Wild Onions, or: My knife makes a decent trowel.

John G · May 5, 2009

Okay, here's my first picture thread in W&SS. I've been collecting wild onions, aka swamp onions for a couple weeks now, off and on. They're great in eggs, salads, or sauteed with garlic and butter then served on fish. The bulbs are best, but the whole plant can be used, minus the roots. I keep a jar of finely chopped leaves (scapes?) for spice.

Heck, I even eat them raw with a dab of salt. I've given some to my friends, and the verdict is that I am awesome.

Oh, and I threw a handful of the bulbs in a jar of old pickle juice! They are tasty.

Here's my kit for the afternoon's forage activities (thanks, Monroe County Library!) The knife is a RAT-3 by Ontario, a Christmas gift from one of my best friends.

Here are some swamp onions, fresh out of the mud

Here's one I cleaned up. Note all the ones in the background, as yet unmolested by hungry woodsbums.

Close-up. Not bad for a camera phone, eh?

Oh, and here's a fun shot of my carving work done later in the day. I'm making this Swedish horse for my friend's baby boy.

tknife · May 5, 2009

Great pics, that RC3 is getting a nice workout.

pitdog · May 5, 2009

Great post buddy, I think wild edibles should be represented a lot more on this forum so look forward to more of your posts !!!

TheGame · May 5, 2009

Love learning more and more about wild edibles! And that horse is looking good, nice work.

Thanks for sharing :thumbup:

tonym · May 5, 2009

pitdog said:
Great post buddy, I think wild edibles should be represented a lot more on this forum so look forward to more of your posts !!!

What he said:thumbup:

Now for your next pic thread, make the images abit larger please

Thanks for sharing:thumbup:

raybadge · May 5, 2009

I was sitting on a log playing with this not too long ago, too. I found that one part wild garlic (or onion, can't figure the two out), to one part dandilion, to two parts plantene makes a pretty tasty salid. (Hmm. I hope noting decided to pee near that log).

Shotgun · May 5, 2009

Cool post. Let us see that horse when your done!

BarberFobic1992 · May 5, 2009

wow, that is a dirty knife

also, keep us posted on the horse carving, it looks very cool :thumbup:

mneedham · May 5, 2009

Cool pic! Thanks

1234 · May 5, 2009

John G said:
Oh, and here's a fun shot of my carving work done later in the day. I'm making this Swedish horse for my friend's baby boy.

A fine looking little horse , in Sweden we call it a "Dala-häst",
meaning a horse from Dalarna , and there is a Mora in the picture ,
Mora is also a place in Dalarna .

A classic looking Dala-häst , painted and all .

1234,,,,,,

John G · May 5, 2009

Thanks for the kind words guys! The horse is from a picture I saw in a Swedish carving book. It's a bit of a modern, slightly more abstract version of the classic Dala. I'll post more pics tomorrow when I get a minute. I really enjoy using a Swedish knife to carve a Swedish toy, something very cool and traditional about the experience.

John G · May 6, 2009

Here's a follow up for those who are interested.

First, I took the onnions home and gave them a bath. So fresh and so clean!

The bulbs went in the pan with some asparagus, mushrooms, and a little fresh garlic.

The rest of the plant, minus the roots, got chopped up fine and serves as a super-fresh spice. Some of this went into the guacamole and onto the salad. (edit: the knife is a JA Henckels paring knife)

Dinner is served! Fish, salad w/guacamole, and asparagus.

John G · May 6, 2009

And here's the finished horse. I used three coats of salad bowl finish, and some acrylic paint for the mane, tail, shamrock, and eyes.

bondy · May 6, 2009

Nice dinner and even nicer horse well done:thumbup:.