Wild edibles

weedstoner420

weedstoner420

Well-Known Member
What is everyone foraging for these days? Let's see the wild fruits, veggies, and fungi from your neck of the woods.

This time of year it's all about the brambles - black raspberries are basically done fruiting, but wineberries are currently in season, then blackberries later in the summer.

Some pics from this morning's bike ride - a mix of wineberries and (mostly) unripe blackberries on a local bike path (mid-Atlantic US):
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weedstoner420

weedstoner420

Well-Known Member
Phytoplankton said:
It’s a little early, but I harvest a couple gallons of blackberries/Himalaya berries, and put up 16-24 pints of jam. I also collect anise seeds (licorice) for cooking and you can also make anisette by adding the seeds and sugar to vodka. I used to collect morels and chanterelles, but pickens have been slim lately.
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Interesting, I hadn't heard of Himalayan blackberries. Is that a west coast thing? They sound kinda like how wineberries are on the east coast, escaped from captivity and now an invasive species.

Did not know anise was a wild plant either, go figure. Thanks for sharing!
 
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Phytoplankton

Well-Known Member
Himalaya berries look/taste like blackberries, the plants also look very similar. The difference has to do with the leaflets and whether the leaves are alternating or opposed, they are not native, but are everywhere. Honestly most people don’t even know they’re not.blackberries when they’re picking them. I believe the anise is native, it grows all over my area, basically a big weed!
 
weedstoner420

weedstoner420

Well-Known Member
Definitely an important part of your post-apocalyptic urban survival kit, Portulaca oleracea, aka Purslane. A delicious and nutritious succulent found in sidewalk cracks and neglected planter boxes from June to September. Yummmmm
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weedstoner420

weedstoner420

Well-Known Member
weedstoner420 said:
Definitely an important part of your post-apocalyptic urban survival kit, Portulaca oleracea, aka Purslane. A delicious and nutritious succulent found in sidewalk cracks and neglected planter boxes from June to September. Yummmmm
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Here's a nice little patch, living its best life in the crack between the asphalt and curb.
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If you zoom in on the left side, there's also some spotted spurge (Euphorbia maculata) mixed in. The spurge looks really similar to purslane from a distance, but the leaves aren't as fleshy and succulent, and have a bit of red where they connect to the stem. If you break the stem, some white sap will run out, too. Avoid the spurge, it's bad news for your tummy...
 
Nrk.cdn

Nrk.cdn

Well-Known Member
weedstoner420 said:
Definitely an important part of your post-apocalyptic urban survival kit, Portulaca oleracea, aka Purslane. A delicious and nutritious succulent found in sidewalk cracks and neglected planter boxes from June to September. Yummmmm
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It tastes a bit bitter if i remember. I will try again as it tries to overtake my garden on a yearly basis.
 
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Phytoplankton

Well-Known Member
weedstoner420 said:
View attachment 5397158
Spotted (and eaten) on a bike ride today. Probably the first "wild" fruit I was introduced to as a kid, yummmm...
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I remember 60 years ago, when I was a kid, my grandparents had a mullberry tree, actually on the neighbors property, but most of it hung over the fence. When we'd visit, I'd sit under that bad boy and chow down, de-lish!
 
curious2garden

curious2garden

Well-Known Mod
Staff member
Phytoplankton said:
I remember 60 years ago, when I was a kid, my grandparents had a mullberry tree, actually on the neighbors property, but most of it hung over the fence. When we'd visit, I'd sit under that bad boy and chow down, de-lish!
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Our neighbors had one and I'd climb in to hide and lay up there snacking and reading a book. I planted two in my yard and harvest fruit for my birds. They love it, especially the Raven aviary they are under it so they can pluck them from the tree.
 
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Phytoplankton

Well-Known Member
curious2garden said:
Our neighbors had one and I'd climb in to hide and lay up there snacking and reading a book. I planted two in my yard and harvest fruit for my birds. They love it, especially the Raven aviary they are under it so they can pluck them from the tree.
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You have ravens!!! How cool, they’re smart birds. I had a pet crow, also smart, but a lot smaller. I found him, must of been blown out of the nest. Had to teach him to eat and drink, and later to fly! I could put him in a tree walk away, then hold up a piece of dog food and he’d fly to me and land on my arm. He could almost talk.
 
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Oldguyrealy

Well-Known Member
Phytoplankton said:
I remember 60 years ago, when I was a kid, my grandparents had a mullberry tree, actually on the neighbors property, but most of it hung over the fence. When we'd visit, I'd sit under that bad boy and chow down, de-lish!
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You do not want to go for a roll at night with a woman might be rolling in Mullberries.

Got many wild greens to start with Polk, Wild Lettuce, Lambs Quarter and many more.

Persimmons, Elder Berries, Blueberries, Paw Paws are good.

Bunch of Mushrooms are good.
 
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Phytoplankton

Well-Known Member
Oldguyrealy said:
You do not want to go for a roll at night with a woman might be rolling in Mullberries.

Got many wild greens to start with Polk, Wild Lettuce, Lambs Quarter and many more.

Persimmons, Elder Berries, Blueberries, Paw Paws are good.

Bunch of Mushrooms are good.
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I've always wantd to try paw paws, heard they're good, but I've never been in an area that they grow in. Apparently they don't keep or travel well, which is why they're not farmed.
 
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