Blogs
Porcelain Berries are too pretty to eat
Porcelain Berry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata) was no doubt brought into this country from Asia as an ornamental plant, with little consideration for the ultimate consequences. I can understand people wanting to plant them, as the berries are quite spectacular, resembling speckled porcelain droplets of green, turquoise, purple, pink and white, with many tones in between. A large cluster of berries may not have any two berries of the same color or shade. These glistening orbs are set against a background of dark green leaves. They can be truly exquisite.
read moreHow to Survive the Hunger Games – Suburban Foragers’ Style – part I
The Hunger Games is about survival, but then so is life itself. The safest survival stores you can have, is knowledge. Those who can turn to nature for shelter, water and nourishment will stand a far greater chance of survival.
read moreWhat to do About West Nile Virus? A non-toxic pesticide free natural solution
There's a big hoopla about West Nile Virus right now and I wonder what is really behind it. So few people have ever contracted it, and very few have died from it. In fact, you stand more chance of dying by falling off a donkey.
read moreHip Hop Hooray for Humulus lupulus!
Hops, like valerian, are a traditional herbal remedy for anxiety, restlessness and insomnia. You may be familiar with hops in association with beer brewing (where it is used as an anti-bacterial agent and for flavoring brews). I am simply happy to brew up a relaxing tea for those nights I have trouble winding down to sleep. When I decided to take an indefinite break from alcohol consumption, I swapped out my nightly beer for hops tea to get a similar calming, sleepy effect without the nasty hangover. If you are living sober and want a good...
read moreBlog: What’s Up? Chicken Butt!! Meet our Free Range Backyard Chickens!
Meet our backyard chickens. So, why is it important to us to have chickens? Getting chickens was one step in becoming self-sufficient as a community.
read moreBlog: How to Raise Backyard Chickens in a Mobile Chicken Coop
More and more suburbanites decide to start raising backyard laying flocks every season and most people have little or no experience with farm animals. Last year I started my first flock after a winter of research and design on chicken housing and management systems
read moreRecipe: Wild Black Cherry Sauce
WILD BLACK CHERRY SAUCE By Lisa Caccamise Makes about 3/4 cup 2 cups black cherries, no need to pull the stems as they will be strained out along with the pits. water to cover 1/4 cup sugar or more to taste 1. Add cherries and water to a medium pot and bring to a boil. 2. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes, then uncover and simmer another 15-30 minutes or until cherries are soft and liquid is reduced by 1/2. 3. Cool slightly. 4. Add cherries to a food mill, or to a fine sieve and mill or...
read moreThis Season’s Wild Edible Plant: Black Cherries
Black cherry (Prunus serotina) Every August, you can find black cherry trees covered in drooping clusters of shiny ripe fruit, like thousands of threaded beads. These cherries are smaller and more tart than the domestic varieties. They grow in elongated racemes and appear to be more like berries on little stalks. However, you will find that each “berry” contains an unmistakable cherry pit. They are not as sweet as regular cherries, but their tannic tartness makes them ideal for making jam, jelly, syrups and wine. However,...
read moreRecipe: From Milkweed to Seaweed
Stuffed milkweed pods Choose pods that are young, firm and easily sliced. If they feel at all tough or stringy, don’t use them. Ingredients: 24 young milkweed pods Cup precooked grain (Rice, millet or quinoa) Small onion 2 cloves garlic 1/2 small red pepper 1/2 cup wild greens (lambsquarters, purslane, mustard or stinging nettle) small piece of ginger teriyaki sauce Salt & pepper Coconut oil Directions: Turning the pod in your hand, look for the seam. Split the pod carefully along the seem so that you expose the white seed...
read moreVideo: From Milkweed to Seaweed
This week Suburban Foragers gathered at Cropsey farm to cook delicious stuffed milkweed pods. We also cooked Fried Green Tomatoes and a refreshing Cucumber and Seaweed salad, perfect for a scorching August day. to read the recipe for stuffed milkweed pods, click here
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