Hey everyone! We got a bit of a late start to our foraging season this year. We are currently in the middle of a move, and for the last few weeks everything else has been put on the back burner. I find that May is the best time for foraging. There is a bevy of edibles […]
Foraging season is just around the corner, and what better way to kick off the season than with Kentucky’s only festival dedicated to wild and fermented foods. There’s still a week left to purchase discounted early bird tickets for Sustainable Kentucky’s WILDfest. Join us April 19, 2014 at Cedar Creek Vineyards in Somerset for a full day […]
The world is looking a little browner lately, but there are still plenty of plants that thrive after frost. Here are a few edibles that are just hitting their peak. EASTERN BLACK WALNUT (JUGLANS NIGRA) More information on harvesting and […]
Lately I’ve had a little trouble getting motivated to write a post; but after stepping outside on this 40-something degree morning, I decided it is time to talk about grapes. I don’t know much about tame grapes, but 2013 has been an exceptionally good year for wild grapes. If you live in Kentucky, finding wild […]
Greens that grow to 6 feet tall, produce almost all summer, and require no sowing, tilling, or watering. To someone who has never heard of lambsquarters, it may sound too good to be true. Many people compare lambsquarters to spinach, some even call them “wild spinach”. I personally think their taste is totally unique and […]
In my previous post, “Infusing Oil for Making Salves, Soaps, Etc.”, I walked you through infusing oils. If you haven’t yet infused your oil, go here for a quick tutorial. If you’re not yet sure what plants you’d like to use, here are some suggestions: Jewelweed- For poison ivy rash (and protection) and bug bites. […]
The first step in making a salve, balm, or soap is infusing the oil with the plant material. As simple as it sounds, there is a right way, and wrong way. The first oil I tried to infuse was plantain in olive oil, and I ended up with about ten dollars worth of sour olive […]
I want to begin this post by addressing a couple of issues concerning the milkweed plant. Issue #1: Almost every time I see a Facebook or blog post on milkweed, there is at least one person who expresses concern. “But isn’t it toxic?” “Doesn’t it irritate your skin and burn your eyes?” The only question […]
We’ve been swatting flies and picking mulberries! Unlike blackberries or raspberries, mulberries grow on a tree rather than a bush, so you have two options, fight the flies and ants for fallen berries, or pick from the low hanging branches. Either way, you have your work cut out for you. The trees we pick from […]
On our seemingly never ending search for stinging nettle, we came across the next best thing, wood nettle, and lots of it. Wood nettle has all the physical characteristics of stinging nettle, so don’t let the name fool you, it has a nasty sting. If you plan on gathering it be sure to bring thick […]
