[crazydave]

hey thats not a bad site, worth archiving if you have the software I reckon

[Screaming Eagle]

Fiddle faddle fernheads.

[LaRemnant]

Originally Posted by NorthWet

For each useful plant I find, I also do a search for poisonous look-alikes. You won't find them often, but they are out there and knowing how to distinguish them is imperative.

Takes a bit of time but is always well worth it!

I think you just won the understatement of the millennium award!!! Whenever I look through my new edible plant field guide, I am slowly finding myself thinking... I wonder if there is a poisonous look alike. I am JUST getting into this too. Nice post BTW. MAN, I bet me and you would have a good time farting around and yacking like a coupla' housewives! (no offense ladies!!!)

Originally Posted by NorthWet

Just be forewarned, you are starting on the path of an addiction. Can't count how many times I've been caught IDing plants I see in the background of a movie instead of paying attention to action scene.

YES... and I blame YOU for giving such good insight to this stuff! You're like an "unlicensed pharmacist/psychiatrist"!

Right now, since I am just now coming late to this party, I am like that nerdy, four eyed geek in the corner who is lucky to even get a hint at the "strange" smell of the "smoke" coming out of the private room for adults, and maybe I will be lucky if my mom let's me have a sip of her wine cooler.

I can EASILY see how addicting foraging could dynamically be. It is a way of life and you practically have to reprogram your way of seeing the world to get a glimpse of the interconnected systemic beauty.

[NorthWet]

Originally Posted by LaRemnant

I think you just won the understatement of the millennium award!!! Whenever I look through my new edible plant field guide, I am slowly finding myself thinking... I wonder if there is a poisonous look alike. I am JUST getting into this too. Nice post BTW. MAN, I bet me and you would have a good time farting around and yacking like a coupla' housewives! (no offense ladies!!!)

Yeah! Give the man a cigar! If your book doesn’t cover look-alikes in detail, go forth and research! LOL

Yup, I suspect we would. I’ve got a killer cilantro sauce guaranteed to make your mouth water and to ensure your desired ‘farting around’ does indeed occur. [evil grin] And hey, we might actually get a few thangs done too.

Originally Posted by LaRemnant

YES... and I blame YOU for giving such good insight to this stuff! You're like an "unlicensed pharmacist/psychiatrist"!

Glad to be of help. Sure, go ahead, blame me. Everyone else does! I can take it. [sniff]

Originally Posted by LaRemnant

Right now, since I am just now coming late to this party, I am like that nerdy, four eyed geek in the corner who is lucky to even get a hint at the "strange" smell of the "smoke" coming out of the private room for adults, and maybe I will be lucky if my mom let's me have a sip of her wine cooler.

Nope. Sorry. Wrong movie. Most of the population has been a version of that four-eyed geek at one time or another while I suspect only a handful in ten thousand ever venture into wild edibles/foraging. It might cut into their Survivor’s watching time. I used to give dinner parties that always had at least one foraged goodie on the table. Interesting reactions. Many wouldn’t return or would do so only if they brought a dish (which they then ate) LOL Most folks don’t like stepping outside of ye olde comfort zone.

Originally Posted by LaRemnant

I can EASILY see how addicting foraging could dynamically be. It is a way of life and you practically have to reprogram your way of seeing the world to get a glimpse of the interconnected systemic beauty.

It really is a cool step outside others reality. I have blown minds by walking into someone’s yard and finding what they need to quit smoking etc. or to gather a salad (after asking about their pesticide use). You’d think it was a magic act er somethin. ;-) Though it does alter what you carry in your vehicle (I’ve added boxes n bags n scissors n loppers etc so I can snag what I find on a back road) You will discover that which many detest and fight against year after year are delicacies during their season.

Sometimes the challenge isn't so much learning a new thing, rather it is allowing yourself to let go of that which you think you know. Repeat after me: Dandelions are precious ... LOL

Your bike rides can actually become quite beneficial. I often walk a new area of interest to discover what it offers. Suspect you'll learn to spot patches of goodies as you peddle by. (just have a notebook, map er something to mark things down for later reference)

Foraging is a journey. It cannot be hurried faster than the seasons. Some things are immediately identifiable, others require waiting for a bloom or whatever other indicator the plant might offer for a positive ID. Sometimes this causes one to miss a harvest. I allow myself a year in new digs to learn the area. (but I was on the coast for 4 years and still felt overwhelmed with the number of plants I still didn't know!)

Some items you will love and look forward to every year. Some you will try several different ways and finally relegate them to survival fare only. Each new plant you take home and cook will sink much deeper into your memory than what you might read. The reading is important but carrying the experience/knowledge with you is far more valuable. Foraging is often a step backward in time. Many of the plants will be imports throughout the years that were relied upon then. They have long since fallen by the wayside in preference for store-bought goodies with decreasing nutrition and GMO properties because foraging does take too long on many occasions, if gathering food is your only purpose. But if one fills their yard with these no-tend goodies ... the neighbors might hate you but you'll eat well!

[LaRemnant]

THERE it IS! I KNEW I referenced you as a guy somewhere but couldn't find it! Again, my apologies.

I really like how you word things. You sound like an insightful sage at times IMHO. Honestly. I know you say you don't think you know that much, but have you ever considered writing a book on the subject? I feel you have enough character in between all the factual mumbo jumbo to fill a small book, and people will come away from it with a more intimate perception just from having read your observations. I seriously believe that.

At any rate, your way of writing helps me understand the nature of foraging that would take at least two years to develop, that is why I refer to it as wisdom, because it is experience explained. Not just experience, but more like simple brilliance.

Give me some time, but I need to check out the list of hardy seeds on that website and you can tell me what you want from Florida. It might take a little while because I will need to find out how to properly acquire them (seeds) and/or what time of year they are most bountiful etc. but I will definitely be happy to do that because in the process, I will learn also, so it is a double investment for me.

For you, if you find yourself too busy and can't seem to get around to doing this that's totally okay. I can understand how life can be sometimes so this little transaction of sorts can be very laid back.

[NorthWet]

Originally Posted by LaRemnant

THERE it IS! I KNEW I referenced you as a guy somewhere but couldn't find it! Again, my apologies.

LOL No worries! Been called worse. At this point, as long as it's in English I'm likely good with it.

Originally Posted by LaRemnant

I really like how you word things. You sound like an insightful sage at times IMHO. Honestly. I know you say you don't think you know that much, but have you ever considered writing a book on the subject? I feel you have enough character in between all the factual mumbo jumbo to fill a small book, and people will come away from it with a more intimate perception just from having read your observations. I seriously believe that.

[blush] Thank you ... though my first reaction was much closer to: Sorry ... LOL ... but me ... write a SHORT book??! ROTFLMAO I can't generally pull off a short post ... LOL Sorry! [snort, snort]

In all honesty, if I were to head down that path it would be the book I wish was out there. You should see my library! It's ridiculous. Granted, moving them around is a good work out routine but ... sheesh. I have several for IDing and lots more for edible knowledge. I have yet to find an all-in-one book. Pictures in wild edible books etc. are great for going out and looking for a specific plant but I tend to bring home a basket of question marks to ID. Leafing thru several edible plant books and not finding the ID of what I have in hand only leaves me wondering what it is. Takes too many hours and tends to lead to alcohol consumption. What is really needed is a plant ID book that also teaches about the edibility of the plant, highlights poisonous look-alikes, and has a food and medicinal recipe section in back. Now THAT'S a tome worth having. (though beyond my knowledge level to write. Know a botanist in need of a book to write? There is a huge, gaping hole to be filled ...)

Originally Posted by LaRemnant

At any rate, your way of writing helps me understand the nature of foraging that would take at least two years to develop, that is why I refer to it as wisdom, because it is experience explained. Not just experience, but more like simple brilliance.

You are too kind, sir! Glad to be of some help. A lesson or two took me almost a decade to learn ... (like the loss of the Trillium) so if I can save you some of the lessons/frustrations ... all the more better.

At the same time, keep in mind part of the equation is the student. When we taught law classes only about 1 in 100 put in the effort to even come close to growing and learning. Most wanted to copy n paste, make their problem go away - no need to understand why their ox got gored or how to prevent it in the future. Hardly anyone developed the desire to keep a better eye on their public servants. Those precious few that 'got' it ... now they were a pleasure to teach and continue to be a benefit in their area (just don't ask their elected officials if they agree [evil grin])

As with any project, you'll get out of it what you put into it. If all you ever do is read about the plants around you, you'll be a step ahead of many. If, as I suspect, you actually begin IDing, tasting and utilizing foraged goodies ... your life will be far richer for it. (kinda like me and my recent knife making books - if I don't put in any play time, all they will ever be is dust collectors.)

Originally Posted by LaRemnant

Give me some time, but I need to check out the list of hardy seeds on that website and you can tell me what you want from Florida. It might take a little while because I will need to find out how to properly acquire them (seeds) and/or what time of year they are most bountiful etc. but I will definitely be happy to do that because in the process, I will learn also, so it is a double investment for me.

Actually, I was thinking it might work well to go over that list together. I have some of them, and am familiar with others. There are a few new to me, but that's part of the fun of it. While they all might be edible, I promise you not all edibles are worth the effort of propagating for collecting. Others are a bounty for mere moments of work (e.g. red clover or milkweed seeds for sprouting) Then again, if we also cover the noxious/invasive species in your area, you may find you have no need of buying weeds from others.

I wander lots of places on-line for info but this is one of the most consistent to offer a starting point for the rabbit trail:
Plants For A Future - 7000 useful plants

An interesting side note, just picked up Vegetables from Amaranth to Zucchini by Elizabeth Schneider from the library. I'm a lovin it! Haven't had a chance to play with any of the recipes yet but looking over the index, here's a sampling of the interesting veggies listed: arrowhead, burdock (dunno yet if it's greater or minor), cactus pads, chrysanthemum greens, corn smut (! I could have used this one this year!), curly dock, dandelion, fiddlehead ferns, mallows, nettles, ostrich fern, plantain, purslane, rocket, Shepard's purse, sorrels, sunchoke, and yucca. It's a door-stop of a book (777 pgs) and still going for a couple of sawbucks but ... unless the recipes are awful, well worth the price.

Originally Posted by LaRemnant

For you, if you find yourself too busy and can't seem to get around to doing this that's totally okay. I can understand how life can be sometimes so this little transaction of sorts can be very laid back.

'Twould be sad if life didn't intervene now and again, no? Most of the seeds I have to offer are already collected. Yarrow, comfrey and mullein (if the horses haven't done in the stand entirely) would be by roots - so I'd need to know sooner rather than later if you wanted some. I haven't checked on the cattails yet to see if there are any seeds left or if trying for roots would be possible (I suspect so as they spread this way but haven't tried planting them before sooo ...) Too, in all honesty I don't know much of what you might have in your area and need to see what I could safely plant here. Guess I see it more as a journey ... so it'll take as long as it takes. Fair enough?

I've pulled together most of my list but will look up the scientific names to ensure we're both on the same page. Will try to post that back to you in the next few days.

[Dave P]

Originally Posted by NorthWet

Though I thought this book looked interesting (but I haven't seen it in person) Amazon.com: Foraging New England: Finding, Identifying, and Preparing Edible Wild Foods and Medicinal Plants from Maine to Connecticut (9780762709540): Tom Seymour: Books

Wow! Thanks for the book reference. I can't wait to get it and go forage. I will do research on similar looking poisonous plants as well.

Thanks again.

[Dave P]

Originally Posted by crazydave

have a look on here, it covers by state apparently

Wildcrafting.net: Foraging Database, Edible & Medicinal Plants

This website looks cool, thanks cd.