Now Forage

Common hackberry: Small, round berries turn from orange-red to dark purple-black. Ripe when dark and slightly soft; sweet, date-like flavour with a hard seed. Persistent through winter — a valuable wildlife and emergency food. Eat fresh or dry and grind (seed included).

Rose: Rose hips (swollen seed pods) ripen to red or orange after flowering. Pick when fully coloured and slightly soft. Remove the seeds and hairs inside (irritating). Very high in vitamin C; excellent for syrup, tea, and jelly. Leave some for birds in winter.