August 20, 2006

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  Wild Edibles And Birthdays

  
  

  (and Jesse Wears A Tie!!)

  
  

  It is Trevor’s 39th birthday today; he slept in until 10:30 and we have spent a quiet afternoon together.  The house is relatively clean and the cake is baked.  He has requested pizza for dinner and this is what he shall have.

  
  

  After dinner, I will give him this:

  
  

  L.L. Bean Light Stuff Tent #2

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  He has wanted something very light and small so he can carry it when he hikes/canoes in for long periods of time in the woods.  At just over 5 pounds, this should do the trick.

  
  

  Happy Birthday to a man who just keeps on getting better with age!!!

  
  

  *******

  
  

  As you know, I get very excited about foraging for wild edibles; it pleases me to make use of these growing things and appeals to the adventuress in me.  However, I also get excited about the concept of eating invasive species as they are not only delicious and cost-effective but doing this helps to eradicate non-native plants. 

  
  

  Japanese Knotweed is one of these plants; it is INVASIVE and aggressive and nearly impossible to eradicate.  However, one can help by cutting and cutting and cutting the beds you have (3 times a year, minimum).  The knotweed is edible and very similar to rhubarb. Early in the spring/summer the tiny stalks can be cooked and eaten like asparagus. This time of year, they can be peeled, cut up and cooked like you would rhubarb.

  
  

   

  
  

  Today I am making a blackberry-knotweed sauce

  
  

   

  
  

    

  
  

  Here’s a link on eating invasives in my area

  
  

  and I’ll be using the berries from the highly invasive Russian Olive for wine, jam and juice in 2-3 weeks from now

  
  

  additional links on wild edibles:

  
  

  HERE

  
  

  HERE

  
  

  And HERE 

  
  

  Incidentally, you can add Euell Gibbons to my list of older men who just got hotter and hotter as they aged

  
  

  (although he was a smoker, not the hottest quality in my book)

  
  

  

  
  

  Jesse Wearing A Tie

  
  

   

  
  

  Milkweed Center Posing As Fish

  
  

   

  
  

  Echinacea in the mist

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

  “The act of putting into your mouth what the earth has grown
  is perhaps your most direct interaction with the earth.”
  -   Frances Moore Lappé

  
  

  How has your day been?

  
  

   

  
  

   

  • 3:48 pm
  • 32 Comments