also to eat it.

Rabbits are complex little creatures

 

[MightyMax]

I know, you've said before. It's odd isn't it. I do find that when a food is rejected here, they all reject it, which is also interesting. I do wonder if they were eating alongside one of your rabbits, they would decide also to eat it.

Rabbits are complex little creatures

Yes, very much so! But perhaps the 'one for all' approach is something the wildies adopt when assessing the danger of food?

 

[Horace the Bold]

My greedy three won't eat Buddleia either :shock:

Our buns tend to refuse fresh buddleia, but dried buddleia is usually munched

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[willow and squiggles]

lol.. mightymax my kids wont be seen with me with the trolly, its so not cool :lol: I will take some pics of them scoffing their faces later

 

[willow and squiggles]

the buns enjoyed their forage today. bleu and bellas forage box what they have on a night

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[/URL][/IMG] tiggi, cosmo and darcy

[/URL][/IMG] squiggles, willow, buttons and pepe

[/URL][/IMG] pixie, prinny, esme and echo

[/URL][/IMG] and daisy digby and devon to show daisy isnt a lonley bun anymore.

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[/URL][/IMG] sorry for all the pics lol.. but had to get them all.

 

[tlcwrites]

Awww Pixie is so much smaller than her babies now. How is spaying/neutering them all going?!

I was up at my father's on Thurs and managed to get some wood avens, hawthorn, and loads of yarrow from his gardens. A few other bits too. It's only a small garden but he was clearing an area to make a 'fairy garden' for his grandkids.