W.I. - Fun, Foraging & Feasting
Monday 9th November 2009
Foraging, fun and feasting were the order of the day for Lerryn WI’s October visit to Cotna Barton.
We left not sure what had been planned for us, but with baskets, gloves and boots at the ready we were “up for it”.
Rachel Lambert, the mastermind behind Wild Food Walks, had enlisted the help of Sara and David Readman, whose smallholding near Gorran Churchtown was an ideal setting.
We were to walk the land identifying and picking the plants to be used for lunch. Rachel and David were informative, knowledgeable and by the end of the morning session we had a selection of plants ranging from horseradish to nettles (apparently a super-food), black mustard, sorrel and watercress – there were more but you’d have to arrange a walk to find out about those!
After a refreshing cuppa we were let loose in Sara’s kitchen to prepare a lunch with the food we’d foraged. Sara was organised and helpful in supervising us all in the preparation of lunch.
Catherine helped produce some wonderful home-made pasta with nettles as a substitute for spinach, topped with a delicious watercress pesto. Jan grated horseradish and Sue grated beetroot for the beetroot, apple and horseradish salad. Anne, Flynn and Nina created a pudding, which would have rivalled Cranks, with blackberries, wild apples and meringue – eggs courtesy of the Cotna Barton chickens! Julia, Mary and Sue created two lovely green salads beautifully decorated with edible flowers. Sara served bread that she had baked earlier and the tangy sorrel and yoghurt dip was a wonderful accompaniment.
After an extended lunch there was just time for a walk to look for more wild food.
It was a happy, sated band of WI members who wended their way home from an innovative outing and one that we can certainly recommend.
Anyone out there who wants a taste of the same can contact Rachel at rachel@wildwalks-southwest.co.uk or visit her website at www.wildwalks-southwest.co.uk.
RWB
