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.

Stinging nettle: Harvest only the top 4–6 young leaves in spring before flowering. Use gloves — sting disappears completely on cooking. Blanch, steam, or make into soup. Do not eat once plant flowers (gets gritty). Highly nutritious — rich in iron and vitamins.

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.