WriterByNature.com

July 31, 2007 6:40 pm

I love it when my writing life is enriched by a new word, especially one that relates to my lifestyle and values. My attempt to eat food growing locally makes me a locavore.

I am a member of Harmony Farm, a local CSA. They are very happy to let me take the weeds in addition to my share of freshly harvested vegetables.

Most people attempting to eat locally are dealing with farm-raised food. But some of them are finding that foraging provides added benefits.

I went back to one of my usual hiking trails knowing that I would find wineberries:

Black trumpet mushrooms:

And staghorn sumac tea:

These delicacies, added to my share of the farm harvest, means that more than half the food on my table was grown within 35 miles of where I live.

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July 30, 2007 6:29 pm

When I set out earlier today, my goal was to find:

• Wood sorrel
• Purslane
• Black trumpet mushrooms
• Oyster mushrooms
• Wild blueberries
• Wineberries
• Huckleberries

I decided to challenge myself a bit, so today’s hike was in Minnewaska State Park, about 35 miles north of my usual haunts. I did not find the black trumpets, but I did find the good red russulas and oysters. I also did not find the wineberries, but I did find a few ripe blackberries in addition to the blueberries and huckleberries.

My big surprise was the tiny milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) pods I found.

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4:56 am

As my knowledge increases, the way I look at nature and the way I hike have changed. Here’s one way to spend part of a summer day. (more…)

July 28, 2007 1:12 pm

Thanks to my COMA walk last week, I learned to identify several new edible mushrooms, including the black trumpet (Craterellus fallax).

I sautéed them in olive oil and ate them.

This has been one of those wonderful, bountiful days. I had planned to wait several months to read the final Harry Potter, but as it turns out, my request makes me the first to read my local library’s copy.

Bring on the thunderstorms. I have a fresh, new copy of a well-written saga. Maybe the combination of black trumpets, red russulas, a well-written fiction will stimulate yet untapped creative connections in my own brain.

I’m really glad that J.K. Rowling is richer than the Queen of England. It’s affirming to think that in a video game world, this writer’s well-crafted stories have turned non-readers into readers.

But I digress. Here are today’s wild edibles:

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July 27, 2007 1:11 pm

Rain, heat and humidity are just what mushrooms need. I added my morning harvest of gem studded puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum)

And oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus)

to other sautéed veggies for a tasty lunch.

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July 26, 2007 2:33 pm

Enjoying nature is in the little things, like this insect (I think it’s a firefly) on a laurel node. Dawn and dusk are the best times for hiking; that’s when I see the most wildlife activity. (more…)

July 23, 2007 4:54 am

There are no words to express my gratitude at discovering COMA. I’ve learned that after morels, mushroom season goes on hiatus until summer kicks in and it rains.

Yesterday’s walk yielded four varieties of edible mushrooms and more than a dozen other fungi. (more…)

July 20, 2007 2:25 pm

Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is a choice edible according to the National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms.

Now that I have confirmed my find, it’s time to cook and eat this beauty. (more…)

July 18, 2007 4:27 am

The workshops I attended at this event gave me an opportunity to meet and learn from dedicated naturalists.

Beyond the workshops, there were hands-on opportunities to learn trail-building skills, hikes, excursions to area events, vendors, book signings, and the most patient and helpful support staff anywhere.

I got pointers on nature photography, hanging my hammock, carrying less weight in my pack and fitting my hiking boots. I got a taste of fly fishing, archaeology, and political advocacy.

I really enjoyed spending a few days surrounded by like-minded people wearing cargo pants and hiking boots. The fact that people are willing to travel from Ohio, Indiana, Florida and every state on the AT, gives me hope that we can keep the planet from becoming entirely paved over.

It takes a great deal of cooperation – and just the right combination of vision and attention to detail – to host an event like this. The New York New Jersey Trail Conference, Ramapo College and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy are amazing. (more…)

July 10, 2007 4:34 am

The common cattail (Typha latifolia )  is useful in all areas of survival.

I have always enjoyed eating the early spring shoots. I’ve woven the leaves into mats for sitting, added pollen to baked goods, harvested the mature stalks for shelter insulation, and gathered the mature seed heads for pillow stuffing.

This time of year, I love nibbling the shoots, raw in salad or steamed.

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