Now Forage

Blackberry: Fully black (not red or dark red) and comes off the stem with no resistance — zero pull. Dull rather than shiny; a shiny black berry is still slightly underripe and tart. Eat the same day for best flavour.

Fennel: Leaves and stems edible from spring through summer; seeds harvest in September–October when they turn grey-green and start to fall. Cut seed heads into paper bags and hang to dry. Pollen (June–July) is intensely flavoured — shake flowers over food.

elderberry: Dark blue-black clusters when ripe. Cook thoroughly before eating — raw berries are mildly toxic. Ripe when all berries are dark and clusters hang downward.