What’s better than free stuff? Free stuff you can EAT!
With the bewildering array of produce available these days from shops & markets, we sometimes forget that Mother Nature provided them long before they got packaged up & put on display. Some of her best work still grows wild and is readily available, but so few of us go out and find them.
So what’s stopping us? Well for me personally its not knowing where to look! My mum was a firm believer in collecting natures bounty, some of my favourite childhood memories involve hunting for sweet delicacies in the hedgerows & pathways of the small village where I grew up, and combing the rock pools on holiday to find winkles. And whilst there’s obviously no wild seafood to be had in our little town, Stone does have a wealth of countryside to provide wild fruits & nuts.
The ALBOS Food for Free initiative is aiming not only to show you where to find food in the wild, but also to connect people who have things going to waste with those who could use them, in return for sharing a little of what they make. So not only will you get out & about finding yummy stuff, you could make friends too!
If you have fruit trees, or anything that people might make use of, that usually goes to waste, let us know where you are, what you have and when people can visit you. In exchange for getting the produce for free, the recipient would gift back a portion of what they use it for. Even if you can only be available to collect from a couple of hours a week, think of how satisfying it would be to get a jar of lovely jam from those damsons that usually rot on the floor or a slice of apple pie from those too sour to eat apples!
The map below shows the locations found so far, we would love to hear from you with any we’ve missed! Obviously they must be in a location that is legally accessible, (no trespassing!) and safe to collect from. Please note – we will not be including mushrooms & funghi. They can be delicious, but they can also be deadly, and telling them apart is not a job for the amateur!
[box type=”info” align=”aligncenter” ]Do you know of a great foraging location? Do you have a bounty of fruits that’s too much for you own needs? If you’d like to get involved the please use the comments sections below![/box]
2 comments
National Trust Rangers
There are plenty of crab apples and blackberries at Downs Banks, enough for people too forage and still leave loads for the wildlife too.
Alex lewney
Love any free berries, the hedge row along Highlows lane is bounty full with blackberries, and there’s a damson tree by Meaford lock by the canal. Any one with extra fruit or vegetables the little charity lunch club I support, carefree living, will always make use of it! We’ll even come and pick!!