odile Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Patf , how about knocking on the door and politely asking? We have far too much fruit and are always pleased to share with friends, neighbours and anyone who asks...Didn't like it the year we got back from a week-end away to find the 2 bramley apple trees at the front at been stripped of every single fruit by 2 guys in a white van (a neighbour told us he had seen them, but didn;t say anything!). Might be a good way to make friends... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patf Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 These fruit trees are along the edge of a field which is regularly cut for hay. I don't know who owns the field but could find out. They have obviously been deliberately planted.It seems a shame to waste them - I've tried one of the apples, and several figs and they are very good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Nobody has mentioned the wonderful figs that are growing wild all over the place round here. Sweet, juicy and wonderful, oh and free. You would have to pay an arm and a leg for them in a U.K. restaraunt and the trees are everywhere, well nearly [blink].\keeps you going tooooo [:-))]! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odile Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Patf, if the trees are well away from habitations, just keep eating - as long as you don;t come with huge baskets you should be fine. If somebody sees you, just get chatting- ask, apologise even and say merci beaucoup, et voila ... you'll surely be OK. In south Africa a few years ago we were shocked to see a sign 'trespassers picking fruit will be shot' - I don't think that's likely to happen in F. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 You think that's hard. I saw this in a local abbey and I am not kidding![IMG]http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f180/Jonzjob/Trespasserssign.jpg[/IMG]Maybe it can happen here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odile Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Gobsmacked - where is this?????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 Oh, it's about 5 miles WNW of Carcassonne. I don't know if they mean it, but it is on the abbey garden gate! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoddy Posted October 5, 2008 Share Posted October 5, 2008 So far no-one has mentioned quinces which make wonderful jelly. I think it might be good with foie gras, maybe someone has tried it. Near my house, there is a persimmon tree which sheds its fruit on the road, but no-one seems interested.I think I’m right in saying that French pharmacies will identify mushrooms for you.Hoddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted October 5, 2008 Share Posted October 5, 2008 [quote user="Hoddy"]I think I’m right in saying that French pharmacies will identify mushrooms for you.Hoddy[/quote]In the main, yes they will.However, everyone in the village pharmacy refused to give me a definite answer and they all referred me to the poster in the window...[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joffan Posted October 5, 2008 Share Posted October 5, 2008 I have quinces in my garden - do you have a recipe for the jelly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoddy Posted October 5, 2008 Share Posted October 5, 2008 You could try this.http://thefoody.com/preserves/quincejelly.htmlHoddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard-R Posted October 5, 2008 Share Posted October 5, 2008 [quote user="Clair"]As long as they're on the tree, they're his. If they fall on your land, they're yours, On the roadside, they're anyone's.[/quote]Hence the term 'Wind Fall Tax' for fruits that are not of your labour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odile Posted October 8, 2008 Share Posted October 8, 2008 as a child 'marauder' was a favourite hobby - we used to get buckets of water thrown at us and we had permanent belly ache from all the fruit. It was great fun though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoverfrog Posted October 9, 2008 Share Posted October 9, 2008 I spent an amazing week doing the vendanges - the work was hard but the team spirit was all the better for it!I've been accepted to be back on the team next year, something I wouldn't miss for all the tea in China :)One of the funniest moments was when we did a field next to a large uptogether place, and the English owner came out and offered us water from the tap in the courtyard. As soon as he was out of earshot everyone dissolved into laughter (and I got some flack being only English person on the team) - with the comment that he didn't really think the team ran on water, did he!!!The casse-croute at 10am was more than welcome after a chilly 8am start in the fields - bread, pâté, rillettes cake and beer.In spite of breakfast, casse-croute, 4 course lunch (bien arrosé), afternoon casse-croute and 5 course supper (extremely 'bien arrosé'!) I managed to lose 4lbs in the week. All the foils are kept from the wine consumed during the week - apparently they can be set against production as losses, a bit like a tax rebate. We had quite a collection :)We were all sad to see the last buch of grapes cut, marking the end of the week's work. No financial gain - our reward was given in bottles of wine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 [quote user="Cat"]My mushroom "bible" is http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/[/quote]Cat's made it in print... again...http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/destinations/france/article4906111.ece Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 Well dang me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 [quote user="Clair"][quote user="Cat"]My mushroom "bible" is http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/[/quote]Cat's made it in print... again...http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/destinations/france/article4906111.ece[/quote]Ou? Carolyn Boyd ??? 'cause I can't see a Cathy mentioned? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 End of 4th paragraph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Editor - France Magazine Posted October 14, 2008 Author Share Posted October 14, 2008 Hi Cathy,Thanks for this link! I included it in my latest Times column - see http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/destinations/france/article4906111.eceThanks!Carolyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panda Posted October 14, 2008 Share Posted October 14, 2008 The over use of the exclamation mark raises it's head again, I find it annoying, does anyone else? I guess someone who writes for the Times must be using it correctly and it's just me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Editor - France Magazine Posted October 14, 2008 Author Share Posted October 14, 2008 [quote user="Joffan"]I have quinces in my garden - do you have a recipe for the jelly?[/quote] Hi Joffan,If you take a look at January's issue of France Magazine (out mid-Dec, free if you attend the France Show at Earls Court), you'll find a multitude of ways of cooking and enjoying quince!Best wishes,CarolynEditor, France Magazineps. And I'll try and tone down my use of exclamation marks. Sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panda Posted October 14, 2008 Share Posted October 14, 2008 Thanks!!! [:D]Don't know why it's annoying me at the moment, it just is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted October 14, 2008 Share Posted October 14, 2008 Panda - it annoys me too. But take heart, we are right - the rest of the world is out of step. Here's a quote from The Times Style and Usage Guide (on which I based my own magazine style sheet):exclamation marks nearly always unnecessary[;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frederick Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 I heard on the radio that the UK experts are going to put together the Chinese Mitten Crab and the American Creyfish with the belief that the crab will eat the American pest that kills the local species .........I have not heard of any of these in French streams ponds etc ....As the crab grows to the size of a dinner plate knowing the foragers of the Vendee they would have been on one pretty quick if they are edible ......anybody seen any creyfish or crab foragers in the inland waterways ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter@pons Posted October 16, 2008 Share Posted October 16, 2008 Official website of Charente Maritime has advertised in Haute Saintonge amongst things to do accompanied walks for amateur mushroom gatherers. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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