take a walk on the wild side

Had a bit of a faff with collecting water over the weekend.  Decided to get up at stupid o’clock to drive up to Falkland (near Fife) to check out an ancient spring water source.  I tested the tds which was really low in comparison to my usual source (75 as opposed to 175) and filled up my 40 bottles.  The spring is housed by a fountain right in the middle of the village.  When I say in the middle I mean right in the middle of a roundabout.  So that was fun, dodging traffic 🙂

Filled up the bottles and made a wee video here

Then left for Edinburgh to go on my foraging wild food tour.  It’s run by two women who call themselves Forage Rangers.  It was excellent.  I learned loads about wild edibles probably around 15 different varieties of plants.  Brilliant!  Here’s us taking a break:

I drank some of the water I’d collected and it tasted a bit odd, kinda earthy.  It was only in the after-taste but I went with my gut instinct and decided I didn’t want to drink it.  So, after all the hoo haa I headed to Scotlandwell which is about a half hour from Edinburgh and emptied all 40 bottles I’d filled in the morning and re-filled them with lovely Scotlandwell water.  Took another vid 🙂 I’m a vid addict…

Yesterday Rod and I went for a bike ride through the forest.  We did about 13 miles in all.  Bugger me it was hard work.  I took a bit of a strop going up a huge hill.  I don’t think I’d eaten enough to give me energy.  We’d only had a glass of green smoothie before we went out.

When we got back I went for a forage round the estate.  Found some sorrel (my new favourite green), dandelion, nettle and chickweed.

I made a beautiful wild garlic pesto which I had for lunch with salad.  So amazing making food where the main ingredient is wild and free 🙂  It was 1 handful wild garlic, 1 tablespoon hulled hemp, 2 tbsp olive oil, pinch of salt.  Processed in food processor and mixed in to a bowl of salad.  Very nice and quite garlicky.

My friend Lucy came round and we went to the devil’s pulpit (again).  Managed to get down it this time, absolutely amazing!  Someone decided it would be a good idea to climb up it.  Took us about 20 minutes and was very scary.  I am petrified of heights.  This is what we climbed!

After that excitement we decided to climb queen’s view.  Only got a wee bit up before it started bucketing. Beautiful views.  Shame it was a shitey day.

Made buckwheat porridge for dinner taken from Kevin and Annmarie Gianni of Renegade Health Show.  I used to make this all the time and forgot how awesome it is.

1 cup buckwheat soaked overnight, rinse well.  Add to food processor with 1tbsp honey and a pinch of cinnamon.  Process then spoon in to a bowl with banana and apple slices.  I added extra honey. Super yumbo!

This morning I decided to go for a mammoth bike ride.  I ended up in Dumbarton, probably about 20 miles in all.  I’m totally shattered now.  Will probably do some rebounding later.

Off for a forage as I’d like to make nettle juice later 🙂 woo