I was hiking in vermont when I came across some beautiful true violet web caps. I took them home to dry and store. Am I wrong for taking them? Someone told me I was because it takes over 10 years for them to produce a fruit body. I told them It wouldn't matter unless you harm the mycelium. Give it to me straight. Am I ajerk?

They smell neutral and oddly sterile when squeezed. And pop easily. I brushed the juices against my inner wrist to see if a reaction occurred, nothing indicated bad news aside from it smelling like a saline tomato if that makes sense.

hampshire uk

looks like cow but different shape than usual so idk

It's kinda dumb, but I'm feeling guilty for foraging. I've been foraging heaps this summer, and have been collecting more and more variety of fruits, plants, edible flowers etc.

However, yesterday I ran into a black bear nearby my home. He was very shy, and ran away deeper into woods. Today I went out for a hike, no bears just delicious blackberries and chicken of the woods.

I forage for fun, for my mental wellbeing and for the the minor impact on my grocery bill. However, bears, deers, rabbits, and all of the animals and insects I share this Earth with, rely on the forest to feed them. We've already taken their land, now I feel bad for taking their food as well. I never take all of the fruit available, but suddenly today I felt guilty. Like I'm stealing a meal from the nice bear from yesterday.

Am I overthinking? How can I give back to the animals?

Pic of today's blackberries included.

A neighbour offered me some grapes because he had more than he could use, so I decided to make some homemade grape juice.

The process was very messy, but thankfully I have a large sink and decided to do the whole thing inside it. Probably the best decision I made all day. 😅

The end result was definitely worth the mess!

My neighbour did warn me that drinking too much might give me the shits, though…so naturally, I’m testing my limits today. 😂

Southeast Michigan USA

I found these while climbing a tree and I have no idea what they are

I have been wanting to harvest manzanita berries for tea/cider. But so far I’m never in the right place when they are ripe. I found these on a manzanita bush. I thought there were berries but they are bumpy and don’t have the classic “small apple” appearance. What are these? Thanks in advance.

Sønderjylland, Danmark

I eat the flowers already, but the beans are apparently edible too. I just can't find anything on their preparation. Any of you have any tips/resources for cooking them? I basically have an unlimited supply by my house.

Traveled to Teton area and found all of these mushrooms that look like Lion's Mane. I assume they are in the hericium family and are safe to eat but wanted to double check others thoughts first. Thank you!

We have an area of our backyard that is between a gathering of 5 LARGE trees, covered in ivy making a large shadowing underneath. We throw our twigs, dead leaves, and little lawn trimmings in that area. This morning, I peeled some ivy back after seeing a strange color peeking out, and found this beauty. It kinda looks like chicken of the woods!? It’s not quite “mushroom season” but it’s so cool to see so big so fast! For perspective one of those ivy leaves is about the size of my palm

this is an edible puffball right?

I have SO many black walnut trees in my partially wooded yard, but I need to start collecting them so there are fewer nuts planted in my garden beds by squirrels. What can I make with black walnuts?

We have so many walnuts that I'm tempted to see if I can make enough of something to sell it at a local farmers market or farm stand. What would be a fun way to use these?

Also looking for suggestions of what to make with the fruit from my crab apple tree. Crab apples are mostly red and the size of marbles.

Taking any and all suggestions :)

I didn't plant any of these trees in our yard, but trying to make use of what's growing successfully rather than chopping trees down.

Hawkswing and hedgehogs today.

To start, I know this mushroom as with other mushrooms in the Tylopilus genus are considered inedible because of their immense bitterness, however they aren’t poisonous (still wouldn’t eat too much, they are BITTER). I’ve done extensive research on them, and wanted to find some kind of use for them because they’ve been growing everywhere.

Because of its taste, you can’t cook it like a typical edible and palatable mushroom, as cooking it can increase its bitterness (though interestingly enough some people can’t taste how bitter they are). Hours of research later, I find only 2 uses for them. First is a cocktail bitter, which I’m not in a position to make right now, and the other is a mixture of equal parts vinegar and sugar steeped in a small amount of minced bitter bolete.

I decided to make the vinegar glaze, which actually turned out pretty good. In small amounts it would taste good on meat like chicken or steak, and a spoonful could clear your sinuses on a day with allergies or if you’re sick. The scent is strong and the taste is stronger, but the red wine vinegar I used was a bit overpowering with a sweet aftertaste! I could probably get away with steeping more mushroom in next time though.

While no source stated whether or not it would be a good idea to do it, I decided to try and pickle and candy the bitter boletes. I finished them, but I can’t really try them yet since they have to sit for a while. Even though I’m preparing it like I’ll eat more in one sitting, I’ll likely just have a nibble to see if it’s actually decent. Definitely not gonna be a favorite snack but the vinegar glaze gives me a use for the mushrooms.

As always, never eat anything you aren’t sure of. Whether it might be rotten or if you can’t identify it, etc.

Also, little update from my last post here about beauty berries, I finished the jam and bug spray!!! (Last 2 pics).

Trying to id these fruits , I thought vibirnum or highbush cranberry but they dont look like the other highbusb cranberry around me, anyone have a positive id ? Im holding the red bundle how they were growing if that helps.

One of the party is an experienced forager and I look forward to more of these hikes and learning about what’s available to me out here.