Foraging

[Hinotori]

What I was taught was lambsquarter is like slightly salty tasting spinich. We also had what was called pigweed (a type of wild amaranth) that was a bit bitter and not eaten because of that.

Lambsquarter is often called pigweed as well.

Therein lies the issue with common names. Totally different plants can have the same common name. When buying plants I always make sure of species, sub species, and cultivar if needed.

Most people are idiots at garden centers. I cant tell you how many times Ive asked of they had lemon verbena and they took me to actual verbenas because none of them were plant knowledgeable. Lemon verbena is not a verbena. Common names suck.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

Agreed. It's important to know the latin name, and know what the plant is supposed to look like! And, yes, many garden center employees are simply warm bodies that drag hoses around. They know NOTHING about plant species, plant care, or how to assess a plant.

 

[Hinotori]

Don't forget how to water a plant.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

Here's a nice video. It just might inspire you to get out there and forage some veggies for your dinner:

 

[Hinotori]

Cattails are one of the most useful plants out there.

Cattail roots are best after the first freeze. You have to pound them and then let the starch settle out in water. The roots are very fibrous. I know some people cook them whole then chew them up and spit out the fibers.

He pulled off way more leaf than I ever do. Lots of that white part of the leaf is soft and easy to eat raw. I usually slice it up for salad.

The very young green cattail heads can be cooked up. The pollen can be shaked into a bag and use as a flour.

Cattail leaves can be used for weaving baskets and mats. The fluff can be harvested from the heads to be used as a batting or fill.

 

[NH Homesteader]

Oh fiddle heads are hugely popular here! I've never had them, but my DH loves them.

I forage for berries primarily. DH gets chicken of the woods mushrooms, we're not well versed in other mushroom types so haven't braved too many others. Oh and we get plenty of chaga also.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I have purslane, chickweed and plantain that I could forage for in the backyard! But, I haven't really pursued it to any great extent. I have been known to pinch off the young tender tips of chickweed and pop 'em in my mouth. They're actually quite tasty. We also have plenty of curly dock. Some years back I harvested and cooked some dock - it was ok.

 

[Mini Horses]

I have purslane -lots! Chickens love it. There are several patches of plantain, couple varieties. Those & dandelions are gobbled by goats -- they seem to think it is a good combo with the honeysuckle.

I have huge amounts of wild blackberries. Several patches of Beauty Berry, which are supposed to be good for mosquito control. I plan to try some leaves in a potion this year. The goats DO like those leaves in Spring, which is when they are high in protein and most palatable -- so I read. They can only get to a couple smallish plots. 5 others doing well. The berries make a "pretty" jelly, I'm told, in Fall. Never tried but may this yr just to have checked it out.

Right now I am checking out planting some ginseng in my woods. Of course, it takes 4-8 yrs for a "crop". Talk about "long term" plans. The goldenseal matures faster and is often companioned with it.

Of course, mushroom spawn would grow faster

We have a great deal of both crops & planted pines in my area. Paper mill uses pulp. So actually few areas of native woodland. Thus, wild nut and fruit type trees a slim pickings.

 

[tortoise]

DH and I don't do much foraging. Blackberries and hazelnuts.

 

[KeeperAtTheHomestead]

Elderberries- I make a tincture for the flu. I've also used them in pies and muffins. I hope to eventually get my act together and collect the flowers to make elderflower syrup and/or champagne.
Chokecherries- I've tried juicing them and was underwhelmed. Maybe I'll try jelly this year.
wild plums- tons of them here. I've made plum wine, plum cordial, plum jam, plum syrup, and dried them.
Crabapples- jams and spiced crabapples, and cordial
Comfrey- I make a salve with this
Nettles- teas and as a soup. I've been thinking of trying it as a pesto too.
Shepherd's Purse - dry it for a blood-stopper
Willow- I haven't done it yet, but last year I found the directions to make willow-bark tea for pain relief. Interestingly, although store-bought aspirin can give you tummy trouble if it isn't buffered, natural willow does not.
Quack Grass - when I pull this stuff up, I save and dry the roots; it's good for UTI's
Pine - The nuts are really small on our trees, so not worth the trouble of harvesting, unless we were desperate. Pine needle tea is good. This year I plan to harvest some sap and make candles. I haven't tried the bark, but I hear it's quite good if prepared properly.
Dandelions - salads, dandelion lemonade, I'd like to make the famous wine but I'm too lazy to harvest that many flowers... same with dandelion jelly.
Roses - the entire back line of our property is covered with the single pink wild roses (eglantine? I'm not sure). The hips are tiny but very flavorful, and I've made rose petal jelly- beautiful pale pink and it tastes the way roses smell.

We also have cattails and I know you can eat almost the entire plant at different times of the year, as well as use the strap-like leaves to make baskets. I haven't done any of it yet...
We found a wild blackberry nearby a couple of years ago... it's still not really big enough to forage yet...
And finally, I just read in the local paper that there is a determined effort to save wocus from the brink of extinction
( https://www.klcc.org/post/bringing-back-wocus-one-plant-time )

Pine sap is also good for applying straight to a cut.

I make the kids pick the millions of flowers needed for dandelion jam!