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Food prices have gone up by at least 15 percent from October 2021 to October 2023. As a self-sufficient prepper, this means finding different ways to save on your grocery bills without sacrificing taste and nutrient value. If you don’t want to spend money, winter foraging is one way to add more supplies to your prepper pantry for free.(h/t toSimpleFamilyPreparedness.com)

There are many benefits of learning how to forage, such as getting free food in the form of wild edibles. Foraging can also be fun for the whole family. It’s also a good way to exercise, and foraging is one way to reconnect with nature.

And while foraging in winter seems harder compared to foraging in late summer, thereare still plenty of wild edibles to harvest once you know where to look.

When SHTF, knowing how to forage year-round can also help you find food after the stores run out of supplies.

Winter is the hardest time to find wild food, but its not impossible. When youre foraging, only harvest plants and mushrooms that you are sure are safe to eat. Don’t go foraging without taking some classes or reviewing reference materials to avoid poisoning yourself and your family if you make a mistake.

Avoid these dangerous mistakes by using detailed guides or signing up for foraging or survival classes. You can also forage with a more experienced prepper so they can teach you as you harvest.

Whether you’re winter foraging or hunting for wild edibles in spring or summer, you should always forage in a way thats good for the environment. This means only taking what you need and leaving enough food for wildlife and future harvests.

Try following therule of thirds. This means only taking a third, leaving one-third for the wildlife and leaving one-third to grow back or reproduce.

If you’re not sure where to start, harvest fruits, nuts and leaves. Nuts and fruits can generally be harvested in abundance without causing any harm. Meanwhile, roots, shoots and tubers require the proper understanding of plants and their life cycles to ensure a sustainable harvest. Acorns

Oak trees drop lots of acorns, and they’re one of the most overlooked wild edibles to forage in winter. You can find them on the forest floor or lurking beneath the snow cover around the base of the oak tree.

Once you get rid of the tannins, acorns can be turned into flour. Beechnuts

Beechnuts are tiny but full of flavor. You can eat them raw or roasted.

Beechnutscan be collected in the fall to use throughout winter. Theyre full of fat and protein, making them a great snack when it’s cold. Chickweed

Chickweed is a hardy winter plant that grows almost anywhere. It should be ready to harvest when the snow melts. Chicory root

Chicory root has a strong, earthy flavor and can be used as a coffee substitute when roasted and ground. Crabapples

Crabapples get sweeter and full of pectin as winter goes on and they are great in desserts, jellies and syrups.

Many crabapple varieties stay on the tree into winter, and the fruit gets sweeter with time.

Crabapples can survive cold temperatures better than regular apples and you can usually find them clinging onto their branches well into the winter season. Cranberries

Wild cranberries can be foraged from late fall to early winter, especially in boggy areas. You can also find some under the snow in winter.

The berries are tart and add a vibrant flavor to dishes, from sauces to baked goods. Daisy greens

Daisy greens are a nutritious and edible wintergreen. Theyre a bit bitter, like other leafy greens, and are great for winter salads. Dandelions

Dandelions haveedible leaves, roots and flowers.

In winter, dandelion leaves are milder. The leaves are great in salads or cooked like spinach. Goosefoot seeds

Goosefoot or wild quinoa produces seeds that are a great alternative to expensive quinoa often sold in stores.

Goosefoot seeds are high in protein and can be used in various dishes, from stews to wraps. Hop hornbeam seeds

Hop hornbeam trees produce nutty seeds. Pick these seeds and use them like you would grains or nuts in different dishes.

The seeds are great in bread or as cereal. Lightly toasting them brings out their flavor even more, so add them to give salads or homemade granola a natural crunch.(Related: Tips for responsibly and safely foraging and hunting for food.) Jerusalem artichoke

Jerusalem artichokes or sunchokes are tubers that you can dig throughout winter. They are nutty and sweet, and a versatile ingredient.

Roast Jerusalem artichokes to make a caramelized treat. You can also boil and mash them, or slice them raw into salads for some crunch. Jerusalem artichokes are delicious and a natural source of iron and potassium. Nettles

Nettles are a winter favorite, especially in milder climates.

Nettles are full of vitamins and minerals. You can use them like other tender greens once you cook them to remove the sting.

Use nettles for soups, stews or as steamed greens. Oyster mushrooms

In winter, oyster mushrooms will grow on the sides of trees and are easy to spot because of their unique shape.

Oyster mushrooms are tender, slightly sweet and full of protein and vitamins. Serve oyster mushrooms sauteed, add them to various dishes like stir-fries, or use them to make creamy pasta sauces. Pine nuts

Pine nuts have a buttery flavor, especially when toasted. Add pine nuts to pasta, pesto or salads.

Pine nuts are also a good source of energy and healthy fats and they are a great addition to your winter diet.However, you should make sure youre picking from trees that are safe to eat from.

Pine nutsare an early winter forage item because squirrels love them and will gather as many as they can find before winter sets in. Purple dead nettle

Purple dead nettle is easy to spot. Just look for its purple tops, even in winter.

Purple dead nettle is a littlebitter but it mixes well with other greens.

Dry it out for homemade smoothies. You can also use purple dead nettle to make a healing salve that can help with inflammation and allergies.

Purple dead nettle can also be used to dye wool a beautiful spring green. Watercress

You can find watercress growing near streams and rivers.

Watercress adds a fresh, peppery flavor to any dish. You can often find it all year round and is high in nutrients.

Watercress is remarkably spicy, making it a great green for winter meals like soups and stews. Wild violet

Like other common plants, wild violets are beautiful and a versatile ingredient.Wild violet leaves and flowers are edible and will add a lovely dashof color and a sweet, floral flavor to winter salads or desserts.

If you love to bake, use wild violet flowers for decorating cakes and other desserts. Use the heart-shaped leaves to add a mild, sweet taste to salad greens.

Learn how to forage so you can find wild edibles even in winter.

VisitGreenLivingnews.comfor more useful foraging tips.

Watch the video below for more foraging tips.

This video is from theNon-Toxic Home channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories:

Food supply tips: How to forage for edible nuts for your survival stockpile.

Protect yourself against food shortage with these useful prepping practices.

Prepper pharmacy: 17 Medicinal plants you can grow indoors year-round.

Sources include:

SimpleFamilyPreparedness.com

RobinGreenfield.org

Brighteon.com
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UK

Eight arrests in connection with two separate terrorism investigations

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Eight arrests in connection with two separate terrorism investigations

Eight men have been arrested by the Metropolitan Police in two unconnected terrorism investigations.

In one operation on Saturday, counter-terror officers arrested five men, four of whom are Iranian nationals. All are in police custody.

The Met said the arrests related to a “suspected plot to target a specific premises”.

In an update shortly after midnight, the force said: “Officers have been in contact with the affected site to make them aware and provide relevant advice and support, but for operational reasons, we are not able to provide further information at this time.”

It added officers were carrying out searches at a number of addresses in the Greater Manchester, London and Swindon areas in connection with the investigation.

It said those detained were:

• A 29-year-old man arrested in the Swindon area
• A 46-year-old man arrested in west London
• A 29-year-old man arrested in the Stockport area
• A 40-year-old man arrested in the Rochdale area
• A man whose age was not confirmed arrested in the Manchester area.

More from UK

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “This is a fast-moving investigation and we are working closely with those at the affected site to keep them updated.

“The investigation is still in its early stages and we are exploring various lines of enquiry to establish any potential motivation as well as to identify whether there may be any further risk to the public linked to this matter.

“We understand the public may be concerned and as always, I would ask them to remain vigilant and if they see or hear anything that concerns them, then to contact us.

“We are working closely with local officers in the areas where we have made arrests today and I’d like to thank police colleagues around the country for their ongoing support.”

Terror arrests in separate investigation

Police also arrested three further Iranian nationals in London on Saturday as part of another, unrelated counter terror investigation.

The suspects were detained under section 27 of the National Security Act 2023, which allows police to arrest those suspected of being “involved in foreign power threat activity”.

Read more from Sky News:
Pictured: Boy killed in fire – 14 children arrested
Lady Gaga puts on biggest-ever show for free

Home secretary Yvette Cooper said in a statement: “I want to thank the police and our security services for the action they have taken to keep our country safe.

“Protecting national security is the first duty of government and our police and security services have our strong support in their vital work.”

She added: “These are serious events that demonstrate the ongoing requirement to adapt our response to national security threats.”

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Politics

Pro-crypto Democrats pull support for stablecoin bill in last minute

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Pro-crypto Democrats pull support for stablecoin bill in last minute

Pro-crypto Democrats pull support for stablecoin bill in last minute

A group of US Senate Democrats known for supporting the crypto industry have said they would oppose a Republican-led stablecoin bill if it moves forward in its current form.

The move threatens to stall legislation that could establish the first US regulatory framework for stablecoins, according to a May 3 report from Politico.

Per the report, nine Senate Democrats said in a joint statement that the bill “still has numerous issues that must be addressed.” They warned they would not support a procedural vote to advance the legislation unless changes are made.

Among the signatories were Senators Ruben Gallego, Mark Warner, Lisa Blunt Rochester and Andy Kim — all of whom had previously backed the bill when it passed through the Senate Banking Committee in March.

The bill, introduced by Senator Bill Hagerty, is formally known as the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act.

Related: Fed’s Powell reasserts support for stablecoin legislation

Senate prepares to vote on stablecoin bill

The Senate is expected to begin floor consideration of the bill in the coming days, with the first vote potentially taking place next week.

The bill has been championed by the crypto industry as a landmark step toward regulatory clarity. However, the Democrats’ about-face reflects growing unease within the party.

Although revisions were made to the bill after its committee approval to address Democratic concerns, the lawmakers said the changes fell short. They called for stronger safeguards related to Anti-Money Laundering, national security, foreign issuers, and accountability measures for noncompliant actors.

The statement was also signed by Senators Raphael Warnock, Catherine Cortez Masto, Ben Ray Luján, John Hickenlooper and Adam Schiff.

Pro-crypto Democrats pull support for stablecoin bill in last minute
A copy of the statement. Source: Alex Thorn

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Senator Angela Alsobrooks were absent from the list, who co-sponsored the bill alongside Hagerty.

Despite their objections, the Democratic senators emphasized their commitment to shaping responsible crypto regulation. They reportedly said they “are eager to continue working with our colleagues to address these issues.”

Related: US banks are ‘free to begin supporting Bitcoin’

Crypto needs a stablecoin bill

On April 27, Caitlin Long, founder and CEO of Custodia Bank, criticized the US Federal Reserve for quietly maintaining a key anti-crypto policy that favors big-bank-issued stablecoins, despite relaxing crypto partnership rules for banks.

Long explained that while the Fed recently rescinded four prior crypto guidelines, a Jan. 27, 2023, statement was left intact in coordination with the Biden administration.

The guidance, according to Long, blocks banks from engaging directly with crypto assets and prohibits them from issuing stablecoins on permissionless blockchains.

However, Long noted that once a federal stablecoin bill becomes law, it could override the Fed’s stance. “Congress should hurry up,” she urged.

Magazine: Financial nihilism in crypto is over — It’s time to dream big again

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UK

Pictured: Boy killed in Gateshead industrial estate fire – 14 children arrested on suspicion of manslaughter

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Pictured: Boy killed in Gateshead industrial estate fire - 14 children arrested on suspicion of manslaughter

Tributes have been paid to 14-year-old Layton Carr who died in a fire at an industrial estate.

Eleven boys and three girls, aged between 11 and 14 years, have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after the incident in Gateshead on Friday. They remain in police custody.

Drone view showing the aftermath of a fire at Fairfield industrial park at Bill Quay, Gateshead
Image:
Police were alerted to a fire at Fairfield industrial park in the Bill Quay area

Firefighters raced to Fairfield industrial park in the Bill Quay area shortly after 8pm, putting out the blaze a short time later.

Police then issued an appeal for a missing boy, Layton Carr, who was believed to be in the area at the time.

In a statement, the force said that “sadly, following searches, a body believed to be that of 14-year-old Layton Carr was located deceased inside the building”.

Layton’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers, police added.

Pic: North News and Pictures
Image:
Layton has been described as a ‘beautiful soul’

A fundraising page on GoFundMe has been set up to help Layton’s mother pay for funeral costs.

Organiser Stephanie Simpson said: “The last thing Georgia needs to stress trying to pay for a funeral for her Boy Any donations will help thank you.”

One tribute in a Facebook post read: “Can’t believe I’m writing this my nephew RIP Layton 💔 forever 14 you’ll be a massive miss, thinking of my sister and 2 beautiful nieces right now.”

Another added: “My boy ❤️ my baby cousin, my Layton. Nothing will ever come close to the pain I feel right now. Forever 14. I’ll miss you sausage.”

A third said: “Rest in peace big lad such a beautiful soul taken far to soon my thoughts are with you Gee stay strong girl hear for u always.”

Read more from Sky News:
Eight arrests in connection with two terrorism operations
Compensation scheme scrapped for child sexual abuse victims

Detective Chief Inspector Louise Jenkins, of Northumbria Police, also said: “This is an extremely tragic incident where a boy has sadly lost his life.”

She added that the force’s “thoughts are with Layton’s family as they begin to attempt to process the loss of their loved one”.

They are working to establish “the full circumstances surrounding the incident” and officers will be in the area to “offer reassurance to the public”, she added.

A cordon remains in place at the site while police carry out enquiries.

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