[ncnascarlady]

We're tossing around the idea of growing horseradish once we figure out a way to contain it. Otherwise it'll take over, and I honestly don't want an acre of it. The same with mint.

Rhubarb is on the list, but it can be cranky to grow and you really need to be careful with it. Raw it's all poisonous but the leaf stalks are edible after they're cooked. Loaded with vitamin C, makes a great pie or cobbler and pairs well with other fruits and berries.

Berries and fruits that are native to your area! Yeah, I know...well duh! But it's still worth mentioning. I'm told Polkweed is edible but I find it waaaay too bitter for me.

Scrounge around online for free downloads of the Foxfire books if you can't afford to buy them if you can find them. They're out there and loaded with real world information on foraging for wild edibles. They're Appalachian Mountains specific, but a lot of the "weeds" are common across the country.

 

[ncnascarlady]

Yup...mint goes in a raised bed for sure! I've got a planter that is perfect.

My biggest concern for the horseradish is getting the soil right. Containing it is easier. I'm thinking about getting a plastic 55 gallon barrel, cutting it length wise and growing in there.

 

[ncnascarlady]

Any herbs you grow will be beneficial. There are couple of tricks to get the most out of them.

The first is to only grow the herbs you like and are going to use! Don't waste space on things you "might want to try" unless you're going to container grow them.

Next is to container grow them so you can move them inside during the winter. Fresh herbs will be the best for you, so pick only what you need for each dish.

Dry anything you can't or don't want to move inside.

I'll add more later...weather...

 

[ncnascarlady]

I'm back. The weather sorted itself out and all is well.

Herbs...

Container gardening is the best way to get the most out of your herbs and just about all of the "culinary " ones do well that way. On the other hand, more medicinal herbs need more room to grow enough to be useful. The problem with that is they can take over your yard if you're not careful.

Some are a monumental pain in the butt to start from seed like rosemary. Or it could be me; I have trouble keeping it alive even if I buy a nice big healthy plant. That's why I bought a 3lb bag of dried, have a small jar in the kitchen and the rest is vacuum packed and in the freezer.

I think this is going end up being a running post kinda thing. Life has gotten busy !

 

[ncnascarlady]

Willow bark is going to be incredibly useful...

Willow bark Information | Mount Sinai - New York

Learn about Willow bark or find a doctor at Mount Sinai Health System.

www.mountsinai.org

.

https://www.indigo-herbs.co.uk/natural-health-guide/benefits/white-willow-bark

Willow — Elise Krohn | Wild Foods and Medicines

On the bands of the river, I am cloaked in a thicket of willow. Its protective branches reach out over the water, providing shade and shelter to birds, mammals and fish. Deer have grazed on the delicate spring growth. The sound of bees and other insects feasting on willow pollen and nectar hums...

wildfoodsandmedicines.com

 

[ncnascarlady]

Wild ginseng hunting has gotten so bad in the NC mountains that it's illegal and comes with serious fines and jail time. The "hunters" were stripping huge patches bare instead of carefully harvesting it so more would grow back.

 

[ncnascarlady]

Water source yes, cattails no...😕

 

[ncnascarlady]

How To Make Flour From Cattails

Cattails produce a high protein pollen which can be easily collected and used just like any flour you buy from the store.

www.survival-manual.com

 

[ncnascarlady]

Stinging Nettles. I've never tried them but here's some info

How to Forage Stinging Nettles | Wild + Whole

If you’ve ever accidently grazed against a stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) with your bare skin, you’ll know it. You’ll first feel a stinging sensation, quick and sharp, and then your skin will start to blister. The accompanying pain and itch can last for days. This is all thanks to the hollow...

www.themeateater.com

 

[ncnascarlady]

And Milkweed...

How to Forage Milkweed | Wild + Whole

Milkweed is a shining example of why we shouldn’t believe everything that we read. It carries with it, to this day, many myths that have traveled from mouth to ear and onward without fact-checking or personal experience. Myth number one is that it’s toxic, myth number two is that it’s bitter, and...

www.themeateater.com