FORAGING IN FRANCE IN WINTER

The thought of foraging and trudging around damp fields on cold grey days is not very appealing

BUT.......

If you are in the South of France its a whole different matter!!!....sorry to keep rubbing it in.

It is still a pleasure to forage in winter...its usually sunny and dry even if it is cold. The french people keep their volets (outer shutters) closed in Winter to keep out the cold.....actually they keep them closed in the summer too as its too hot. Some french village houses never seem to have them open and it can often make a village look quite deserted!! However winter is usually very nice.and we have ofter sat out on the roof terrace in December with a glas of wine...sorry not really rubbing it in.........there was however the time when we had just arrived here and this is what happened,,,,

 

Nice for Christmas card pictures but not very good when you have a house with no insulation, no heating and big holes in all the windows....thankfully all of that has been resolved so it can snow as much as it likes now.
I particuarly liked it when the Mayor of the village went out with his tractor tothe next village to buy bread ...our boulanger couldnt make it in his van....and deliver to all the villagers as well as all the youngsters clearing the paths at the homes of the elderly....thats the advantage of a community in a village
ANYWAY back to..............

Not a lot of foraging when this happens......there were a few comments of the English bringing the snow to the village.

There is, normally however,still a lot of foraging to be had at this time of year.

MUSHROOMS....there is still plenty around...look at previous post re the warnings on this one.
                             Never mind onions...know your mushrooms!!!!

ROSEHIPS........still some around but you need to look in places where they have not been so
                           exposed to the sun

DANDELIONS.. the leaves are good for salads and making teas

NETTLES...........ignore the old stuff at the top and find the juicy leaves below. Great for salads and
                            soups. If you are still growing veg in the garden you can carry on making fertiliser.
                            (will post the method later in a gardening bit!!!!)

THYME and ROSEMARY STILL ABUNDANT

Needless to say we still reguarly collect sticks, old vines and pine cones for the fire...as long as you can store them somewhere outside where they can dry off and keep dry!

If you are of the ilk you could also join the local chasse (hunt)...you can hear them out early morning on Wednesdays and weekends. Thankfully they are restricted to certain areas...you will see the CHASSE INTERDIT (not allowed!!!!) signs for the safe areas to walk!

The french are still very much in favour of hunting just about anything that moves and is worth eating...deers,pheasants and hares. However the "piece de resistance" for them has to be the WILD BOAR.
Believe it or not there were 560,000 shot in 2009 in France...yet the wild boar is still a major problem. In fact they are out of control on some areas. The increase in wild boar is not just a problem in France either..it has been reported in the UK this year that they are also becoming a menace to farmers.
Despite the best effort of the hunters the wild boar are exceptionally good at evasion...they can travel miles in a day and change their habitats. Add to that they are very good breeders.....the female can reproduce at only 1 year old unlike most other hoofed animals...and produce about 5 per litter!

So don't worry if you feel that the hunters are reducing the numbers of wild boar  to a state of near extinction...
The French have long hunted the boar...the Gauls lived mainly on their meat...and most people in this area hunt for eating and not just for the "pleasure" Its an ancient tradition that is far better than modern culling techniques!!!!