Picking in Limousin :Eat locally and in season!

Picking in Limousin

Would you like to enjoy a day in the fresh air and savour fresh fruit and vegetables straight from the field? Would you like to adorn your table with a pretty bouquet of local, seasonal flowers? Then you’re in luck! In Limousin, we’ve got all that and more! There’s plenty to fill your baskets with delicious produce!🧺 Let us guide you on your discovery of local flavours and the riches of the Limousin countryside 💚

Picking your own produce in Haute-Vienne means :

Eating what’s in season and enjoying fresh produce 🍽️
By picking your own produce, you can enjoy fresh, local produce bursting with flavour and in season, in tune with the rhythm of nature.
Reconnecting with what’s essential 🌿
This is an activity that invites you to slow down, relax, breathe and enjoy the present moment. It’s a return to the essentials, a moment of sharing with the living.
Buying local and supporting sustainable agriculture 👩🏻‍🌾
Picking your own produce supports local producers and encourages responsible, direct consumption, without intermediaries. This allows you to take control of your food and reduce your impact on the planet.
Respecting the environment 🌬️
Whether you’re picking at the growers’ or in the countryside, picking is an activity that respects natural cycles and the seasons. It allows us to become aware of the resources that surround us and to live in harmony with nature.

Picking at the farm: picking at your fingertips!

Picking fruit on the farm is an activity that combines pleasure, discovery and indulgence! Far from the hustle and bustle of supermarkets and neon lights, imagine yourself, basket in hand, picking fruit, vegetables or even flowers with your family straight from the fields, right in the heart of nature…

Picking at the farm is also an immersive and interactive activity, giving you the chance to meet passionate producers, talk to them and better understand the seasonal nature of produce, how it’s grown and where it comes from. And the icing on the cake is that selling at the farm is the best way to support them!

It’s a great opportunity to spend some quality time together as a family and take home some tasty products to enrich your meals, to (re)inspire the whole family to cook, and to encourage a healthier, more varied diet.

So when the season’s right, fill up on the diversity of apples, pears, cherries, plums, strawberries, raspberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, blackberries and bilberries from our local producers.

You can find the list of producers who are opening their farms to youfor picking here :

Picking at the farm

©Blackcurrant picking|MolnarSzabolcsErdely

©Cueillette Sauvage En Foretkaterinavulcova|katerinavulcova

Wild mushroom picking: in the heart of nature!

Mushrooms 🍄‍🟫
The Limousin is well known as a mushroom region! Some 2,000 different species grow quietly here, in all seasons. Where can you go to find them? That’s a well-kept secret of the Limousin! 🤫 But as sharing is also part of our DNA, here are our top 8 mushrooms to find in Limousin, and here are a few tips and tricks to make the most of your picking time!
Wild edible flowers, berries and fruit 🏵️
In Limousin, spring and autumn are the ideal seasons for picking wild edible fruit, flowers and berries. Blackberries, hazelnuts and chestnuts are the most common fruits. But there are plenty more! Blackberries, wild strawberries, red elderberries, rosehips, barberry fruit, etc. When it comes to flowers, there’s plenty to choose from too. But to name just the main, easily identifiable ones: lime blossom, elderflowers, marigolds, pansies, primroses, nasturtiums, blueberries, poppies, calendula, etc. Make the most of this time of picking to discover new hiking trails and get back in touch with nature!
Medicinal and edible plants 🌿
Nettle, plantain, meadowsweet, wild mint, wild garlic, … In Haute-Vienne, wild flora is generous and full of benefits. So every time you go for a walk, remember to take a little kraft bag or basket with you, to spice up your dishes or try out new recipes when you get home! 🥘

Picking workshops: learn to pick in the countryside

A number of producers and nature guides in the Haute-Vienne offer foraging workshops in the great outdoors. These events offer a unique experience. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced amateur, these workshops are generally suitable for all levels. You’ll learn how to recognise edible species, harvesting techniques, good practices for picking without damaging the plant, the virtues of wild plants and, very often, the workshops end with you making a little recipe 🫙😋

It’s a chance to rediscover old skills and expand your knowledge. It’s a return to our roots, helping us to adopt a more respectful approach to consumption by picking our produce in a sensible and responsible way 🌍

For a list of local producers and farmer-herbalists offering workshops and nature outings to discover wild, aromatic and/or medicinal plants, click here:

Workshops to discover plants