Gleaning

I feel like there's a lot to be said for hunter-gatherers.  While growing things myself is becoming one of my main life ambitions, I'm already making quite a good fist of ambling around Devonia eating things as I go.

Pretty regularly this summer, for whatever reason, I've felt discouraged & burdened & generally squashed.  The cure?  Wandering in empty lanes with just the Sun & a thousand blackberries for company.  The world is a horrible, difficult place, full of responsibilities & obligations & stuff; and then suddenly little black jewels are glistening in the hedgerows, God loves me, & valuable things don't have to come at a price.

Our conversation at dinner this evening was about how much food is just outside, waiting for us to find it: rabbits, ducks, pigeons, mushrooms, herbs of all sorts, mussels, elderberries, watercress etc.etc. (and that doesn't include what the supermarkets chuck out or roadkill!)  Loads of things.

Now, I'm not the sort of chap who wants to ONLY eat gleanings - I like pitta bread too much - and the idea of stinging nettle soup makes me feel queasy, but I do think we need to re-teach ourselves how to spot the goodness of our surroundings.  And England really is a very, very fruitful country, especially down in this corner.

Comments

[RNR]

Richard Mabey's 'Food for Free' is on its way Dave... a little present (!)

[MisterDavid]

update

Today, I have eaten approximately 100 blackberries - very possibly more - and 'gleaned' a big pile of bathroom tiling from Homebase (who were chucking it away). Good stuff.

[Joce]

Brilliant! You should try nettles though they're good, especially in the spring time. I'll have to make you nettle and wild garlic soup some time, a recipe I'm rather pleased with.