I’d normally be getting ready for a hike, but my car is dead and UPS is bringing a package some time today.

A blue jay calls and a cardinal, two squirrels, a dove and a flock of little birds scatter. The blue jay settles in for a nice meal of sunflower seeds. It’s odd for the TV to be on – but when things go awry, sometimes changing my pattern is all I can do. So here is another New York story.

Someone saw a coyote in Central Park at 10:30 PM last night and now reporters and the police are swarming the park looking for this canid. This is the only member of the dog family that cannot be tamed; you can tame a wolf or wolf/dog mix, a red fox and a grey fox – but not coyote. I learned this from a wildlife rehabilitator.

One of the specialties this region, the US Northeast, is the fiddlehead fern.

It is sold in gourmet markets, which saves the novice the trouble of identification. I do hesitate to add this food item to my list, because it is not easily digested by many people.

That said, even if you buy this in the store, follow my suggestions for determining if this plant is edible before preparing a large amount.

At most, there is a two-week window of opportunity to enjoy this wild delicacy. Once the ferns START to uncurl – it’s too late to gather them.

Yesterday’s hike began at a cornfield that even in winter brings the phrase amber waves of grain to mind. In this place there’s also a purple mountain majesty, with a set of trails protected from the prevailing winds.

Sun poured through the tears in the stratocumulus blanket. Flurries swirled intermittently; snow diffracts light differently than rain, so no rainbows. This nearly vertical hike is impossible in summer – too many bugs – and usually not navigable when it’s icy.

Venus was visible in the pre-dawn sky. It’s flurrying again. Red-winged black bird is back, so are the parasitic cowbirds.

I woke thinking about Rachel Carson.

At first I thought it might be one of the unwelcome parasitic cowbirds, but then I noticed the wing stripe.

Sure enough, it took flight from the bare maple branch – yes, a red-winged black bird!

I’ve overcome all obstacles. I”m primed to hike. The wind is manageable.

I woke all set for a long hike. First, the toilet broke. I got that fixed. Then the car died. I’m still sorting that out. I’ve got lots of work to do and a good book to read.

I went for a walk around my neighborhood. There are plenty of those green corridors – enough border area to support every animal from squirrels to deer.

The raspberry plants have new growth, violet leaves emerge in disturbed places – and there’s a huge sloped lawn where robins pluck worms and tiny dandelion flowers bloom far from car exhaust and garbage. I can either add flowers to my salad or make fritters.

One of my earliest memories is my Dad putting on a bright green shirt and grabbing his rake, hoe and early pea seeds to plant peas on St. Patrick’s Day.

These days, without a garden or even a yard, the best I can do is sprout peas.

I took a sheltered hike to a different lake yesterday. The wind was blowing more like 20 mph, so I knew I wouldn’t be blown to the next county. This morning the rhododendrons are not being bashed against my window and the blue jays, chickadees and squirrels have ventured back out.

It’s another blustery day, with 60-70 mph wind gusts. I’m
still dealing with my injured hand. I’ve
noticed over the last few weeks that we’ve had several days where high winds
dominated the weather. I wish I’d thought ahead to build an anemometer. I’d have exciting data.

I hike in all weather conditions, except storms and gale force winds. If I had to be
outdoors in nature, there are a few things I do to prepare.

This is another way to grow sprouts and works just as well for the urban gardener.

If you have already made a worm bin, then you may even have finished compost ready for this project.

If you don’t have a sunny window, use one or more grow lights, which are sold in greenhouse supplies stores.

In a week, you will have delicious greens, which complement many wild food recipes.

One of the blessings of sprouts is that all you need is one square foot of space to enjoy a wide variety of healthy, fresh-grown veggies, grown in less than a week.

The possibilities go far beyond alfalfa and mung beans and it takes just a jar and some porous materials to create a delicious complement to wild recipes.

You need organic seeds from the health food store. Planting seeds from the garden supply store are often treated with chemicals.

I have successful sprouted seeds in a 500-square-foot apartment. This is a great way to bring the great outdoors inside, especially if you don’t have access to a traditional garden.

You may also want to try growing sprouts in shallow soil. If you have a worm bin, then you already have soil.