Spanakopita, for those who may be wondering, is a delicious savory Greek pastry. It is traditionally made with spinach, but it is just as delicious, and more nutritious, when made with stinging nettle. No, I’m not Greek, but a local church has a wonderful festival each year and my taste buds definitely say yes to Greek food!Continue Reading
I get that everyone wants to forage the trendy plants – ramps, morels, fiddleheads, etc. And why not? They are delicious. But my passion is to use, and teach others to use the common weeds and landscaping plants that are right in our own back yards.
It’s mid-spring and our quarter acre is just full of good eating – wood sorrel and dandelion, creeping charlie and garlic mustard, day lily shoots, and hosta. And so much more.
Yes, hosta is edible and the rolled up leaves, as they emerge in the spring, are a great alternative to asparagus. Continue Reading
You’ve worked in the garden all day; you’re hot and tired. You need pampering and you need to relax.
You spent an amazing day hiking in the woods, but you realize that the rock on which you rested was surrounded by poison ivy.
Or maybe your little one’s skin is dry and irritated. Herb-infused homemade soap is just the help you need.
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Back in the day when we were first married (guys, that was 40 years ago!), we lived in a run down house in the country without running water and only a wood stove for heat. The road we lived on was used so infrequently that grass grew down the middle of the road in spots.
The woman who delivered our mail was one of the few vehicles that we saw in a day, and this wonderful woman was worried about us – we were just kids. She would leave presents in our mailbox from her garden. One of the things she would leave were Jerusalem artichokes, which I had never before experienced.Continue Reading
Author Mike Krebill has spent many years teaching middle school science and leading scout troops. But The Scout’s Guide to Wild Edibles isn’t just for kids. This delightful, pocket-sized guide helps beginners of all ages to identify 40 wild edibles. Recipes and activities included!Continue Reading
One of my favorite things ever is watching someone’s eyes light up as they are opened to a new idea. That happened recently on a walk with my niece. I just naturally started pointing out plants, as I’m inclined to do, that are edible or medicinal and I saw it happen. And she said it. “You mean they’re not just weeds?”Continue Reading