17 Mar Thu 2011
Eating "Wild" from Your Yard
I am homeschooling our 5th grade son this year, so we are constantly looking for ways to find excitement outside of the textbooks! Being the only two humans around for miles for the majority of the day can be tiresome! Since our family loves to garden/farm, and since we have plenty of area to roam, Charles and I thought it would be fun to prepare a meal from wild plants available this month.
Using the book, Edible Wild Plants by Lee Allen Peterson, we were able to identify and harvest at least a dozen available plants just within our yard!! Imagine eating fresh blackberry and rose shoots, oxalis, wood violets, dandelions, clover, and more Each plant has its own delicious taste and texture. Furthermore, the variety of colors makes the mixture appealing to the eye.
Our meal consisted of wild salad, dandelion fritters, and cooked wild greens, We also prepared "teas" or infusions with many of the leaves and petals, which was a pleasing experience, as well. Both of us felt satisfied with the tastes, smells, and sights on our plates.
Discovering the bounty of foods at our feet was exciting and educational, but also gave us time in the sunny outdoors together. God has truly blessed our planet and it is obvious in nature that He has met our every need if we only get on our knees and see it. AMEN!