
The biggest surprise of last weekend's Native Shores Rendezvous was the edibility—make that downright delectability—of the humble barnacle. On Sunday in the vicinity of Lincoln City we collected the biggest specimens we could find attached to California mussels (Mytilus californianus), a foraging twofer.

Of course, not every new foraging experience works out so well. Some wild foods are more appealing than others...


While the previous evening's feast had been composed almost entirely of foraged foods—and unadorned at that—the Sunday meal was more relaxed. With ample help I made a vat of New England Clam Chowder to get our cream, butter, and bacon quotient back into the red.
The workshop concluded Monday morning with a "weed walk" around the neighborhood, with John identifying all sorts of mostly non-native plants that the average person considers weeds and the forager might consider food. I think I can speak for the two-dozen of us who attended that we were exhausted by the end but also energized by the possibilities for gathering and cooking wild foods. I'll be attending more Wild Food Adventures in the future.
This has got to be about the funniest "downsides of foraging" clip I've ever seen/heard. This guy is so classic! His skepticism and disgust emanate from the screen like a smoke bomb. I mean, spitting out the sacred root of the wild parsnip (Are you sure it wasn't water hemlock?! It doesn't get much better . . .
ReplyDeleteHilarious video. Truly hilarious.
ReplyDeleteHey msilano..."this guy"? C'mon, it's Cora, don't pretend like you don't know him!
ReplyDeleteLaurie, nice blog. I'm adding you to my blogroll.