gathering edible roots, berries, wild fruits - an exciting experience!It will appeal to those who are experiencing the euphoria of forest birds chirping, lush grandeur of green space, voiced brook and a bevy of colorful butterflies circling above the forest flowers.Before you go on a trip, you need to understand what is so precious forest gifts of nature?
Value of berries and fruits
known that wild plants have a tendency to accumulate mineral salts, vitamins and sugar in a large quantity.Doctors emphasize that the berries, roots and fruits significantly improve the process of digestion.
Along with that in humans increases the digestibility of fats, proteins and minerals.Most often, the main components of berries and roots are vitamins: B, C, E, K, R, of course, immediately consume all the food collected gifts can not be recommended because they collect and prepare all the rules.
The forest berries
gathering edible roots, berries, wild fruits - a period of dry weather.It usually starts in the serene days of May and ends in October-November.All fans of the wild nature is recommended to take to the path of wicker baskets or plastic buckets.
If the container with a wooden bottom, it is advisable to fill it with paper clean sheets.This will help keep the berries and the roots of unwanted extraneous odors.Experts warn that the fruit can not knock down with a stick or shake branches as some do.After forest gifts may darken from injury and loss of quality.
tips for collecting and harvesting
How is the collection of wild berries and fruits?Typically, in each district has its own favorite Russian plants.For example, in mid-latitudes - the mountain ash, hawthorn, wild rose, blueberry, blackberry.
To begin visually vote itself greenery.It is enough if it is growing away from the roadway?The further fruit trees and shrubs are from polluted places, lurking in the depths of the forest - so they are environmentally friendly.You should also inspect the leaves of trees and shrubs - they did not suffer from pests?
then need to assess themselves berries and fruits.To collect the whole forest is recommended to select gifts with bright color.It is important that in the overall basket did not get rotten fruit or berry wrinkled.This may lead to damage throughout the preform.Once the container is filled up to the top marvelous gifts, we can assume that the collection of berries and fruits of the forest is closed!
preservation method
next step - drying.This is a common method of storage.It allows you to save not only the appearance of berries, but also its palatability.The most important - choose the right place for drying.
It should be well ventilated and shady.Berries and fruits are washed before drying only if they are very dirty.In other cases, it is not recommended.It is also important to place for drying is subjected to high temperatures and direct sunlight.
Some laid berries and fruit on a linen cloth, but still better to choose a large container with a lid.This prevents wild gifts from insects.As you can see, the collection of edible roots, berries, wild fruits - this is only the first step.Should learn the techniques of conservation of natural resources, to get a quality product.
Common berries and fruits
probably inexperienced readers in the field of wild-growing plants will be interested to know that one of the most popular shrubs with fruits - cranberries.It grows in deciduous and coniferous forests and is famous not only in Russia but also in other countries.
Lingonberry considered prolific planting - one weaving can give about 60 kilos of berries.They are used with great success as a filling for cakes and chocolates.Also from cranberries make excellent jams and the cooling juice.
no less popular in Russia blueberries.Its bushes resemble outstretched network, and thus compare it with carpet.And the most interesting thing, when you go on such a blueberry coating, then notice how varied the size and number of berries!
On older branches can hang 10-15 pieces, and all the young 5-6 berries.Despite its pleasant taste, it does not have the aroma of blueberries, but jam it turns out delicious.Medical studies have shown that if you regularly eat raw blueberries, it is possible to a great age to preserve their vision.
Gathering blueberries every year is different.On productivity, as they say, a year on year is not necessary.In one season to collect wild berries can spend a lot of time and fill only one cans.The following year, the yield can be so rich that the locals prefer to trade the berries.
Equally valuable are the fruit of barberry.It is used not only in desserts, but also as a seasoning for meat.Lovers autumn and winter walks happy to gather hawthorn, wild rose and mountain ash.From these berries are cooked jam, make delicious drinks and make healing potions.
Harvesting roots
gathering edible roots, berries, wild fruits - is a topic on which you can talk endlessly.Consider how to collect and harvest the roots of various plants.They mainly medicinal.
Certainly, many have heard that in the hungry years of war people rescued burnet grass roots, burdock, wheat grass and lungwort.In addition, widely used in medicine: comfrey, salsify, Pedicularis.However, some types of Mytnikov considered toxic and dangerous to human life.Therefore, the collection and harvesting of its root is recommended to professionals.
The roots of some plants - Jerusalem artichoke, chicory, water chestnut - used not only for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, but also in cooking.Harvest the roots and rhizomes in the spring or fall.They dug a special shovel - "diggers".
She rounded blade that helps to release the root of the earth in one motion.But as usual pointed spade suit.After digging out the root should be carefully shake off the ground, so as not to damage it.Then rinse well in cold water.
usually do it like this: Basket stacked roots immersed in water and allowed to drain the dirty water.Before drying raw materials must be carefully go through and get rid of low-quality components.The major roots are cut into pieces.Unlike pieces of fruits and berries, edible roots must be dried in the sun, turning it periodically.
well dried raw material has a uniform brown color and breaks down easily, with a distinctive crunch.Then dry the roots can be put in linen bags or make extracts on alcohol.Despite the seeming harmlessness, supplementation of the root requires a doctor's advice.
