Allotments 4 All

Just found this - sorry if it's been posted before. Wasn't sure whether it should be posted here or in Pests :)

http://www.downsizer.net/Projects/Finding_Food/Ground_Elder_Recipes_-_Eat_Your_Way_to_Eradicating_a_Troublesome_Weed/

Fabulous idea, and an interesting site! thank you ;D

Reminds me of that good intention I had of selecting the choicest dandelions and growing on for salad. Never got around to it... just grab them as required.

Out of interest, has anyone tried chickweed (stellaria media) as I haven't, and recently learned it was edible?

Our very first Lottie harvest was nettle tops - makes great soup. Now we have to pinch them from our neighbours plot!  ;D

 ;D
Great idea!!
Anyone got ant recipes for couch????

Quote from: jennym on September 29, 2005, 17:17:50
Reminds me of that good intention I had of selecting the choicest dandelions and growing on for salad. Never got around to it... just grab them as required.

Out of interest, has anyone tried chickweed (stellaria media) as I haven't, and recently learned it was edible?

Haven't tried chickweed myself but bring it home by the bag full for my hens, they love it :D

They say that blanched dandelions taste better - less bitter apparently.  Full of Vitamin C I'm told  :)

Nettle soup used to be on the menu at Champneys (probably still is).  I have their recipe in my scrap book if any wants to know it.  I'll have to make some as I have loads of nettles.  I like nettles on my plot (I leave them to grow around the eges as I use them in my compost bins and for fertiliser. 

Don't larf katy, you can really eat couch roots in a stir fry. They are long and succulent (at least mine are) and all that grit does you a power of good ;D

Supersprout - I had the same thought.  They might be a bit tough but you could marinate em first  ;D

Japanese knotwood recipes. Honest to god.

http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Knotweed.html

Down towards bottom of page. Starts with apple and knotwood pie.  :D

Looks like a really interesting site, I've bookmarked it for later, thanks bupster.

M.

OK, last one for the moment.

Couch grass beer:

"In msg 4814, Strounge mentioned that the roots of couch grass can be used to make beer. At the time I thought this was oddly amusing until I came across a Russian language site with old beer recipes. One was called 'Krest'yanskoye Pivo' (Peasant Beer) and uses couch grass roots!
We have to remember that there was a time when sugar was quite expensive and other sources were used. See:
http://kuking.net/8_255.htm

Basically the recipe consists of using the proportion of 1 Russian bucket or 'vyedro' (12 litres or 3 U.S. gals) of water for 2 Russian
pounds or 'funt' (approx 2 lb or 918 g) of couch roots. For 6 US gals (24 l) you need 4 lbs (approx 2 kg) of finely cut couch roots. Soak
them overnight and then boil until they sink to the bottom. This mash is then sparged by pouring into a tub with a tap, and with its bottom lined with straw which is weighed down with stones.

Hops and yeast are added. It is bottled with residual sugar for the secondary fermentation process in the bottles."

Couch grass roots are also a powerful diuretic so they are indirectly good for your compost heap as well.

I hadn't thought of that :o

good stuff, if any one finds any for bindweed or thistles - let me know, got one or two to dispose of  ;D

Get some goats. Or you can apparently use the roots to get rid of dandruff.

I am really bored at work today.  :)

me too - is Friday though so even though I actually have loads to do, I cannot be bothered!

If you've not got enough parnsips dandelion roots are also edible and are nice roasted.  They are quite bitter though so best done with honey or sugar.

Quote from: bupster on September 30, 2005, 16:12:39
Get some goats.

not sure it would go down too well with the lottie committee or the surrounding houses if I turned into Heidi. Nice thought though.  ;D

LOL at the thought of me presenting the OH with dandelion roots for his tea, I tried to feed him parsnips once and he looked at me like I was trying to poison him.  :)

Knotweed and apple crumble with couch grass beer not on the menu then?

I worry about the people that find this stuff. Although obviously spending the afternoon looking them up instead of working is perfectly normal :)