Plants For A Future

[rosie]

I have made a project for myself this year, for future needs and also for pleasure.

My plan is to walk about in my area, and to photograph and catalogue all edible plants that are growing naturally, and also the ones that have medicinal benefits. As I enjoy hiking, this will be a very rewarding project.

If anyone is interested in this also, I have included a link below for a great site to help get you going.

I have found that it is easier to identify the plants that grow around you first, take pictures and notes on where, and when you found them, then look up the plant to see what benefits it may have.

There is much food growing in the wilds, we just have to find it!
love & light

Link to "Plants For a Future" webstie
http://www.pfaf.org/index.php

[Celine]

Great link! thx rosie.

My friend christina knows alot about foraging, she is a great cook and loves to use what she can find!

This is a very important skill imo...just be sure you know what you are eating :)

[MorningSong]

Very nice link, Rosie! I hunt and gather a lot of wild edibles and love the idea of edible flowers! There are lots of them out there, too!

[Moxie]

Hello to everyone -
As if I don't have enough to do around my place as it is, but seeing how most of them are chores, your idea is a Great one, taking time out to stroll around (before the chiggers & ticks come alive arghhh) and catalog the native perennials, herbs & shrubs sounds like fun, R & R. My husband and I have about 8 acres here and I noticed the other day an abundance of watercress in the spring fed stream near the driving entrance.

We raise Rhode Island Reds for their eggs and I have seeds sprouting in the greenhouse, hardening off the cole crops to plant this week. I have to be very careful what I plant, so many deer here too.
So, I'll dust off my camera, let's see what we can contribute. Thank you

[rosie]

Hi all, looking forward to see what everyone can find, for food and medicine in their neck of the woods. Moxie, the native perennials around my area are very diverse, I will be looking in one area, with the most diversity to start with, and spread out from there.

love & light

[rosie]

Everyone knows the dandelion plant. It grows everywhere, you can play with it by making butter cups under your chin in the sun, you can blow the seed heads off, just for the fun of it. ;)

I have not included a picture, as this one is so common, it does not need one.

The dandelion root is commonly used to prepare tinctures. Tinctures are herbal medicines used to extend the life of the herb. Tinctures are prepared by extracting the medicinal benefits of the herb into alcohol. Dandelion root tincture can be used to treat the following health conditions:

Alcoholism
Bladder Infection
Brain Fog
Bronchitis
Cholesterol
Colds
Indegestion
Liver Ailments
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Breathing Problems
Osteoperosis
Menstrual Complications

As the dandelion is so common, and has so many benefits, I highly recommend this plant for future crops in your garden.

As with all wild plants, please ensure there has been no chemicals sprayed on or around them, when you pick.
Early morning is best for gathering any plants, as the sun has not had a chance to dry them out yet.

For a detailed breakdown on how to prepare dandelion tinctures, please see link below.
It has a very easy breakdown on how to prepare.
http://www.ehow.com/how_5240469_make-herbal-tinctures_-recipe-uses.html

[stardustaquarion]

This year I tried Jerusalem Artichokes in pots and they were easy to grow and kept in the pots the whole winter. This tuber is rich in vitamine C , inulin and potasium. To make it more diggestable is recomended to boil it for 15 minutes and then use it in whichever way one desires. All potato recipes could be substituted with jerusalems.

Since the plant is a invasive weed I guess that it is good to have it! http://eattheseasons.co.uk/Archive/jerusalem_artichoke.htm

Love

[MorningSong]

Every part of the aerial part of Dandelions is edible!

The tender leaves before flowering makes the finest spring salad you can get! Try them with boiled eggs and oil and vinegar!

The tiny flower buds can be boiled with vinegar and cured with salt to make "false capers".

The flowers can be picked early in the morning and used to make a wonderful "false honey" that is a great help with coughs and stomac problems. (I'll try to find the recipe and get it posted.)

After flowering, the leaves can still be eaten, but it's best to cook them like turnip greens, changing the water twice during cooking.

[Celine]

Very nice link, Rosie! I hunt and gather a lot of wild edibles and love the idea of edible flowers! There are lots of them out there, too!

Spring time is here! So much new fresh smells to activate the taste buds..

here is a link to some edible flowers

Bonne Appetit!

http://homecooking.about.com/library/weekly/blflowers.htm

[Shairia]

This is the season to look by the river's edge if you are lucky enough to have one nearby and search for fiddleheads. They are very nutritious and tasty and can be cooked like fresh spinach or broccoli.

I've provided a link with more information for those who are not familiar with these delicious treats:

http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/4198.htm

[MorningSong]

Here's a link to "how to make" Dandelion Jelly: http://www.prairielandherbs.com/dandelionjelly.htm

That's pretty neat, Shairia... I wonder if those ferns grow here in the Alps, too? I'll have to check that out!

And, you know, Stardustaquarian... Jerusalem artichokes grow wild just about everywhere here, especially around corn fields. Those buggers grow up to 2 mts tall and have nice yellow daisey flowers in the summer (they are in the sunflower family). Can't miss 'em. Aren't you supposed to harvest the tubers after they flower out?

[rosie]

Hi Shairia, I love fiddleheads. I stir fry them up with olive oil, garlic and a splash lemon, also do this with dandelion leaves, yum.

Thanks for the reminder, totally forget about these beauties, will have to go to the river this weekend to find where these guys
are hanging out.

Note: feta cheese sprinkled on the above is awesome. :thumb:

love & light

[Celine]

as a child i hated fiddleheads..but loved wild garlic.

been forever since i went foraging...

this is a great thread btw

http://www.missouriplants.com/Ferns/Polystichum_acrosticoides_fiddle_heads.jpg

[MorningSong]

Stinging Nettles, anyone?

http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Nettle.html

Here in Italy, we make a wonderful Risotto with nettle! Just throw in a handful of nettle tips as your rice cooks, butter and grated cheese ad.lib....yum!

[Shairia]

rosie, glad you needed a reminder and I could provide one. I see them in the organic food stores at outrageous prices. Your receipie sounds good I'll have to try it. I'm loving this thread too!

Don't forget to look for honeysuckle blossoms.

[Shairia]

Dried Hybiscus Flowers make a tasty tea or cooler, here's a link for uses.

http://www.hibiscus.org/recipes.php

[Celine]

Dried Hybiscus Flowers make a tasty tea or cooler, here's a link for uses.

http://www.hibiscus.org/recipes.php

Oh i love hibiscus tea! rose hip is nice with hibiscus

[MorningSong]

This sit is very informative:

http://www.wildcrafting.net/


Wildcrafting is the activity of foraging for wild edibles and medicines in the bush. Prior to the invention of agriculture most human civilization relied on this activity for sustenance, and today for health and economic reasons it is experiencing a revival. The edible world surrounds us, this site will help you take advantage.

[Freedom]

I have been foraging all my life..... its a way of life around here.....learned lots of this through my great grandmother....started with the all the berries...hazel nuts...
mushrooms...wild rice...maple syruping....

one of my favorites is the milkweed plant....their immature flower heads make the best fritters ever....they are sweet... I believe its the swamp milkweed

here is a link to more information about the milkweed

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/natbltn/100-199/nb162.htm

Namaste......Freedom

[rosie]

Love the hyssop! The benefits gained from this beauty are overwhelming, and the history of this plant is quite amazing. If you are planning your garden now, I would highly recommend considering this very versatile beauty!

Here is just a touch of snips from the web extolling it's virtue:

Ritual Uses of Hyssop

When the prophet Nathan came to David after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba, David sang: "Have mercy on me, God, . . . Cleanse me with hyssop, and I'll be clean; wash me, and I'll be whiter than snow." [Psalm 51, excerpt]

(and quite a few more passages if you are so inclined to google)

http://i44.tinypic.com/99j3vl.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/29pyphj.jpg
Hyssop is one of the most attractive plants for the herb garden. It is a small herbal perennial which has long stalks with narrow leaves and blue flowers. Hyssop is an evergreen shrub with fragrant leaves. The leaves are small, green and lance shaped, they add a subtle mint-like flavour when chopped into a green salad. Hyssop plant grows to about 60 cms in height. The hyssop flowers have a strong attraction for bees and butterflies, and the plant is worth cultivating both for this reason, and for its perfume.

Hyssop Tea

Recipe: Take 1 dessert spoon dried herb in 1/4 litre boiling water. Leave for 10 minutes. Drink 2-3 cups a day. You can add sugar or honey to taste.

Take this hyssop tea as soon as the symptoms develop for colds and flu. Use also for indigestion and a 'nervous' stomach. Add with equal parts of White Horehound and Coltsfoot for coughs and bronchitis. Take in equal parts with Boneset, Elder Flower and Peppermint for the common cold. Take neat for pleurisy.

For black eyes soak a compress in hyssop water, it's cheaper than steak! It can also be used to calm insect stings.
Hyssop Essential Oil

Hyssop essential oil is used to relieve tension and stress. As with all essential oils add a few drops of the essential oil to a carrier oil. Massage this oil into the aching area. It is also used for viral infections, hay fever, eczema and circulatory problems.

Massage hyssop oil into the soles of the feet, or into the aching area when suffering from gallstones.

Add a few drops of hyssop oil to a cold compress to clear bruises. It has been used for treating people who have undergone face lifts!

Massage 10 drops of hyssop essential oil, mixed with 20ml almond, or sunflower oil, on the chest for bronchitis and colds. You can add a thyme or eucalyptus.

You can add 5-10 drops of essential oil to your bath when you feel nervously exhausted or are just 'down in the dumps'.

Note: Do not use this oil if you are suffering from epilepsy.
Hyssop Benefits

Hyssop is used for disorders of the cardiovascular system. As it is both stimulating and sedative, it can regulate blood pressure whether high or low. Infusion of the hyssop leaves are also used to improve digestion, suppress coughs and relieve intestinal congestion.

Hyssop is available from health food stores and herbalists.

Precautions: Do not use for periods longer than a few weeks. Usage should also be avoided during pregnancy.

[rosie]

Freedom, thanks for the amazing milkweed info. I have plenty growing out in a field out back to feed the monarchs, will try to make use of the other qualities as well. :thumb:

love & light

[Nenuphar]

Hi Shairia, I love fiddleheads. I stir fry them up with olive oil, garlic and a splash lemon, also do this with dandelion leaves, yum.

Thanks for the reminder, totally forget about these beauties, will have to go to the river this weekend to find where these guys
are hanging out.

Note: feta cheese sprinkled on the above is awesome. :thumb:

love & light


This is a great thread with some very informative links - thanks, everyone :-)

Oh, I love fiddleheads, too! I haven't had them for years, since I moved to BC. Sometimes I find myself craving them...and dulse, too!

[rosie]

Some amazing facts on the chia seed. The Aztecs knew of it's properties, and it looks to be good for anyone who is dieting. Hey, it even helps for endurance!

I have now put this plant in with the "Plants for the Future", as it has many benefits for all.


Chia, is familiar to most of us as a seed used for the novelty of the Chia Pet™, clay animals with sprouted Chia seeds covering their bodies. Little is known, however, of the seeds tremendous nutritional value and medicinal properties. For centuries this tiny little seed was used as a staple food by the Indians of the south west and Mexico. Known as the running food, its use as a high energy endurance food has been recorded as far back as the ancient Aztecs. It was said the Aztec warriors subsisted on the Chia seed during the conquests. The Indians of the south west would eat as little as a teaspoon full when going on a 24hr. forced march. Indians running form the Colorado River to the California coast to trade turquoise for seashells would only bring the Chia seed for their nourishment.

If you try missing a spoonful of Chia in a glass of water and leaving it for approximately 30 minutes or so, when you return the glass will appear to contain not seeds or water, but an almost solid gelatin. This gel-forming reaction is due to the soluble fiber in the Chia. Research believe this same gel-forming phenomenon takes place in the stomach when food containing these gummy fibers, known as mucilages, are eaten. The gel that is formed in the stomach creates a physical barrier between carbohydrates and the digestive enzymes that break them down, thus slowing the conversion of carbohydrates into sugar.

In addition to the obvious benefits for diabetics, this slowing in the conversion of carbohydrates into sugar offers the ability for creating endurance. Carbohydrates are the fuel for energy in our bodies. Prolonging their conversion into sugar stabilizes metabolic changes, diminishing the surges of highs and lows creating a longer duration in their fueling effects.

One of the exceptional qualities of the Chia seed is its hydrophilic properties, having the ability to absorb more than 12 times its weigh in water. Its ability to hold on to water offers the ability to prolong hydration. Fluids and electrolytes provide the environment that supports the life of all the body’s cells. Their concentration and composition are regulated to remain as constant as possible. With Chia seeds, you retain moisture, regulate, more efficiently, the bodies absorption of nutrients and body fluids. Because there is a greater efficiency in the utilization of body fluids, the electrolyte balance is maintained.

More amazing facts about this super seed:
http://www.living-foods.com/articles/chia.html

[Beth]

Great thread Rosie, definitely going to look into foraging. We started a large garden this year and we're raising 8 chicks right now for eggs for the future.