What Can You Forage In January?

victoria ward
Jan 3
4 min read

Updated: Jan 7

With christmas well out the way and a new year begun, my thoughts always turn to spring, the days are slowly lengthening, bulbs emerging and I love the feeling of renewal. The cycle begins, I track the months and seasons by observing the changes in my garden and the wild spaces during my nomadic missions. I feel as if looking out from atop a hill after a difficult climb, all is tantalisingly laid out below, stretching out as far as the eye can see.

Slim Pickings To Forage In January

January is a month that makes us dig deep in many ways, it is not the ideal month in which to forage as there are not many plants available, many are in a dormant state waiting for the lighter days. If the weather turns colder then frost and snow make foraging much more challenging, green leaves are frosted, berries soften and digging roots from frozen ground is hard work indeed.

Rosehips And Hawthorn Berries

The rosehips and hawthorn berries have now softened in the frost and are beginning to break down, releasing their seeds. These can still be used, check out my previous blog

Gorse

Lookng across a bare and washed out countryside, there is one shrub resplendently glistening in the winter sunshine, European Gorse (Ulex europaeus). Gorse has been producing flowers since late autumn and will do so with increasing vibrancy until the springtime. This thorny, evergreen is often found in open, dry country where the sun can illuminate it. Gorse is an incredible tough, but not infallible member of the pea family (Fabiaceae), it can survive drought, cold and fire, however it can be frosted and does burn very well! Gorse is a very important shrub for wildlife and is useful for food and habitat, some rare species rely on it.

Historically, Gorse has been used as a dye, livestock feed and fuel, it burns really well and traditionally people would run their ovens on it. Gorse has limited use medicinally and not much has been documented about this, it does make up one of the Bach Flower Remedies where it is used as a remedy for hope in those who lack optimism.

Gorse is mainly used these days for culinary purposes and as an edible flower for garnish or to make beverages with, including wine and mead. It makes a striking Gorse Flower Syrup for use in cocktails.