Natural preps in your neck of the woods?

[stamphappy]

Thought we could state what area of the world we are in (generally) and what food items occur naturally where you live.

I do not know many indigenous edible plants to my area. I purchased a book on the subject and haven't been diligent about reading it.

Pacfic Northwest: things from the sea---clams, oysters, crab, shrimp (although it's a very short season), salmon, seaweed, squid, salt; lots of rainwater; raccoon, squirrel, elk, deer; blackberries, rassberries, salmonberries, logan berries; pears, apples, hazelnuts, walnuts (although those I don't think any of these are indigenous); stinging nettles.

I see I really need to figure out the 'greens' part of my meal!

[stamphappy]

Should have titled it "indigenous" and not "natural" but not sure how to change the title.

[whiskeylivewire]

Um, lots of wildlife, the lake is only a couple miles away so fishing and what not. Morels, poke, lambs quarter, watercress, wild blackberries, pecans, walnuts...that's all I can think of right now!

Oh and I live in SW Missouri

[stamphappy]

Oh that's right! We have morels and several other varieties of mushrooms. Forgot about those!!

[Kmac15]

on our place we have persimmons, plums, muscadines, sassafras, poke and wild game such as deer, rabbits and squirrels. I am sure there are more but I am not able to recognize them.

[manygoatsnmore]

Let's see, stamphappy, I'll add chantrelles, puffball mushrooms, oregon grape, salal, trout, crappie, bass (sea bass, large mouth and small mouth), perch, smelt (if we ever see another smelt run), steelhead, sturgeon, blackberries, pigweed, lamb's quarters, asparagus (grow wild in some areas), red and blue huckleberries, miner's lettuce, rhubarb (also not native, but plentiful), crawdaddies, frogs. That's off the top of my head...I know I'm missing plenty more. We are richly blessed with wild foods here in the PNW.

[naturelover]

Originally Posted by stamphappy

.... I see I really need to figure out the 'greens' part of my meal!

Here ya go! Wild edibles of the Pacific north west. http://northernbushcraft.com/plants/index.htm

.

[whiskeylivewire]

I forgot about the persimmons...and mulberry trees.

[elkhound]

PNW has the most to offer from the wilds IMHO.(use to live there)

from the things i have read the native peoples there done the best over all as far as lean times are concerned.

bears,blacktail,elk,moose,sheep,goats,mtn lion,(yes i have eatin a lion before)all the salmon,sea lions,whales,the lsit from the ocean goes on.

i liked picking fern heads in spring...we sauted them in butter and garlic.

all the apple varities there,i have traveled all over u.s. and canada and washington state in my opion has more berries than any other place.every fall i would eat my fill daily while working in the woods.i jsut pulled over a branch and bit and pulled off in my mouth...yep jsut like a bear...roflmao...back then i was a bit barbaric...lol

with all them black bear who wants to shot a squirrel when you down a big bear thats been eating berries for weeks.

[elkhound]

heres a creek that was by my home..kokanee

[elkhound]

my new place has....bear,deer,turkey,squirrel,coon,bobcat,turtl es,catfish,morels,grouse

i feel naked without vast natural resources around me.


sorry for rambling on i get homsick for PNW at times.the heat,humidity and lack of rain right now makes me feel like i am locked in a cage..me and heat dont do well with each other.when it starts raining again i will be splashing in the puddles.i really miss the daily rains..yea i know i am sicko...lol

[jessimeredith]

Haven't ventured "into the wilds" much here off post, BUT do know that on post we have hazelnuts, chestnuts, pine cones and rabbits as big as my full grown English Cocker! Seriously, these things are HUGE. Oh and foxes...lots of foxes.

[Forerunner]

Originally Posted by stamphappy

Should have titled it "indigenous" and not "natural" but not sure how to change the title.

"Indigenous" and "in your neck of the woods" are rather synonymous.
"Natural" actually fits better, as the aforementioned alternative would be redundant.

Sign me up for walnuts, bur oak acorns, cattail, blackberries and black raspberries and maple syrup. Those would be the staples. Here in midwestern Illinois, the variety of incidental wild edibles is endless.

[7thswan]

We have alot of "wild food" here. I'm working on learning as much as I can, but mushrooms, I'd like some help with. There is just no room for error on them.

[ErinP]

We have jacks, muleys, pheasants, prairie chickens, etc. for meat.
Then there's chokecherries, wild plums, acorns, walnuts and probably the prolific of all: soapweed. Both yucca roots and flowers are good eating.

[stamphappy]

Ah, my brother in MT took my kids out crawdadin' one summer. They had so much fun. Sure takes a bunch to feed a big family though. Kinda like our manila clams here in the PNW.

Turtle sounds intriguing, have you ever had it elkhound?

DH's friend got a black bear a few years ago, it was very tasty!

ErinP, what is a muley?

[stamphappy]

Originally Posted by naturelover

Here ya go! Wild edibles of the Pacific north west. http://northernbushcraft.com/plants/index.htm

.

Thank you! I'm going to add this to my favorites. The book I got only has black and white sketchings and I've been having difficulty identifying items.

[lemonthyme7]

Lived in Washington for 2 1/2 years when DH was stationed at Ft. Lewis. Loved it there.
Here in NW Pa we have lots of local wild foods.

For meat there's the usual deer, rabbit, turkey, duck, geese, bear, squirrel, grouse, pheasants, doves, snapping turtles, catfish, panfish, trout and if you want them racoons, groundhogs, muskrat, beaver, etc.

As for plants there are probably more then I can think of. Raspberries, elderberries, wild cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, huckleberries, tea berries, wild sumac (makes a nice lemonaide type drink), apples, grapes, hickory nuts, black walnuts, butternuts, beechnuts, sassafras, maple (for syrup), watercress, nettles, dandelions, mushrooms (field, morel, chicken of the woods, hen of the woods, puffballs and more), wild ramps/onion/garlic, wild spearmint, wild flowers for tea and medicine.

I know there's more but that's what I can think of right now. My dad who turned 83 this year digs up sassfrass roots every Spring. He always gives me a piece. The smell of sassfrass tea simmering on the stove takes me home again!

[mpillow]

firewood
maple sap/syrup
fiddleheads/blueberries/strawberries/raspberries/chokecherries
furry mammals, fish, turtles
beechnuts, black walnuts
typical greens in the lawn....dandelion etc

but you better stock up for winter!

[manygoatsnmore]

Elkhound, my youngest dd is in TN now and she is missing blackberries, and complaining about chiggers! It's been hot and humid, and she's sure not used to it all. Of course, she's in love and that makes it all worthwhile.

I forgot elderberries!