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| Beautiful Plum Blossom - Out Now! |
Many people seem to dread family days out. They do not seem able to find something to do or somewhere to go that will suit everyone's wants and needs.
To an extent, this is normal and obvious to some people - adults, children, teenagers, boys, girls, men, women - don't they always want different things? Isn't that natural? Of course different people will favour different things if given a choice but when everyone has to go out to the same place, on a day out or a holiday for instance, problems can crop up.
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| Spring is Coming |
But who or what is to blame and what can be done to ease the situation? We can always blame lack of time, lack of conversation, mobile phones, meals eaten in front of the TV, modern technology, social media, online gaming is a popular scapegoat. We could blame teenagers, although most of them are normally more interesting and polite than many of the adults I know.
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| A Stone Style |
Foraging has several advantages as a family activity.
- It takes place outdoors and involves walking, so it can help to keep you fit and strong.
- Talking is always much more easy when you are walking or doing something else at the same time.
- You will strengthen your connection to nature, the seasons, weather etc.
- Anyone can do it with a relatively small amount of knowledge or practise.
- Small children and teenagers can enjoy it as much as adults and the elderly.
- It can be integrated with technology, if you wish.
- It is not a "gendered activity".
- You can go out with a specific aim, to a certain place or you can do it in any place or time, just because you happen to be there at that time.
- You can do it all year around - although you will mainly pick fruit and nuts in the Summer and Autumn.
- You can learn about geography, mapping, natural navigation, healthy diet, the seasons, household finances, biology, chemistry, cooking, baking, preserving, pickling, and creating alcoholic drinks for the grown ups.
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| Awesome Hambledon HIll |
The best time to start learning a new skill is always NOW! This is true whatever the time of year but, as it happens, Spring is the best time to start discovering how to forage. This is because you can spot fruit trees best, by recognising their blossom. Fortunately the various fruit trees that we harvest from tend to flower roughly in sequence.
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| A Steep Start |
First comes the Plum and Blackthorn (Sloe), around March, filling the hedgerows with a white bloom. People will also notice Daffodils at this time.
Next you tend to spot the Cherry trees and they grow everywhere; it is amazing how many grow alongside roads around April. Bluebells are filling the forest floor at the same time.
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| On Hambledon Hill |
If you log the locations of the flowers, you will then be able to check the development of immature fruit. Thus you can be the first to recognise the Cherries as they ripen. For us, picking the first crop of juicy delicious Cherries on a sunny day is a magical moment. We normally eat too many, straight off the tree but we try to bring plenty home for eating, baking or turning into jam.
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| The 360 View is Simply Awesome |
From this point on, the seasons get busier, depending on time and how much of the different fruits you wish to harvest. Any walk, ride or drive in the city, park or countryside is instantly hugely enhanced if you and your family have even half an eye open for the masses of free fresh fruit available. All the information you require is available here.
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