Drying forage in the garden

Flutterby

Flutterby

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The past few days we've been drying forage in the garden. Got a nice little bag of willow leaves dried (honestly not weed!), some Dandelions and some mint. Going to pull up some French Parsley over the weekend to dry out. They will all be used as forage/treats later on in the year when forage isn't so plentifull.

As you can see the tops of the runs make fab dying racks! The pics haven't been out on the grass yet as it isn't the best but hopefully this weekend they can have their first tip out!

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Good idea Ruth! I have a garden "au naturel" here with lots of hazel trees, dandelions and alpine strawberry plants that seem to have multiplied.
 
Betsy said:
Good idea Ruth! I have a garden "au naturel" here with lots of hazel trees, dandelions and alpine strawberry plants that seem to have multiplied.
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We have that too. Hazel is on my list to trim, and the fruit trees, so should have quite a bit drying soon :) Perfect weather for it too!
 
Are Willow leaves ok for piggies? The bark and leaves do contain the base form of aspirin (salicylic acid). I know you should never site a pond under a willow as the chemicals in willow leaves can kill the fishes in the pond.
 
Willow is fine for piggies - my lot really enjoy the odd branch or two, and the salicylic acid levels in most willow trees are faily low.
I have never heard that about ponds - most local ponds and lakes actually have loads of willow along the shoreline as it is the perfect place for them to grow.
 
Yes willow is fine for piggies, high in calcium though so not something to feed all the time. I like to sprinkle mine for forage :)
 
Swissgreys said:
Willow is fine for piggies - my lot really enjoy the odd branch or two, and the salicylic acid levels in most willow trees are faily low.
I have never heard that about ponds - most local ponds and lakes actually have loads of willow along the shoreline as it is the perfect place for them to grow.
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yes, it’s strange that, willows go hand in hand with water. I think large willows around large ponds and lakes are probably fine but you are supposed to avoid putting a small pond under a weeping willow tree. it’s probably just fish that it effects

Salicylic Acid Poisoning
Willow bark contains salicylic acid, the ingredient in common aspirin. In low amounts, it does not harm fish populations in the pond. But if large areas of the woody sections of the willow trees are submerged in the water, and leaves and branches are soaking in the water, salicylic acid levels can build up to toxic levels in the pond water.
 
I will be out looking for willow to dry if it’s safe, along with a few pear branches that need pruning out tomorrow. Willow is not something you see down in Cornwall, but there is a country park nearby that has some around the lake 🙂
 
I need to do this. We have quite a few dandelions out front and some in the back. I’m thinking would it be okay to wash off the ones in front for drying? Someone I work with (who also lives on the same road and had guinea pigs up to a short while ago) said she didn’t get those from the front due to the cars. With it being quieter now would it be okay?

I also have stinging nettles and some other weed I’m not sure what it is. I’ll post a photo tomorrow. I may have to double up for the stinging nettles 😭 things we do for piggies eh! 🙄
 
I don't do nettles, mine don't seem to like them. We have French Parsley in the garden too which i'm going to dry out.
 
I’ll try just one leaf each and see if they take to it.

as an aside, how can you get rid of it?
 
I’ll try that. The children know what they look like so avoid that area of the garden.
 
Flutterby said:
I don't do nettles, mine don't seem to like them. We have French Parsley in the garden too which i'm going to dry out.
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What does french parsley look like, we have the flat leaved growing in the garden for the piggies, I just pull off a fresh leaf or two when I’m passing
 
We have a patch of stinging nettles under two hibiscus bushes. I’m was reluctant to pull them out as every year we get peacock or red admiral caterpillars on them. They are a nuisance when trying to weed there but I live with it 👌
 
Bill & Ted said:
We have a patch of stinging nettles under two hibiscus bushes. I’m was reluctant to pull them out as every year we get peacock or red admiral caterpillars on them. They are a nuisance when trying to weed there but I live with it 👌
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Nettles are actually supposed to be pretty good for the garden. They're very helpful in returning nitrogen into the soul, like clover.
 
Can anyone tell me what these may be please.
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And on an excited note, the grass is sprouting! 🤣💃🎉
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HeatherW said:
Nettles are actually supposed to be pretty good for the garden. They're very helpful in returning nitrogen into the soul, like clover.
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Yes, peas and beans do the same. You always just let the plants die back and then cut at soil level and leave to roots in place.
 
Siikibam said:
Stinging nettles. They’re taking up a small patch near the plum tree.
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You need a goat lol :) I spent many summers clearing my mother in law's veg patches and orchard of nettles using goats, or cutting acres of 5ft tall nettles to tie in bundles to dry for winter goat forage! Goats clear even the spikiest brambles too, they just munch up even the most prickly bits :)
 
I know that for a treat piggies can eat rose petals can they have the leaves as well?
 
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