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- Apr 13, 2007
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- 12,294
Pickings are rather thin on the ground this time of year for the average forager such as myself !
Lots of Snowberries about.
'The Chehalis rubbed the berries on their hair as soap (perhaps this is where the English name "soapberry" comes from). They also use the leaves to soothe cuts, either by bruising them and using them as a poultice, by making an infusion out of boiling water and leaves, or by chewing them and spitting them on the injury.'
Plenty of Hawthorn bushes about as well. The berries don't really tatse of much but you can't eat the seed so that makes them quite fiddly to prepare. The leaves taste a little like apple peel, not totally unpleasant.
'Hawthorn leaf and flower, like hawthorn berries, are antispasmodic, cardiac, diuretic, sedative, tonic and vasodilator. Like hawthorn berries, hawthorn leaf and flower has a hypotensive effect as well as acting as a direct and mild heart tonic. There is considerable clinical evidence that hawthorn leaf and flower is an effective treatment for mild coronary insufficiency, when there is pressure and tightness in the chest accompanied by a slow heart rate and symptoms of congestive heart failure. The flavonoids in the leaf and flower improve circulation in the heart and increase the myocardium?s ability to withstand oxygen deprivation. Leaf and flowers from the species of hawthorn used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (Crataegus sinaica) stimulate the immune system to produce complement to fight infection.'
Thistles if you are prepared to dig around for the root !
'The roots, stems, young leaves, flower buds and even the seeds can be eaten. The roots can be eaten raw or cooked into a table vegetable such as a tastey turnip substitute in prepared foods such as soups. The roots can be dried and ground into flower or used as a stew extender. As a sugar substitute, roast the roots in an oven at low heat and extract the sugary syrup. It has a slightly bitter taste and is caramelized in color. This syrup can be used as a sugar substitute. The roots can be peeled and boiled then pickled in brine or soaked in sweetened cinnamon sugar syrup for a tasty sweetmeat. This is a traditional and tasty side dish in Armenia.
The peeled stems have long been considered to be wilderness thirst quenchers. The peeled stems are a nice treat to the knowledgeable woodsman, hikers and survivalist. The stems are juicy with a sweet taste and work well as a satisfying thirst quencher. Even the flowerless young stems are edible. Peel off their sharp prickly spines along with the hard outer rind filled with fibers and eat raw like celery. They can also be used as a potherb or made into a candied treat or pickled. The basal and stem leaves can be despined and eaten raw in salads or cooked as a vegetable. A hot tea can be made from the leaves. Eating the raw leaves is an acquired taste. Use only the young leaves, as the mature leaves are unpalatable. A hot tea can be made from old and withered leaves as a wilderness medicine such as an emetic (a vomit producing agent) to treat mild cases of food poisoning. The list of uses for thistle is quite impressive. The list is far greater than the limited room I have in this newsletter to write about. As a survival food, its uses are indeed impressive, and as a medicine the list is equally impressive. So the next time you come across the lowly thistle plant, consider it your friend instead of the noxious enemy many have always considered it to be. The thistle plant has far to many good qualities to be considered a lowly weed.'
Licorice fern.
'Licorice fern acquires its name from its licorice-flavored rhizome, which was chewed for flavor by numerous Native American groups, including the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Shishalh, Comox, Nuxalk, Haida, and Kwakwaka'wakw. The rhizomes were also usually used medicinally as a treatment for the cold and sore throats.'
Lots of cool looking fungi !
I also took these home as part of my costume for Halloween ( Yeah I'll be sure to post a pic !)
And a couple of pics of my girls !
Lots of Snowberries about.
'The Chehalis rubbed the berries on their hair as soap (perhaps this is where the English name "soapberry" comes from). They also use the leaves to soothe cuts, either by bruising them and using them as a poultice, by making an infusion out of boiling water and leaves, or by chewing them and spitting them on the injury.'
Plenty of Hawthorn bushes about as well. The berries don't really tatse of much but you can't eat the seed so that makes them quite fiddly to prepare. The leaves taste a little like apple peel, not totally unpleasant.
'Hawthorn leaf and flower, like hawthorn berries, are antispasmodic, cardiac, diuretic, sedative, tonic and vasodilator. Like hawthorn berries, hawthorn leaf and flower has a hypotensive effect as well as acting as a direct and mild heart tonic. There is considerable clinical evidence that hawthorn leaf and flower is an effective treatment for mild coronary insufficiency, when there is pressure and tightness in the chest accompanied by a slow heart rate and symptoms of congestive heart failure. The flavonoids in the leaf and flower improve circulation in the heart and increase the myocardium?s ability to withstand oxygen deprivation. Leaf and flowers from the species of hawthorn used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (Crataegus sinaica) stimulate the immune system to produce complement to fight infection.'
Thistles if you are prepared to dig around for the root !
'The roots, stems, young leaves, flower buds and even the seeds can be eaten. The roots can be eaten raw or cooked into a table vegetable such as a tastey turnip substitute in prepared foods such as soups. The roots can be dried and ground into flower or used as a stew extender. As a sugar substitute, roast the roots in an oven at low heat and extract the sugary syrup. It has a slightly bitter taste and is caramelized in color. This syrup can be used as a sugar substitute. The roots can be peeled and boiled then pickled in brine or soaked in sweetened cinnamon sugar syrup for a tasty sweetmeat. This is a traditional and tasty side dish in Armenia.
The peeled stems have long been considered to be wilderness thirst quenchers. The peeled stems are a nice treat to the knowledgeable woodsman, hikers and survivalist. The stems are juicy with a sweet taste and work well as a satisfying thirst quencher. Even the flowerless young stems are edible. Peel off their sharp prickly spines along with the hard outer rind filled with fibers and eat raw like celery. They can also be used as a potherb or made into a candied treat or pickled. The basal and stem leaves can be despined and eaten raw in salads or cooked as a vegetable. A hot tea can be made from the leaves. Eating the raw leaves is an acquired taste. Use only the young leaves, as the mature leaves are unpalatable. A hot tea can be made from old and withered leaves as a wilderness medicine such as an emetic (a vomit producing agent) to treat mild cases of food poisoning. The list of uses for thistle is quite impressive. The list is far greater than the limited room I have in this newsletter to write about. As a survival food, its uses are indeed impressive, and as a medicine the list is equally impressive. So the next time you come across the lowly thistle plant, consider it your friend instead of the noxious enemy many have always considered it to be. The thistle plant has far to many good qualities to be considered a lowly weed.'
Licorice fern.
'Licorice fern acquires its name from its licorice-flavored rhizome, which was chewed for flavor by numerous Native American groups, including the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Shishalh, Comox, Nuxalk, Haida, and Kwakwaka'wakw. The rhizomes were also usually used medicinally as a treatment for the cold and sore throats.'
Lots of cool looking fungi !
I also took these home as part of my costume for Halloween ( Yeah I'll be sure to post a pic !)
And a couple of pics of my girls !
