Hackberries (Celtis occidentalis) are native to eastern & central US and Canada, and they are commonly planted in parks, yards, boulevards, and other urban areas. They have a tasty fruit, which is easiest to harvest during the winter months. Learn how to enjoy them in this video!
Read MoreSay the word “hemlock” and people’s faces immediately pale as they think of deadly poisonous species like poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) and water hemlock (Cicuta maculata). But what about eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)? You might assume it’s poisonous because of the name, but it’s actually an edible evergreen tree that’s not even related to poisonous hemlocks! So read on to learn more about this beautiful tree, and then get ready to horrify friends and family when you tell them you eat hemlock!
Read MoreBoth stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) and wood nettle (Laportea canadensis) are tasty and nutritious spring-time wild edibles, but how do you tell them apart? More importantly, how do you distinguish them from non-edible look alikes? Watch this video to find out!
Read MoreThis short video quickly goes over some edible and medicinal parts of dandelion: the leaf and flower. The root is edible and medicinal too, but I don't get into that here. Learn a bit about this plentiful plant and try it out yourself!
Read MoreNorthern Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) is a native deciduous tree common across much of the US and Canada. Though often referred to as a “junk tree” because of its lack of value as a timber product, hackberry is a beautiful, fast-growing tree that produces delicious fruit in late summer and fall. This underutilized wild edible is high in protein, vitamins, and minerals. And since it’s commonly planted in urban landscapes, it’s very easy to find!
Read MoreCurly dock (Rumex crispus, also called yellow dock) is one of those plants that is easily overlooked. It doesn’t have a showy flower and the leaves can look kind of generic. Furthermore, it’s not typically as prolific of a weed as dandelion— at least not in urban areas. It’s unfortunate that people aren’t more familiar with it, as the leaves, stem, seed, and root are all edible or medicinal. And with its wide distribution, it’s easy to start eating!
Read MoreWhere I live in Minneapolis, Minnesota, winter is generally a cold and quiet time of year. Birds fly south, animals hibernate, and plants go dormant during this challenging season. However, don’t let that fool you into thinking that winter is lifeless! There is still vitality to this season, for those who care to look! And there is still an array of wild foods to harvest.
Below is a list of five types of foods that can be foraged in the winter. I’ve opted to describe broad groupings rather than focus on individual species, just to show the diversity of winter foods. As such, this list is meant more for inspiration than to provide technical details. However, the links in each category offer more information for those wishing to dive deeper!
Read MoreThis video covers the edible and medicinal purposes of broadleaf plantain (Plantago major), goes over identification and harvesting, and ends with making plantain chips!
Read MoreWhite cedar (Thuja occidentalis) makes a delicious and healthful tea! Learn how to identify and use it in this video.
Read MoreThe weather is warming up in the Twin Cities, and tree tapping season will soon be over! Here is part three of a video series about tapping maple trees at home for the sap. This one is about end-of-season clean-up. Part one covers putting the tap in the tree, and part two goes over what to do with the sap. I will not be explaining how to boil down sap for maple syrup. Though it's a great practice that I encourage everyone to try at least once, this video series is designed for people who don't have the time or equipment to make syrup. Plus, maple sap is a great product in its own right!
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