Do you like foraging, and making something from scratch?

I did used to make garden fertiliser from nettles............until my lovely neighbours complained about the stink, must admit that it did pong a bit, well rather a lot.

But I do make my own cleaning products, salvage sunflower heads and dry them for bird feed for the winter months, save all my yarn clippings from crochet projects to stuff things with, donate all my fabrics scraps (this that I can't quilt with) to the SEN pupils at a local school, make compost scoops from old milk bottles, use old towels to make washcloths/facial wipes/and skin scrubbies. I use Amazon packaging envelopes - the large stiff ones that they pack books in - for filing documents in.
Think that will do for now although I will no doubt remember several more

I had a phase for making wine from all kinds of things which grew wild in the fields where I lived. They included rhubarb, gooseberries and nettles.

I was put off making wine by watching my parents making their own in the 70's.
Arguments about which method was better, and the resulting disappointments put me off a bit.

Did you find it tasted good at the end of your endeavours biglouis?

Astichintime ... You're right about the smell of nettles fermenting. I'm about to follow the instructions of a gardener on line who has a way to stop the smell. I'll let you know if it works :-)

I made two litres of lovely elderflower cordial last weekend and am half way down the first bottle. Elder bushes are dripping with blossom this year. In the autumn I will collect elderberries to make cordial for the winter. I used to pick sloes to make sloe gin, but they’ve been in short supply here for a few years. Usually lots of blackberries and hazelnuts in the lanes here; and crab apples too if you have the patience to make crab apple jelly (a bridge too far for me!).

I made quince jelly a couple of years ago, it was a lot of faff for two jars.

I like making liqueurs/flavoured vodka etc. I usually make sloe gin or vodka, or damson gin or vodka. I have made blackberry whiskey - quite delicious! Mostly given as presents, but I enjoy also.
I have made a quince liqueur too, delicious but it needs to be kept in a dark bottle or in the dark, or the lovely golden colour becomes much darker. I have made seville gin too, that does need to stay undisturbed for at least 2 years, but does have a lovely flavour.
Currently soaking in vodka, are some elderflower blossoms, one more week needed and then add some sugar syrup and bottle.
I forage crab apples, blackberries, damsons, wild garlic, and rose hips.

I am hoping to attend a foraging course, or join a group this year to learn better - especially regarding mushrooms.

I have tried making/keeping a Rumtopf a couple of years ago but it was not a success, I obviously made a mistake in the method somewhere, but I will try again.

Ooo charley68 I'd forgotten about all those flavoured drinks. I must get on and make some.

What have you made with the wild garlic?

If you have time could you come back and let us know how you get on with the foraging course? I don't walk so well so it would be interesting to hear your perspective.

I remember watching Hugh Fearnley Whatsit making elderflower ‘champagne’. It looked quite easy and he and his tasters seemed to find it more than acceptable.

Another here who enjoys foraging and recycling/reusing things that might be thrown out. I make elderflower cordial, sloe gin, juice and cider from own apples, lots of different jams.

I now know a number of different edible mushrooms, apart from normal field mushrooms- giant puffballs, chanterelles and parasol mushrooms. I went on a seaweed foraging course but can't remember which kinds were good!

I made wine from my own grapes a few times. But I didn't really get into how to do it correctly, so it turned out okay, but not great.

I always go blackberrying and used to make comfrey juice,,(terrible smell).. Once found a large fresh puffball, it was delicious

I have always made my own jams and wine from foraged vegetables and fruit. My now deceased FiL once made wine from oak leaves. No other word for it disgusting.
Last year Ic knitted cotton flannels which have been very successful

No, have never had the time for that sort of thing myself but Mum regularly makes wonderful jams in her tiny kitchen from bought fruit mainly.

I've made crab apple jelly (delicious with pork), lemon verbena cake, elderflower wine and nettle soup. I've made lots of jam in my time from foraged fruits and like pascal30 above, I've foraged for puffballs. I'm pretty hopeless at crafty pursuits but I have painted pine cones if that counts.

I used to make loads of elderflower cordial. When the kids were small we used to go blackberrying. Conkering was something they enjoyed too. My husband used to make lots of wine and ginger beer.

I do get a great sense of satisfaction from making a meal from not very much. Almost empty fridge, not much in freezer and boring stuff in cupboard but we end up with a meal that looks and tastes pretty good. 👍

I have foraged since childhood the usual blackberries crab apples raspberries rhubarb and wild garlic. Damsons plums and apples and cobnuts further afield it’s what I look forward to each year. Pickles and chutneys are a firm favourite in our house and homemade jams.
I went mushroom spotting with the local ranger years ago but I don’t have the confidence to pick myself. It’s one of those I feel safe buying them. I always took my children foraging but they don’t now they don’t have the time.
I make gins and liquors usually for my friends for Christmas and preserves every year. I am never short of a fruit for crumble pie or tart and I make sorbet in the summer time.
I made elderflower jelly for my daughter when she was young. I don’t bother now she doesn’t eat jams or jellies watching her waist these days. I still forage in my local area and further afield I always will while still capable.

Namsnanny, You are a very clever person and I admire you for being able to do all these things. I have a massive elderberry tree in my garden (going to be cut down this year) and I just cannot be bothered making Elderberry jam etc. I wish I had the inclination.

Fantastic thread I love to read about others crafting. My parents grew up during the war and learnt to throw nothing away consequently I am the same. I make mixed fruit jam from any berries I can get my hands on elder blackberry loganberry they all go in or I freeze them and make jam in winter. I make damson and sloe gin and strawberry vodka . Recently I've started making bath oils and candles with seeds and pressed flowers. I throw nothing out. old tights or socks margarine tubs and yoghurt pots . It's surprising what you can do with stuff when you're a magpie.

This brings back memories of dad, mum, my brother and I picking brambles in September all along pathways and roads. There were very few cars to worry about. Mum then steeped the berries in muslin and made bramble jelly from the juice. I have her jam making kit and usually make lots of different jams over the year, but none are foraged now

I love this thread, lots of ideas.We have been warned off mushrooms here, sadly because there are some that look very similar to edible ones which are highly toxic. A few deaths recently.

I pick lots of wild garlic in spring and make wild garlic oil and pesto.
Any summer fruit I can get my hands on is made into jams and chutneys.
Autumn brings wonderful brambles for jam and crumbles.

I wouldn't dare as I don't know enough about it although I grew up and live in fairly rural areas. My mother would use mushrooms that grew overnight on the lawn for a fry-up (they were huge and filled the pan)

I think I would try dandelion salad or nettle soup, as I could definitely recognise those.

And maybe use interesting bits of fallen branches for Christmas decorations.