What are some unusual food sources that you've found?
By writersedge
@writersedge (22563)
United States
September 15, 2007 6:57pm CST
I've found wild food as unusual. But I also found out that many places when they close up will give food away instead of throw it away or let it rot in a field. We have a farm market, run by a farm family, my Mom and I were there the last day it was open. They told us to bring our car over to the door and they would fill our truck with squash. We took the squash to different relatives. We each took about 10 really hard winter squash. That was very cool. Also, after farmers have harvested food with mechanical devices, many times there is stuff left over. Sometimes they leave it for the deer and the wild turkeys, but sometimes they don't want anyone trespassing to shoot them, so they let people take whatever the mechanical harvesters left behind. Also some stores have a last resort isle, where food is marked down. Sometimes you can be surprised by what's there. What unusual sources of food have you found? Similar to these? Different? More ideas?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@happythoughts (4109)
• United States
16 Sep 07
I trade for food. We all have different tallents and needs in life so it works out well for me. I can grow tons of tomaotes but the rest of the things in my garden I dont do as well on. I trade what I have for what they have and it works well for all of us. I have also traded sewing and cleaning. It all just depends on the situation at hand. I can usualy use most anything to make a meal from so I wont be picky.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
18 Sep 07
That's terrific! Most of my friends have similar soil, growing conditions, gardens. So there isn't quite as much to trade often times. But yes, trading is wonderful. I like that you also trade with talents. That is very unusual and a great idea. Thank you very much.
@peavey (16936)
• United States
16 Sep 07
Besides wild food, gleaning and getting leftovers from vendors, we've driven the county roads during harvest watching corners, railroad crossings and other rough areas for harvested vegetables that have fallen from farm trucks. These will just rot alongside the road if no one uses them. We've got carrots, cabbage, onions, potatoes and sugar beets like that.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
16 Sep 07
Now there is one I hadn't thought of. Good for you! That's what I love about this site, new ideas and experiences from other people who have lived them. Thank you and take care.
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
16 Sep 07
My Grandmother was very frugal. She taught me how to gather greens from the wild. Of course one that most comes to mine is the dandelion. This is a very tasty green, but can be sometimes bitter. She would cook it with salt pork to give it a bit of smokey flavor. Another green that is still my favorite is milkweed greens. She would also use salt pork to cook with hers. I prefer to boil them until tender and add a bit of butter and salt.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
16 Sep 07
I went to a wild food pot luck one time. The people there, instead of boiling the water, then adding the milkweed flowers which would burst the cells and release the latex; they put them in water and brought the water up to boiling sealing in the latex. The flowers tasted like licking a burnt tire to me. I've tried cooking milkweed many ways, including the right way, and there is still a hint of latex. Some people are very allergic to latex. Other people really love milkweed. A friend of mine boils the young pods (less than 2 inches long) with 2 pre-heated boiled water pans. The scoups out the middle and puts rice, cheese, and tomato sauce. I tried it, still tasted like rubber to me. But she loves it. I think she has no tastebuds!
My parents loved cooked greens and salt pork, too. Many people boil dandelions it two pre-boiled waters too. A little vinegar they also added. Vinegar in greens helps to release the minerals. We'll probably get deleted because this will probably be misinterpreted as recipes, but to me it's cooking instructions and a latex warning. Please make sure you tell people about the possibility of latex/rubber in the milky-sapped stuff you prepare, esp. the milkweed.
Milkweed is very cool. It has fluff that can be used for many things, pods that can be used for crafts. Stems that if prepared correctly can be used for string or fiber art. Monarch butterflies eat it, without them those butterflies would parish.
Butter and salt on greens is different. Different ways of preparation for different people. Take care.
