As a kitchen gardener I find myself getting very excited whenever I see a food plant. Sometimes it is easy to predict where you might find them; mushrooms in paddocks, these blackberries picked from plants growing beside an English road (and tasting slightly dusty as a result) and so on. At other times the appearances of food plants is a lovely surprise, appearing where you least expect them.
While I’m on the subject of blackberries I wanted to share a really good tip I was given on my recent trip to Britain. Try not to pick any growing at a height a dog could wee on. Excellent advice and not something this particular forager had thought off…. In Australia the main reason not to eat wild blackberries is the likelihood they have been sprayed by some Landcare group or other – they are a weed and a lot of Australia’s supply of weedkiller is dedicated to their eradication.
But this post isn’t just about blackberries, it is also the first in a series of posts highlighting food growing outside of dedicated food gardens. For example the use of rainbow chard in the (slightly tired, end of summer) gardens of Artis Zoo in Amsterdam.
Where have you been excited to see a food crop?
I’m a huge fan of cherry plums – the kind that grow on those red-leafed naturestrip trees. And I’m pleased to be able to tell you that now is the best time to eat them (if you like them sour, that is). The kids and I have been filling up on them on the way down to the park 🙂
Great tip – thankyou!!!!!
We had a dig that picked and ate blackberries and a plot neighbours dog eats all the lower growing raspberries.
Just back from UK. I was amazed t last year how much there was in the hedge rows. LOADS and I MEAN LOADS of damsons, blackberries, Sloes,Pears , plums and Hazel nuts apples.
We had Blackberry and apple crumble coming out of our ears by the time we flew out.seems the locals cant be bothered. If I was living there I’d have pantry full of bottled fruit
I’ve been really excited lately to see wild fennel growing (seemingly) all over Melbourne! It’s also nice to see so many olive trees growing on the nature strips 🙂
I’m going to have to keep my eye out now.