Photo: Hedgerow by John Wright

I recently received a copy of Hedgerow (River Cottage Handbook) by John Wright and I’m delighted with it. I’m a big fan of Richard Mabey’s Food For Free – I have the gem edition which can be carried easily in a pocket. Hedgerow would need a chunkier pocket but it will accompany me on foraging trips as it has photographs -making identification far easier than drawings. This is the book that I’ve been impatiently waiting for and now it’s finally in my hands.

The book is called Hedgerow but actually covers plants, flowers and fruit that can be found in a lot more places. Such as parks, allotments and the boundaries of fields. I have even identified several species that are growing in our garden. Until now I had though of them as just weeds -  Hairy Bittercress omelette anyone?

This is a cracker of a book. It includes charts – for a quick appraisal of what can be found at specific times of year. The plant identification section is split into two – edible and poisonous. It covers all that the serious forager needs to know – from where to find the plants to the taste and possible uses. It points to plants that look similar but need to be identified correctly if you are not to poison yourself and your guests.

The book is well written with a light, witty, conversational touch. Even the section dealing with legal rights was fun to read. The recipes at the end look inspired and inventive.

Once again the River Cottage Handbooks  have come up trumps and published a real winner. I already have Pam Corbin’s first preserving book – excellent - and I’d love to invest in the lot.

Photo: Pine needles

It was Danny’s turn to buy the Balsamic vinegar last weekend. Someone had put an expensive bottle of Balsamic beside the cheap ones in Tesco and he ended up paying five times more than he could have. The resulting shriek got me thinking about Balsamic vinegar in general.

The price and quality of Balsamic vinegar can vary enormously. We have a very expensive bottle that we use occasionally for dipping or salads and generally have a ‘cheap’ bottle that we use for cooking. But cheap Balsamic vinegar is still much more expensive than other vinegars.

We use it a lot in cooking as it adds a wonderful depth to slow cooked stews and casseroles. I couldn’t think of a way of making a cheaper alternative until I came across this recipe for pine needle vinegar on Eat Weeds. Apparently it tastes similar to Balsamic vinegar.

Danny was suspicious.
“I just don’t see how it could work. Anyway where are you going to get pine needles from?”

The recent storms sent us a small branch from one of Anne Mary’s Wellingtonian pine trees. A perfect present from her woods. I was delighted with the bounty. Robin Harford suggests nibbling the pine needles from several trees to chose a good aromatic one. There was no choice involved for me but I nibbled a pine needle and it tasted rather good – rich, earthy, aromatic flavours. I could see that the combination of the pine needles infused in cider vinegar could taste wonderful.

So that’s what I’ll be making today. It should be ready by the New Year and already I can’t wait to taste it.

Photo: Old tactor and strawberries

One of the things that I’ve always longed for is to spend time with someone who can teach me about foraging in depth. There are courses but rarely local to me. Also some of the best ones can be ridiculously expensive once you add the price of the petrol and staying overnight.

I have several foraging books and these have proved to be very useful – especially the small edition of Richard Maybe’s Food for Free which can be slipped into a pocket or Jalopy’s glove compartment. But I knew that I wasn’t even beginning to take full advantage of the free food that’s on offer nearly all year round.

I subscribe to Robin Harford’s site Eat Weeds which is a brilliant resource for foraging recipes. That is where I found out how to make rosehip tea. This site is also promoting Marcus Harrison’s Wild Food Mentor course. Not having found a personal mentor I decided to bite the bullet and sign up for the course. This is a seven month video course paid for in monthly instalments.  I have found it to be all that it promises and so much more. Each month a range of plants is examined in depth – history, healing and culinary uses. Clear identification is through videos and photos. Marcus is a companionable guide.

It is just like going out with a chatty and relaxed professional forager. Here are plants that I’ve never even heard of before. Loads of information and even better I can learn at my own pace and watch the videos tucked up in bed.

If you have an interest in increasing your foraging skills and knowledge this course is well worth considering. I’ve learnt masses already and I’m only half way through module one.

N.B. Marcus Harrison is now offering a discounted course to Cottage Smallholder readers click here to view.