Foraging Courses?

rabbit Stew

Hey everyone,
I know it's a bit off topic, but does anyone know of any foraging class's / courses in the munster area.
Might even travel further if neccessary.
Cheers
Stew

Rovi

Doesn't sound like a shooting subject to me, but then, I've never actually heard of 'foraging courses' before, so perhaps it is some obscure shooting thing. :rolleyes:

Go on then, tell us what a 'foraging course' is and we'll make a decision on whether to leave open, move, or delete the thread.

rabbit Stew

Your dead right rovi, thats why i put in the "off topic" disclaimer.
I'm looking for a day or over-night course that would increase my knowledge of wild foods and their collection. River cottage styley!
It would be nice to be able to pick up some wild mushrooms and salads to go with the rabbit and pigeon that we all like to hunt.
I could change the name of the thread to wild food "hunting" if that would help:D

Sparks

Definitely more suited to the hunting forum, so moving it there.

stevoman

rabbit stew, i hav'nt heard about any courses as such unless you look for some sort of surival course. Maybe you should look into getting the ray mears wild food dvd set its good. I have the book its also good but theres no recipes only what you can eat. If you are going to buy these also buy the book called Complete Irish Wildlife. Its a picture of every living creature in Ireland including Plant life, I also have this book, and its great to use as you can see what plantlife grows here in Ireland and where to find it.

rabbit Stew

Cheers stevo,
Does the irish wildlife book tell you what is edible?

Rovi

Okay, there's a vague link to hunting involved, so we'll leave it here; you could also try asking in the Food & Drink forum-
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=35

meditraitor

http://www.slowfoodireland.com/local-events%7Cnews-page8209.html
Hope this helps

Foraging for Wild Food
Roger and Olivia Goodwillie 22nd September €75
This popular course will open your eyes to the abundance of edible food in the wild at this time of year. We will eat fruits, seeds, roots and leaves and grow to admire our hunter/gatherer ancestors. Some of the day will be spent cooking our collection over an open fire. A good course for kids and grown up kids.[Lavistown house event - Slow Food members welcome]

Mushrooms and Toadstools I
Roger and Olivia Goodwillie 5th – 8th October €160
Unfortunately our trip to France has had to be cancelled so we are running our usual weekend foray at Lavistown on the same dates. Come and find the what the woods have to offer in the way of weird and wonderful fungi. We will gather samples of all we find, do a careful identification and then eat the edible ones
[Lavistown house event - Slow Food members welcome]

Mushrooms and Toadstools II
Roger Goodwillie 20th October €75
A single day’s mushroom gathering based in Kilkenny. Join us on this annual pilgrimage into the woods in search of weird and wonderful shapes and tasty morsels. Learn what to eat with confidence…and what to avoid - [Lavistown house event - Slow Food members welcome]

October weekend: Slow Food event as part of the Kilkenny Food Fest. Information from Olivia - E-mail: http://lavistown@eircom.net.

ivanthehunter

hi there Rabbit Stew
To become good at scouring the countryside for food and game you'll need to get a hobbie that gets you out there. If you like you could start by getting out there and setting a few dozen snares. they are legal and they have to have a stopping device on the wire to prevent unnesscary pain and suffering. Snares can be set for foxes aswell as rabbits, just watch out and try to stear clear of badgers when setting snares for foxs...
learn to catch rabbits first, its very important to set them late and check,em very early. the great thing about this is that it forces you out of bed early in the morning and at this time you'll see the most. you'll only learn the rythem of nature with a keen eye and a good diary, watch out for changes in animal behaivour caused by weather, seasons, human interfearance, moon(tidal
)... come back to me in 50years when you know 50% of it...

stevoman

rabbit Stew wrote: »

Cheers stevo,
Does the irish wildlife book tell you what is edible?

No mate, but i look up what i can eat in my wild food book and then cross check it across to my irish wildlife book.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Irish-Wildlife-Derek-Mooney/dp/0007176295/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=gateway&qid=1200404405&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wild-Food-Raymond-Mears/dp/0340827904/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=gateway&qid=1200404425&sr=8-1

bitemybanger

thers plenty of threads on this sort of thing in Outdoor persuits,
Have a look in the Bushcraft Ireland fourm for courses.

doctor evil

Will you not be competing against song birds and the like who will need the food more?.

CJhaughey

Thanks Doc I never knew that Irish songbirds were partial to mushrooms...
I hardly think that one amateur forager is going to impact heavily on the diet of songbirds.

stevoman

doctor evil wrote: »

Will you not be competing against song birds and the like who will need the food more?.

do you think there will be much competition??

cavan shooter

Songbirds don't eat mushrooms, they find it a struggle to use a frying pan

rabbit Stew

Ah lads,
Give Dr. Evil a break, his evil heart was in the right place.
As regards competition i would imagine that wont be a major problem.
There are over 90 acres for me and the birds to share, but just in case they decide to go all hitchcock on my ass i'll be bringing the CZ.;)