Below is a link to the Trillium spring newsletter, featuring a brief review of Barbara Kingsolver's book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life, as well as articles about community supported agriculture (CSA), what it means to be a "locavore," and other useful information.
Check it out here!
http://www.trilliumohio.com/WRSummer2009Newsletter.html
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Wild Edible Plants Walk
The Monday Creek Watershed Daycamp this past week was a great success. As a special presentation, I took the campers on a walk around Tecumseh Lake to teach them about wild edible plants. To be honest, I was quite surprised at how attentive they all were throughout the whole presentation. Also, the kids were surprised as well to see how many different plants there were all around them that were edible. When you think about it though, it doesn’t seem that far-fetched. Afterall every plant that we’ve ever domesticated was once just a wild edible like these.
We began our walk on the east side of the lake and continued around to the west side, stopping to talk about every wild edible plant that we found on the way. In fact, we found so many wild edibles just on the walk around the lake that we didn’t even manage to get into the woods to look at more wild edibles in the forest before we ran out of time!
Simply standing in the mowed grassy area around Tecumseh lake, we found several wild edibles right beneath our feet (though we didn’t try any of course, since they were stepped on and goose droppings were all around). Species we found here included red, white, and hop clovers, wood sorrel (aka “sourgrass”), greater and lance-leaf plantain (not to be confused with the tropical banana-like fruit), dandelions, and wild carrot.
We also found many other species among the brush just past the mowed areas. Flowers such as ox-eye daisy, honeysuckle vines (an unfriendly invasive species, unfortunately), and yellow sweet clover were quite common in these areas. Another flower common to this habitat (which is one of my personal favorites) is yarrow, a strong-flavored flower with many valuable medicinal uses. I like to chew on it to help relieve a sore throat. Of these, honeysuckle was by far the children’s favorite. Most of them already knew how to pick off flowers and pull the stigma out the bottom to get a delicious drop of nectar, but were surprised to hear that the whole flower was edible, making it a great edible decoration for many dishes. It should be noted that while the flower is edible, honeysuckle berries are mildly poisonous and should not be eaten.
Some of the woodier species of edibles we found included wild grapevines, blackberries, black raspberries, sumac, sassafras trees, white pine, and white oak. Another easily-identifiable favorite of the kids were the cattails we found in some of the more damp areas around the lake. Cattails are an especially good wild edible to know because when they grow, they tend to grow in large groups. This coupled with the fact that almost all parts of the plant are nutrient-rich and can be eaten at one point or another in its development makes cattail an excellent survival food.
With only a limited amount of time, we weren’t able to go much further and explore the wild edibles of the forest. Ironically, we had to stop for lunch. After a quick glance though, here’s a small sample list of what tasty treats I saw in the woods: American hazelnut, spicebush, stinging nettle, wood nettle, hog peanut, wild violets, mayapple, wild ginger, greenbrier, pawpaw, hickory, and more!
Click on each of the edible species listed in this article to find out how it can be prepared and eaten.
We began our walk on the east side of the lake and continued around to the west side, stopping to talk about every wild edible plant that we found on the way. In fact, we found so many wild edibles just on the walk around the lake that we didn’t even manage to get into the woods to look at more wild edibles in the forest before we ran out of time!
Simply standing in the mowed grassy area around Tecumseh lake, we found several wild edibles right beneath our feet (though we didn’t try any of course, since they were stepped on and goose droppings were all around). Species we found here included red, white, and hop clovers, wood sorrel (aka “sourgrass”), greater and lance-leaf plantain (not to be confused with the tropical banana-like fruit), dandelions, and wild carrot.
We also found many other species among the brush just past the mowed areas. Flowers such as ox-eye daisy, honeysuckle vines (an unfriendly invasive species, unfortunately), and yellow sweet clover were quite common in these areas. Another flower common to this habitat (which is one of my personal favorites) is yarrow, a strong-flavored flower with many valuable medicinal uses. I like to chew on it to help relieve a sore throat. Of these, honeysuckle was by far the children’s favorite. Most of them already knew how to pick off flowers and pull the stigma out the bottom to get a delicious drop of nectar, but were surprised to hear that the whole flower was edible, making it a great edible decoration for many dishes. It should be noted that while the flower is edible, honeysuckle berries are mildly poisonous and should not be eaten.
Some of the woodier species of edibles we found included wild grapevines, blackberries, black raspberries, sumac, sassafras trees, white pine, and white oak. Another easily-identifiable favorite of the kids were the cattails we found in some of the more damp areas around the lake. Cattails are an especially good wild edible to know because when they grow, they tend to grow in large groups. This coupled with the fact that almost all parts of the plant are nutrient-rich and can be eaten at one point or another in its development makes cattail an excellent survival food.
With only a limited amount of time, we weren’t able to go much further and explore the wild edibles of the forest. Ironically, we had to stop for lunch. After a quick glance though, here’s a small sample list of what tasty treats I saw in the woods: American hazelnut, spicebush, stinging nettle, wood nettle, hog peanut, wild violets, mayapple, wild ginger, greenbrier, pawpaw, hickory, and more!
Click on each of the edible species listed in this article to find out how it can be prepared and eaten.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
2009 Ohio Farm Tour Series
The 2009 Ohio Sustainable Farm Tour Series is set to start June 20th. This yearly opportunity to get a view of some of the best that Ohio Agriculture has to offer is sponsored by Innovative Farmers of Ohio, Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council, Ohio State University Organic Food and Farming Education and Research Program, O.S.U. Sustainable Agriculture Team, and the USDA SARE Program.
As always this years tour series features a wide range of agricultural operations from an organic vineyard, to organic field crops, to direct marketed hogs and poultry, to sustainable forestry practices. For a complete list of the 2009 tours see the 2009 Ohio Sustainable Farm Tours Brochure.
This years farm tours will feature two Athens County farms. Both stalwarts of the Southeast Ohio Sustainable Agricultural movement.
On Saturday July 18th, Kip and Becky Rondy of Green Edge Organic Gardens near Amesville will host a tour of their 120 acre organic vegetable operation. This is an opportunity to see one of the premier organic farms in our region. Kip and Becky have successfully utilized the natural assets of their property to produce 30 organic specialty crops, including mushrooms. This is a year round business that utilizes five greenhouses, as well as production fields. Green Edge markets its produce through a CSA, natural food stores and restaurants in Athens and Columbus, and at the Athens Farmers Market.
Green Edge tour participants are encouraged to start the day off with a visit to the Athens Farmers Market, known by many as the best farmers in Ohio, and one of the best in the Country. The market runs from 10:00am to 1:00 pm, featuring a wide variety of local food, entertainment, and good old fashioned community interaction. Anyone interested in taking the opportunity to spend the weekend in the area should check out the Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau, for a list of lodging and area events.
J.B. and Charlene King of Albany will open the doors to King Family Farm on Sunday September 20th. J.B. and Charlene have a life time of farming experience to share. They produce superior quality hogs and poultry on their 200 acre Athens County farm. They market their products throughout Southeastern, and Central Ohio.
The Kings have developed systems for reducing animal stress, and growing and mixing their own feeds, that result in some of the best pork and chicken you will ever taste. King Family Farm products are also available at the Athens Farmers Market.
This years Farm Tour series offers something for everyone interested in farming or consuming quality food, while conserving our environment. Check out the tour opportunities on-line, and contact info@ohiofoodshed.org or any of the sponsoring organizations if you have any questions.
As always this years tour series features a wide range of agricultural operations from an organic vineyard, to organic field crops, to direct marketed hogs and poultry, to sustainable forestry practices. For a complete list of the 2009 tours see the 2009 Ohio Sustainable Farm Tours Brochure.
This years farm tours will feature two Athens County farms. Both stalwarts of the Southeast Ohio Sustainable Agricultural movement.
On Saturday July 18th, Kip and Becky Rondy of Green Edge Organic Gardens near Amesville will host a tour of their 120 acre organic vegetable operation. This is an opportunity to see one of the premier organic farms in our region. Kip and Becky have successfully utilized the natural assets of their property to produce 30 organic specialty crops, including mushrooms. This is a year round business that utilizes five greenhouses, as well as production fields. Green Edge markets its produce through a CSA, natural food stores and restaurants in Athens and Columbus, and at the Athens Farmers Market.
Green Edge tour participants are encouraged to start the day off with a visit to the Athens Farmers Market, known by many as the best farmers in Ohio, and one of the best in the Country. The market runs from 10:00am to 1:00 pm, featuring a wide variety of local food, entertainment, and good old fashioned community interaction. Anyone interested in taking the opportunity to spend the weekend in the area should check out the Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau, for a list of lodging and area events.
J.B. and Charlene King of Albany will open the doors to King Family Farm on Sunday September 20th. J.B. and Charlene have a life time of farming experience to share. They produce superior quality hogs and poultry on their 200 acre Athens County farm. They market their products throughout Southeastern, and Central Ohio.
The Kings have developed systems for reducing animal stress, and growing and mixing their own feeds, that result in some of the best pork and chicken you will ever taste. King Family Farm products are also available at the Athens Farmers Market.
This years Farm Tour series offers something for everyone interested in farming or consuming quality food, while conserving our environment. Check out the tour opportunities on-line, and contact info@ohiofoodshed.org or any of the sponsoring organizations if you have any questions.
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