"Eat for Free" in a freebies newsletter. It's about a foraging guide list.

@writersedge (22563)
United States
March 10, 2010 6:01am CST
About.com 's Monthly foraging guide is out (reissued from the free calenars, actually) in the freebies newsletter. After you go to about.com, there is a search there and you can type in monthly foraging guide. It's only a guide. It says things for March that we won't get here until April or May and some places what's in March may have been out since January or February. You should take classes, but some things everyone knows. Like dandelions. Although some people think Goat's Beard and some of its cousins are dandelions, but its cousins are usually edible. Luckily. Other things you won't be so lucky if they're look-alikes. Plus you need to get a book or guide so that you make sure you consistantly and correctly prepare foods correctly. Some must be cooked three times in water that is pre-heated. Not put them in water and then bring to a boil. There is a big difference. Shocking the plants to give up things in the cells that you don't want to eat is different from bringing the plants up to temperature and cooking the cells closed with the stuff you don't want staying in.
2 people like this
2 responses
Heather Echola
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
10 Mar 10
I just learned new things from you. I bet they were things my grandmother knew though. She was a forager,but would not have called it that, and grandpa was a farmer. He would also plant free plants to grow in his gardens.
1 person likes this
writersedge
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
10 Mar 10
Yeah, it's been called lots of things, foraging, gathering, hand harvesting, primative survival, etc. The USA is sooo large and so is Canada and Mexico, that it's hard to make a list per month because things mature in different areas at different times. Also each year is a little different. People used to do maple syrup in February a lot, now it seems to be at the end of March a lot now. June usually is for strawberries here, but with so little sunshine and dry time last year, they were in July. Did you say you have the Peterson's Guides or was that someone else? They've got spring, summer, and fall lists in the back as well as habitat lists (different kinds: of forests, fields, and wet lands). Thanks, I hope more people learn about wild foods. Keeping track of whether you're cooking things out of a plant (like bitterness out of bigger dandelion leaves) or cooking thinkg to stay in (like vitamins and minerals in lamb's quarters) is very important to pay attention to when read directions. Take care and happy food hunting!
writersedge
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
11 Mar 10
I think I would have liked your Grandparents. They sound like they were really cool to me.
celticeagle
@celticeagle (190003)
• Boise, Idaho
11 Mar 10
Yes, so important to check and be sure of what you have picked. I got a book on mushrooms for just that reason. There are alot of good ettable food out there if you just pay attention and do your homework. The freebie stuff on About.com sounds good. Look-alikes are scarey that is for sure. Have to be careful.
1 person likes this
writersedge
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
25 Mar 10
I admire people who can figure out which mushrooms are edible and which ones aren't. I only know puff balls. Sorry I didn't get back to you, but I didn't see this and I don't know what happened to my email reminder for it either.