'Wild Food' by Roger Philips

[Mikey P]

Ladies and gents,

Have I got a book for you! It's well written with bags of recipes for food, wine, beer, all from natural wild resources. The colour photos are thought-provoking, humorous, and an excellent reference: just looking at them makes me want to try some of these out. All the pictures are dated so you know which time of year the plants were used and what they looked like.

But, the best bit of all is that.....wait for it....it's based on UK wild plants!

'Wild Food' by Roger Philips (first published in 1983, available on Amazon, RRP of 16.99 pounds - worth every penny) is an awesome guide to finding, cooking and eating wild plants. It is also very environmentally friendly in that it will tell you which plants are becoming rarer and, so, should not be used. If you like Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's books/TV and the 'Food for Free' book, this is a great read.

It covers plants, seaweeds, mushrooms, fruits, etc. And, it's got a load of stuff on making wine and beer. Yay! <hic>

I don't know if there has been a thread on this reference before but I nominate it as my wild food book of the year!

Has anyone else seen this? What do you reckon?

[Oakleaf]

Mike

I have the book too - in fact I'm on about my fourth copy as I end up giving to duly impressed friends!

Wholly support what you say. It is a very easy to read book and gives just the right balance of detail. I would heartily recommend it as fairly essential bookshelf material for bushcrafters. It nicely takes you past the brief coverage you get in most 'survival' books, yet doesnt stray into full on botanical thesis.

I have just produced first batch of Beech Leaf Noyau - once eye sight returns I will write further. :-D

Oakleaf

[Womble]

it's a very good book indeed!

I think I got mine for £3.99

[familne]

I wouldn't pay 16.99 for it! check out your discount bookstore - I got it for 4.99!!

[Roving Rich]

Yep its a great book, Follows on from his guide to Mushrooms - The definitaive Mushroom book IMO making identification easier with quality photos. Speaking of which there is a new "Photo" edition of food for free available.
Now i believe this (Philips wild food) was in Coch Y Bhodu books in Machynlleth at £9.99 ?

Cheers
Rich

[MarkG]

It took me a while to find it on Amazon so here's the direct link for others

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0330280694/ref=pd_sim_b_dp_3/026-8584779-4869238

[Tony]

I wouldn't pay 16.99 for it! check out your discount bookstore - I got it for 4.99!!

Yep, £4.99 is the price to pay, I've picked up all the Roger Philips books for that price. Just look around, I'm into town to day and I'll have a look :wink:

[Mikey P]

In my - desperate - defence, I reckon it's worth 16.99 but I wish I'd have known you could get it for a fiver!

[stuart f]

Yep good book. Also you should check out his other great book on plant I.D. Wild flowers of Britain,it covers plants as well as trees. All colour photo,s help with easy I,D. CHEERS STUART F.

[Brynglas]

A fantastic book.

I can recommend the Pontack Sauce recipe given for elderberries. I've never left it as long as he recommends, however I have a batch which is approaching two years old now, so we'll see.

[Richie]

Yep got that book too. Just need to use it a little more. :lol:

[Adi007]

The more I read this book, the more I like it - excellent book! :biggthump

[Shamisen]

Hi Folks,

Got ours from a shop in Hereford for £3.99.
Out of curiosity, has anyone made the Rowan jelly or Crab apple jelly?
As I collected a load of Rowan berries today and Crab apples and want to try
and make a Rowan jelly and Crab apple jelly. Only thing is I haven't got a jelly bag. Does anyone know where I can get one? Or could I just use muslin etc.

many thanks in advance :-)

[Adi007]

Just use muslin ... that's what granny used!

[dtalbot]

Yep,
I'd tend to use a double thickness of muslin, or even a teatowl on one occasion when we hit the critical point and couldn't find anything else! but no point buying anything special
Cheers
David