As we walk we giggle to ourselves, after many years living in this foreign land we realize how much these wonderful people have influenced our daily lives. From our Sunday long walks with lunch to the seasonal art of foraging.
In this season, everywhere you look you will find people bending and poking at the ground. Free hands holding bulging bags of nuts. If you see someone under a tree any where right now….you know exactly what they are up to. Foraging.
Our work is a bit more delicate as we join our German neighbors. The fact that we walk with an inquisitive Terrier, changes the dynamics a bit. Clover our Wheaten Terrier watches and learns very quickly. In the Summer months he is known to sneak off in the vineyards and pluck a few grapes from the vine….only for tasting of course. When it comes to nuts…well, he is simply nuts about them. He races from one cracked shell on the ground to another…nosing all the while in hopes to find a bit of meat that has been freed by the foot of someone walking by.
Kastanien is the German word for chestnut, the small good eating kind in this area. A few years back we had an amazing day at the Ville Ludwigshöhe in Edenkoben along the German Wine Route. It simply was a festival in celebration gift from the Gods. Everywhere you looked people were off in the forest, stick and bag in hand, poking the ground in search of these prickly nuts. The best part of this small event for me were the amazing things made from the Kastanien. Breads, tortes even chestnut honey were all for sale.
If you haven’t experienced the secret joy of foraging, I highly recommend you get out and go in search of a wee bit of free food. Honestly..nothing tastes better….but take my advice…leave the Terrier home. He will rob you blind.
by lthek
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