Staying out for the Summer

So, Its the British summer time

The Big yellow Disk in the sky is our God. We must worship it.

It is time to sacrifice......The wild plants in your garden, or on the trail where you go walking.

Back in the days when we ran around in tribes and ACTUALLY worshiping the sun, we were, by nature, hunter-gatherers.

At this point I can hear all the meat eaters screaming at their screens.

CALM DOWN.... I know......

We were born with canine teeth. I know....we evolved as meat eaters. Whether this is true or not is not my point.

My point is that we EVOLVED into omnivores, Those pointy teeth are now short and useless as canines, but I am not here to debate any Darwinian arguments with you. My point is that we now can eat many, many things to stay alive.

I'm not talking about manufactured food either. I am telling you in this blog that you don't need to go to the supermarket to get a good ready-meal, infact there is strong evidence that tells us  that this is the WORST type of meal that you could eat.

Your garden is a smorgasbord of ready meals...... Read On

We all know which vegetables and fruits are safe to eat, but what about other wild edibles? There are Hundreds to choose from, but here are a few  British and North American goodies that are safe to eat if you find yourself stuck in the wild: Just remember to wash them before you eat them

1. Blackberries – Rubus fruticosus

Many wild berries are not safe to eat, it’s best to stay away from them. But wild blackberries are 100% safe to eat and easy to recognize. They have red branches that have long thorns similar to a rose, the green leaves are wide and jagged. They are best to find in the spring when their white flowers bloom, they are clustered all around the bush and their flowers have 5 points. The berries ripen around August to September.

2. Dandelions – Taraxacum officinale

The easiest to recognize if the dandelion, in the spring they show their bright yellow buds. You can eat the entire thing raw or cook them to take away the bitterness, usually in the spring they are less bitter. They are packed with Vitamin A and Vitamin C, and beta carotene.

3.Elderberries – Sambucus

An elderberry shrub can grow easily grow about 10 feet and yield tons of food, their leaf structure is usually 7 main leaves on a long stretched out stem, the leaves are long and round and the leaves themselves have jagged edges. These are easiest to identify in the spring as they blossom white clustered flowers that resembles an umbrella. Mark the spot and harvest the berries when they’re ripe around September.

Elderberries are known for their flu and cold healing properties, you can make jelly from them and are very sweet and delicious. Yet, be aware that elderberries can be toxic if not properly prepared.

4. Pine – Pinus

There are over a hundred different species of pine. Not only can the food be used as a supply of nourishment but, also can be used for medicinal purposes. Simmer a bowl of water and add some pine needles to make tea. Native americans used to ground up pine to cure skurvy, its rich in vitamin C. I've found that if you try to eat raw pine cones, they can be a little dry and chewy.....Don't do it....

5. Chicory – Cichorium intybus

You can find these in Europe, North America and Australia. It can be found on roadsides and on waste ground. The entire plant can be eaten along with it bright blue flowers, which can also be white or pink. Chicory is well known for its toxicity to internal parasites.

6. Garlic Mustard – Alliaria petiolate

Edible parts: Flowers, leaves, roots and seeds. Leaves can be eaten in any season, when the weather gets hot, the leaves will have a taste bitter. Flowers can be chopped and tossed into salads. The roots can be collected in early spring and again in late fall, when no flower stalks are present. Garlic mustard roots taste very spicy somewhat like horseradish…. yummy! In the fall the seed can be collected and eaten.

7. Wild Garlic – Allium vineale

Wild Garlic (Allium vineale, crow garlic or garlic grass) is an herbal treat often found lurking in fields, pastures, forests and disturbed soil. It resembles cultivated garlic or spring onions, but the shoots are often very thin. Use it in sandwiches, salads, pesto or chopped on main courses like scallions. There's tons of this stuff growing near me in Warwickshire, usually in wooded areas.

8. Great willow herb(in the UK) Fireweed (U.S) – Chamerion angustifolium

This pretty little plant is found primarily in the Northern Hemisphere. You can identify fireweed by its purple flower and the unique structure of the leaves’ veins; the veins are circular rather than terminating on the edges of the leaves. Several Native American tribes included fireweed in their diet. It’s best eaten young when the leaves are tender. Mature fireweed plants have tough and bitter tasting leaves. You can eat the stalk of the plant as well. The flowers and seeds have a peppery taste. Fireweed is a great source of vitamins A and C.

9. Field Pennycress – Thlaspi arvense

Field Pennycress is a weed found in most parts of the world. Its growing season is early spring to late winter. You can eat the seeds and leaves of field pennycress raw or boiled. The only caveat with field pennycress is not to eat it if it’s growing in contaminated soil. Pennycress is a hyper-accumulator of minerals, meaning it sucks up any and all minerals around it. General rule is don’t eat pennycress if it’s growing by the side of the road or on a brownfield site

10 wood sorrel

You’ll find wood sorrel in all parts of the world; species diversity is particularly rich in South America. Humans have used wood sorrel for food and medicine for millennia. The Kiowa Indians chewed on wood sorrel to alleviate thirst, and the Cherokee ate the plant to cure mouth sores These people were the first hippies.... The ultimate Hunter-gatherers. This is difficult to find in the UK, but if you are luck enough to find it, the leaves are a great source of vitamin C. The roots of the wood sorrel can be boiled. They’re starchy and taste a bit like a potato.

YOU CAN ADD MOST OF THESE TO SMOOTHIES (I wouldn't recommend raw pine)

TTFN