help on urban forageing?

[PreppingPingu]

I've just been given " The Thrifty Forager Looks a very good read. Some of it is uk based and some seems to reference other parts of the world but on first glance it looks to be very useful talking about urban foraging as well as the more countryside type. Will let you know more when I have read it!

[ForgeCorvus]

Pingu: I've just had a look at that link. Sounds good as all my other books are mostly about native wildfood not feral or abandoned plants

[jansman]

It is a rather readable book. Urban (well semi urban here) is a bit of a sport for me. Last year I made ten gallons of elderberry and blackberry wine from foraged fruit. There are some abandoned allotments- awaiting development that throw up odds and ends like rhubarb etc.
The one for me though is pigeons. I have been a walk already this morning round the village. I am a dab hand with a catapult, and the pigeons IN the village are less spooky. Took out two that were on lamp posts. I use clay balls that disintegrate if they impact something I didn't want to hit!

However, it is a grey area legally, so don't try this at home kids!

[matthopkins]

I have been a walk already this morning round the village. I am a dab hand with a catapult, and the pigeons IN the village are less spooky. Took out two that were on lamp posts. I use clay balls that disintegrate if they impact something I didn't want to hit!

However, it is a grey area legally, so don't try this at home kids!

nothing grey about this at all, at worse a section1 firearms offence, at best use/carrying an offencive weapon in a public place....be very careful doing this

[Hamradioop]

Firearm", within the definition of the Firearms Acts , means a lethal barrelled weapon of any description, from which any shot, bullet or other missile can be discharged. It includes any prohibited weapon, any component part of such a weapon and any accessory to such a weapon designed or adapted to diminish the noise or flash caused by the firing of the weapon.
Firearm, within the terms of what you are allowed to hold on a firearm certificate, obviously does not include any prohibited weapons. Neither does it include shotguns, as they must be held on a separate shotgun certificate - except for Section 1 shotguns, which can only be held on a firearm certificate. A Section 1 shotgun differs from a conventional shotgun in that it has a magazine capable of holding more than two cartridges. These are known as "pump-action" or "semi-automatic" shotguns, where cartridges from the magazine are loaded by hand pumping the action, or by the discharge of the previous round.
taken from here http://www.westmercia.police.uk/what-is ... rearm.html

[matthopkins]

I read in the BASC magazine a few years back of a chap being charged with firearm offences, relating to taking pigeons from his local park (a public place) with his catty. By all means, if anyone wants to prove me wrong regarding the laws on such behaviour in a public place go ahead and try it for yourself. But as my mum always told me as a kid "it will end in tears one way or other"

[ForgeCorvus]

If its not a firearm (or a realistic replica) then you can't be charged with a firearms offence, and the CPS wouldn't pursue it. However the Violent Crimes Reduction Act is a great catch-all for anything that the coppers don't think you should be doing .

I wouldn't want to be a test case either

[junmist]

look at herb books as well.
Wild plants will find there way in to urban areas. You just have to keep your eyes open. Of the top of my head rose bay willow herb, nettles, hedge garlic, cow parsley, dandelion, pink clover, chickweed, elder, oak, beach, hawthorn, and wild cherry, are just a few. I would id the plant and then find out if you can eat/use it.

[twilight_shadow]

http://www.countrylovers.co.uk/wfs/wfsURBFORAGER.pdf

free download.

Hope you found it useful - one of my offerings.

[Mally]

Urban foraging! I found this thread really interesting. To me, foraging in an urban environment is really about getting food, any food, any way you can! Within the law of course. Seriously mean that. It's okay to be aware of what you can get illegally but don't practice! So! I've had strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb, blackberries and cherries. All just there, waiting to be picked.
I've had elderberries and the flowers too. Dandeliond and the roots. Burdock, Beech leaves, Mallow leaves, Coltsfoot leaves, Beech nuts, Hawthorn leaves. The list goes on.
I've had half eaten takeaways! Hope your not too disgusted? I'm careful what I eat and do it just occasionally to test myself Even eaten out of bins. I've also roasted potato peelings from a compost heap.
Food can be found everywhere.