Foraging is a lot of fun, but be aware, wild isn't always free.  There are rules to consider.

 

 

Always POSITIVELY identify plants;  don't just take MY word for it, and don't assume anything!!  Use field guides, picture books, internet pictures, etc. to identify plants.  When trying a new food, use caution, and only taste a little bit.  Be aware of how your body reacts.  Be positive before you proceed.

 

Foraging on your own property is best.  You know what chemicals have been used, and when you last sprayed.

 

Find out who OWNS the property on which you are considering your foraging adventure.  And always get permission from the property owner.  Trespassing is a BAD thing, and hardly worth the trouble for a few free nibbles. 

 

When foraging in public places, like parks or forests, it's good to get permission there too.  Some parks allow plant collection if you have their (written is best) permission.

 

Never forage along busy roadsides:   car exhaust or road runoff can be toxic, ruining the plants, and your experience.  Also avoid the edges of farm fields or waterways that may receive pesticide residue.

 

Be aware of endangered or threatened species.  If there is only a little, leave it.  If there is plenty, only take as much as you plan to use.  And remember to leave the roots unharmed, so the plants can grow more of whatever you just harvested.  

 

So important!!  Remember to be a good steward of the earth, leaving enough for the animals who depend on Nature for their food.

 

 

HAPPY FORAGING!!

 

The Chestnut trees down by the creek are Chinese Chestnut, not American Chestnut.  The American Chestnut was nearly wiped out by a blight early in the twentieth century.  I sent samples to The American Chestnut Society a few years back, just curious, and they told me that our trees are most likely Chinese Chestnut, Castaneda mollissima.

 

Apparently, they are cyclic in nature, because last year there were very few, and this year there are hundreds of prickly fruits.  They will start falling whenever the nuts are ripe.  Look for opened burrs, because otherwise, you can't get to the nuts.  

 

They are very tasty, but please remember that the animals depend on them for winter nourishment. We collect a few for a treat, but leave most of them for the critters.

 

WARNING!!!  Use heavy gloves when handling the prickly burrs.  They hurt!!!!

 

HAPPY FORAGING!!

 

 

 

 

 

When he was quite young, my friend, Reilly Lachance asked,  Miss Gerry, are there things in the woods that we can eat?  I told him that we could live in these mountains for a very long time without ever going to the store.

 

I don't know if he believed me at the time, but it's still true.  You just need to know which plants are edible. 

Plant identification is one of my best skills, but, believe me, a good field guide goes a long way.  

 

Everybody probably has one for birds.  Well I have field guides for Wildflowers,  Butterflies,  Trees,  Mushrooms, Reptiles and Amphibians,  AND  Edible Wild Plants.  They don't get used every day, but they sure are helpful when it comes to positively identifying something.

 

Back to things to eat in our woods...

 

The picture at the top is Persimmon.    Diospyros virginiana.    But, like any good fishin hole, I can't divulge its location.  Anyway, there are quite a few in our neighborhood.  Easiest to spot when the fruits turn orange.  After a good cold snap they will turn reddish purple, and THAT'S when they are delicious.  They fall to the ground, and the critters eat them.  But if you are quick enough, you might get a few.  

 

If you have NEVER eaten a persimmon, I will warn you to wait until they fall off the tree.  If you HAVE ever eaten an unripe persimmon, you know the definition of 'pucker'.  Grandmother said it turns your mouth wrong side out.   But a ripe one is as sweet as apricot jam.

 

OK....there are a few down by the Chestnut trees, (subject for another day's blog), and a few near the mailboxes (but be aware of the poison ivy there.)   There is a beautiful specimen on Moccasin Creek Rd. just before you turn right onto Moccasin Church Rd.  It's on the left, usually providing shade for the cattle.  Do notice it, just don't try to harvest any of THOSE.  Not sure the cows or deer (or the property owners) would appreciate our swiping their food.  

 

Let me know if this is of interest.  I could go on and on!!!  There are lots more edibles in our woods.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

 

 

When I serve something like pasta salad I like to make it pretty.  Herbs work well, but flowers are more fun.  So let me give you a list of edible flowers.  First though, I better give you MY definition of edible flowers.  

 

Edible flowers may (or may not) taste good, but you can eat them and they won't kill you.  I love to use them for decoration, and knowing which ones are safe is important!

 

Here is a partial list of commonly grown herbs and flowers that are edible.  

 

Basil,  Bee balm,  Borage,  Chives,  Dill,  Marjoram,  Onions,  Rosemary,  Sage,  Thyme.

 

Bachelor's button,  Calendula,  Chrysanthemum,  Cosmos,  Dahlia,  Dandelion,  Dianthus and Carnations, Hollyhocks,  Love in a Mist,  Marigolds,  Nasturtium,  Pansy,  Squash blossoms,  Sunflowers,  Zinnias.

 

Even some trees have edible flowers:  Redbud,  Black locust,  Elderberry.  

 

CAUTION:  Do NOT consider storebought or florist shop flowers edible.  They are often treated with inedible and dangerous pesticides.  Best to eat only flowers you grow yourself, or at least know their origin.  

 

Just because flowers can be eaten, does not mean to make a meal of them.  It's always a good idea to use any new food sparingly at first.   But do give edible flowers a try, using them in a decorative way.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

                                             Before.....

                                                After......

 

I picked the squashes just in time.  This is all that is left of the squash on the compost pile.

I put a few seed potatoes there for the fall.  We'll see if the deer like them.  I'm willing to sacrifice a few for an experiment, but not my whole crop.

 

Anything we really want to save goes inside the fence.  

 

The sunflowers are still there on the compost pile, way too big for the deer to get.  The birds are loving them.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

Seeing Jewelweed and Poison Ivy together reminded me of the practice of companion planting in the garden.  Often it occurs naturally, but we can use the techniques in our own gardens.

 

Companion planting is the practice of deliberately planting, or allowing to grow, plants that compliment each other. They may provide shade or physical support, enhance growth or flavor, improve soil quality, deter bad or attract good insects and animals to the garden, etc.

 

There are many good resources for companion planting, like the Farmers Almanac and home gardening books.

 

Here are a few companions I count on in my garden:

 

Marigolds are pretty to look at,  and they deter many plant pests like nematodes, whiteflies, and bean beetles.  The deer don't like them either.

Borage planted near tomatoes deters tomato hornworms (which can devour your crop overnight.)   Borage also attracts bees to the garden to pollinate tomatoes, peppers, squashes, well...everything.

Basil improves the flavor of tomatoes (as every Caprese salad lover knows) but it also repels flies and mosquitoes.

 

Rosemary and Thyme improve the flavor of lots of things, and they deter the moths and worms that eat cabbages and other Brassicas.

Daffodils and castor bean are toxic to gophers and moles, so they stay away.  Deer won't eat them either.

 

Another good example is the "three sisters."  Native peoples have planted corn, beans, squash together for centuries.  The corn provides support for the beans to grow up, and the squash shades the roots of the other plants.

 

So you see, flowers are more than just pretty faces in our gardens, they provide many services too.

 

IMHO, (OK, not so humble) companion planting is far superior to pesticides, even though it is probably more work.  But when we kill insects, we kill the good ones along with the bad ones.  I don't want cabbage moths, but I do want Monarchs in my garden.  I don't love yellow jackets, but we NEED honey bees.  So we just put up with some things for the good of the whole.  That is a life lesson in itself!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

 

 

This is Impatiens capensis,  aka Jewelweed or Spotted touch-me-not.  Perfect specimens down by the Chestnut trees, dense stand, right by the creek, about 3 feet tall.  Poison Ivy close by too.

 

Fabulous story to go with it:

 

The sap of the leaves and stems is said to relieve itching from Poison Ivy, and they often grow side by side!   

If you accidentally brush through Poison Ivy, you can crush a handful of Jewelweed and apply it to the affected area, for temporary relief.  Of course, it's best to wash with soap and water as soon as you can.  

 

When I see Spotted Touch-me-not, I look around for Poison Ivy.  The orange flowers are a lot easier to spot than Poison Ivy.  And I NEED to KNOW where IT is:  we are NOT friends!!!

 

Other interesting facts:  hummingbirds, as well as butterflies and bees are attracted to the orange flowers.  And because of its fungicidal qualities, Jewelweed has been used to treat athlete's foot.

 

Oh, wanna see a good example of Poison Ivy?  I took this picture right beside the Jewelweed.

 

 

Careful out stomping around in the woods.  It's everywhere.

 

 

 

The goldfinches love these coneflowers.  Other small birds visit them too, for the seeds.

 

They will eat the seeds all through the fall, until there are none left.  It gets a little ugly, but hey!! we're feeding the birds naturally.  And we get to see them up close.

 

I've got plenty of seeds to share.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

I don't know about you, but I LOVE rainy days in the garden.

 

First of all, I think I can hear my plants drinking up the moisture, especially after a long dry spell.  They just sound happy.  Secondly, it's definitely cooler, and you can plant little plants without them wilting immediately.  Third, you don't have to follow the shade around, all areas are accessible without sweating to death.  And fourth, nobody bothers you, they're all inside.  

 

And best of all:  the weeds are easier to pull out!!

 

So, get out there today, and try gardening in the rain.  That's where I'll be...

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

 

 

These sunflowers also grew from seeds on the compost pile.  The deer didn't find them in time to eat the heads off.

 

George and Rose weren't so lucky.  Deer got a few of theirs.  Fortunately, they left most of them to bloom.

Be sure to notice them next time you're on Beacon hill near Stonebriar.  They are beautiful.

 

Sunflowers take about 80 days to mature, and some varieties can grow as tall as 12 feet.  There are many varieties. Choose one that makes you smile,  and try them, they are fun to grow.

 

It's a little late to start sunflowers, but if you hurry, you should be able to see blooms by Halloween.  But, that's pushing it.  You will get more enjoyment out of seeds you plant in May and June.  I'll remind you when planting season is upon us.  

 

In the meantime, notice them in your travels.  They're always good for a smile!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!