Author: Alison Meehan
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Persimmon
Have you ever had a persimmon, the fruit of the gods? What about a North American persimmon, Diospyros virginia? These persimmons are similar to the Asian persimmons, but much smaller – only about an inch in diameter. This misunderstood Virginia-native fruit can turn even the most adventurous eater away, and yet, they are also well-loved…
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One of my favorite activities that can be done year-round is tracking. Tracks are EVERYWHERE. However, it’s easiest to track in mud, sand, or snow. Kids love learning to read the earth and it’s also a great stepping stone to reading. Tracking, after all, is the original form of reading and many believe it led…
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The Leaf Pile
Creating a giant leaf pile with your kids is an old favorite that most people have probably heard of. But, don’t dismiss it. Getting outside, smelling the leaves, running around, raking, and jumping in leaf piles makes this one of my most memorable fall activities from childhood. Raising happy, self-assured kids means teaching them happiness.…
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Red Clover
Red Cloverย (Trifolium pratense) is a common weed in Central Virginia that I have eaten since I was young. It’s pink, roundish flowers are so tempting and pretty and conjure images of Thumper in Bambi and his desire only to eat the blossoms. I used to take a pinch of the flower petals and bit the…
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Milkweed
Milkweed (Family Asclepiadaceaeis) another plant native to central Virginia. It’s POISONOUS and edible. How does that work? Well, you have to cook them enough to remove the toxins. WARNING: DO NOT EAT IT RAW!!! The sap of milkweed is white and milky, hence the name milkweed and hasย cardenolides that make it poisonous to humans and…
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Wood Sorrel
Wood sorrel (Oxalis spp.) is a common weed in central VA. It has 5-petaled yellow flowers and a delicious, lemony flavor that even kids love and can work as a lemon replacement in recipes. It’s best raw and works as a great addition to salads that might just eliminate your desire to include a high-calorie…
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Chicory
Chicory is a neat plant for coffee and tea lovers. Itย doesn’t contain any caffeine, but it tastes similar. To make a tea/coffee substitute, collect the roots. After washing them thoroughly, roast them on a low temperature in the oven. Then, grind the roasted root into a powder. Finally, use it like you would tea leaves.…
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My kids started learning what to eat from the forest as soon as they could walk. At the same time, I taught them what NOT to eat. Luckily, in our yard, there was only one poisonous plant โ pokeweed. You can eat pokeweed only if you boil the shoots in 3 changes of water, which…
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TV Characters and Nature
Sometimes, kids who are obsessed with a movie, tv show, or video game might just need an adult mentor to help them take their favorite characters outside. My younger daughter loves Dora The Explorer, which we normally read in books, but she has seen a few of the TV shows. If I repeat some of…
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The Backyard Camp Out
I’m amazed time and time again by how much my kidsย LOVE backyard camp outs. To kids who are 2 and 5, simply setting up a tent in the backyard and sleeping in it is a great adventure.ย If you have a backyard that isn’t quite suitable for overnight camping, you might want toย consider setting up a…