At the August meeting of the Market Harborough WI our members enjoyed a talk by Joanna Richard, Founder of Charnwood Foraging.

Joanna comes from a family where foraging knowledge has been passed down for generations and talked about the amazing variety of edible plants, there uses and the fund that can be had collecting natures bounty.

During our Forage & Preserve session, she explored a range of wild plants, fruits and fungi and looked at different ways of turning seasonal finds into useful foods and preserves. She also talked about the do’s and don’ts of foraging (never collect roots!) and where foraging is allowed (public parks are out…)

Every plant has a story to tell and the talk also provided some entertaining information about how to stop your neighbour’s cow from giving milk (yes – you guessed: tie a blackberry bramble to it), when to start planting in your garden (the gardening team will be sitting on the ground next spring to test if the earth is warm enough) and what medicinal use it can be put to. The key message for all would-be foragers is: Foraging is not about collecting as much as possible. It’s about learning to recognise what is around us, taking only what we need, using it wisely and allowing nature to continue to thrive.

If you would like to find out more about the subject, would like to go on a foraging experience or need some recipes, have a look at Joanne’s website:

Charnwood Foraging | Foraging Courses, Talks & Recipes

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