WriterByNature.com

March 14, 2010 7:55 am

I am not immune from falling into the trap that humans have some kind of superiority as a species. We’ve spent tens of thousands of years manipulating and cultivating other species. Just when I thought we’d succeeded in driving certain species of plants to extinction, the plants have written their own chapter in this story.

Without any corporate investment, amaranth has become resistant to RoundUp. Take that – Monsanto.

Back to humans, Michael Pollan believes that the Center for Food Safety has the  necessary scientific evidence that will help farmers and the rest of us fight back against Monsanto. Our elected officials will not do it for us, so we’ll have to do it ourselves.

Shakespeare had it right. What fools we mortals be.

March 7, 2010 7:01 am

I’m completing our CSA farm application and finalizing the COMA walk schedule for this season.

While everyone else is focused on the Oscars, I’m watching a documentary that I doubt would be nominated, not because of the production values, but because of the content.

What’s wrong with GMO’s – genetically modified organisms? Decide for yourself. This film is free online: The World According to Monsanto. (more…)

February 16, 2010 8:37 am

I have been a Michael Pollan fan since I read The Omnivore’s Dilemma. In his current book, Food Rules, Rule Number 31 is: Eat Wild Foods When You Can. I want to hug him. He gets it.

This latest book follows In Defense of Food which suggests we: “Eat food. Not too much Mostly plants.” Ironically, Pollan’s complete book titles are longer than the core message. His skillful writing  keeps me reading.

I aspire to Pollan’s mastery of word conservation and his diplomacy. What he calls “edible foodlike substances,” I call “corporate chemical concoctions.” (more…)

February 1, 2010 7:15 am

I’ve just added Abundantly Wild: Collecting And Cooking Wild Edibles Of The Upper Midwest by Teresa Marrone to my booklist.

Don’t let the title fool you, much of the information and recipes in this book can be found in my local area, New York’s Hudson Valley. (more…)

January 29, 2010 12:56 pm

I collected a large amount of  tree ear (Auricularia auricula) and black jelly roll (Exidia glandulosa) mushrooms during this past week’s January thaw. Of course they may all be Exidia glandulosa.

As mycology evolves and knowledge is gained, much of what was once published is now being revisited. I’ve been enjoying my first fungi of 2010 in a rich mushroom soup perfect for a bitter cold winter days.

When everything else is dormant or frozen, it’s nice to find something new to go with my pine needle tea.

December 23, 2009 7:53 am

There are few things that would lure me out of the woods when conditions are perfect for both cross-country skiing and tracking. Cookies made from acorn flour and dipped in chocolate and black walnuts  – I never had a chance.

Baking does not come naturally to me, so I appreciate the mastery of fellow forager Jim Capossela. I don’t know him well enough to even hint that I’d like the recipe.

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December 8, 2009 6:15 am

Why do I continue practicing wilderness skills, when lightweight camping gear makes life outdoors much easier?

In a word, RESPECT. If I understand how everything works, then if my gear fails, I have the choice to create what I need. If you understand fire by friction, you don’t take that butane lighter for granted.

That attitude, leads to action, which builds my confidence, which makes spending time outdoors fun.

For the past two months, I’ve been meeting with fellow wilderness skills enthusiasts Peter Cutul, Joanna Dickey and Paul Tappenden for an extended skills-building session. (more…)

November 30, 2009 12:04 pm

This seaweed is called Glasswort (Salicornia sp.):

The red color is typical of what you find in autumn. Since the green glasswort was floating in shallow water, which is still comparatively warm, maybe it has not had time to turn red.

The recipes I found were almost entirely pickle recipes. For me, pickling spices are a combination of whatever I happen to have in the house. Here is the recipe I made: (more…)

November 26, 2009 8:11 pm

This holiday has got to rank up there with my steam pit Thanksgiving experience. While most of my fellow Americans were gathering their foods from retail stores, George, Amy and I enjoyed foraging two coastal areas rich in wild edibles.

I expected to find glasswort and Irish moss seaweeds. I’m still figuring out what to do with them. I didn’t expect to find more fresh oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) than I’ve ever seen in my life.

Even their spore prints were festive:

These fresh, insect-free, aromatic, abundant, mushrooms grew in greater abundance and larger diameter than I have ever seen. I could not take enough pictures to convey the fact that we may have gathered 15-20 pounds.

As soon as I walked in the door, I got busy cooking. First I  roasted two pans of oyster mushrooms, (sliced and coated with olive oil).  They’re a crisp, tasty snack right out of the oven. The leftovers were mixed in with steamed kale.

Next, I added chopped fresh oyster mushrooms to stuffing. Finally, I steamed oyster mushrooms and garlic in kale broth. I’ll freeze this for winter use.

I still have a refrigerator full of oyster mushrooms to share.

I am blessed in so many other ways – how do I begin to express my gratitude?

November 19, 2009 9:01 am

Originally planted to attract birds, some people now consider autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) invasive. They produce berries which range in flavor from sour to pleasantly tart. It’s best to wait until the berries are plump and dark red before harvesting.

I made the following recipe, put it in the back of the top shelf of my refrigerator. I’m still enjoying  a spoonful on toast or nut bread. Here’s that recipe: (more…)