Category: Uncategorized
Spicebush Ice Cream
Spicebush Ice Cream has a flavor unlike anything else you’ve had before. You can make the flavor strong or mild. Some people say it’s a little bit like nutmeg . . . I think it’s a bit sweet and could possibly replace your need…
Amazing Weed Salad
I love weeds! There’s nothing like pulling weeds in your herb or vegetable garden and bringing them in to eat! If you eat your weeds, you can produce so much more food for your family and weeds tend to be chock full of vitamins…
Common Violet
Violet (Violaceae Viola spp.) is a mild tasting and common plant in Central Virginia. You can collect the flowers and eat them raw or if you can collect 5 – 6 cups of them, you may want to try making violet jelly by following…
Fruit of the Gods!
Have you ever had a persimmon? 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,…
Red Clover
Red Clover (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…
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…
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…
Chicory
Chicory is a neat plant for coffee and tea lovers. It 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…
5 Reasons to Teach Your Kids Wild Edible Plants
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 – pokeweed. You can eat pokeweed only…
