Welcome Spring's Wild Food

The things that get us excited around here! We were so happy to reacquaint ourselves with some of our favourite spring tasty wild foods as we walked about the farm today.

First, has to be nettles. They grow everywhere and they are a nice size now. Nettle tea from fresh, new shoots - so good for us! And so good to drink during pregnancy too! What a lot of uses nettles have.



Ear fungi. Lots of it growing on a dead elder branch. Nice to stew up for about 45 minutes in stock. Make sure you have identified it properly! Wash well and cook it well or it will taste rubbery. Sol really loves these.



And a special favourite here - Ramsons (wild garlic). We all eat lots of these. Forget taking a picnic to the woods, we all had a little nibble there in the ramson patch. Then back home for houmous and ramson sandwiches. Fresh young shoots can be added to just about any meal for that onion/garlicky flavour. Flowers and roots can also be eaten.





And lots more wild foods are starting to grow so beautifully!

Nettles

We keep big patches of nettles growing on the outskirts of our garden.  For one, they are excellent for wildlife.  So many insects love nettles particularly ladybirds and we so love to watch and admire the insect going-ons in the warmer months.  It is also perfect for nettle tea, nettle soups, nettle mice and natural dyeing.

Nettles are a very nutritious food that is easily digested and is high in minerals (especially iron) and vitamins (especially A and C). Only use the young leaves and always wear thick gloves when picking to avoid being stung. Cooking the leaves, or thoroughly drying them, neutralises the sting, making them safe to eat.

We harvested the tender young leaves of nettles and enjoyed nettle tea. The little ones enthusiastically gulped the warm tea down mostly because they had been so involved in the process of picking and preparing the tea.  That makes the tea taste just wonderful to them.

Nettle tea:

Pick a bunch of nettles, and rinse.  Place the leaves in a teapot, pour in boiled water. Leave to brew and cool a little.  Drink and be energised.