Posts Tagged ‘Forage’

Purslane I know a great deal about foraging at this point in my gardening “career.”  But there’s always more to discover. A few weeks back, I learned of a new edible from my friend Melissa Draugsvold. We were at the Beach 91st Community Garden watering our adjacent plots. She pointed out the purslane that popped up between her lettuce crop. Purslane (also known as little hogweed, pigweed, pusley) is an annual in our garden zone 7.  This succulent can grow in sandy soil and resists drought. You’ll see it everywhere if you look […]

Every summer I end up snacking on my serviceberry trees while I’m doing garden work. This year, I wanted to use the fruit in a proper way. I got out the ladder and harvested as many as I could. I left the berries on the very high branches. Partly for the birds and partly out of laziness.  I gathered 9 cups! And there are still more on my tree in the front garden. Use a scissor to clip the berry clusters  I decided to make juice. I muddled the berries […]

As I mentioned last week, I want to elaborate on a few more edible plants I discovered at Fort Tilden while on a walking tour with naturalist, and Northern Eastern forager expert Wildman Steve Brill.* Barbarea (Wintercress or Yellow Rocket).  We stumbled upon a low growing plant in a rosette formation. Brill directed us to tear a leaf and he asked what flavor it reminds us of. I thought it tasted spicy. Someone blurted out, mustard. “Correct!” Brill said with excitement, “This native edible is an Herbaceous plant (herb or […]

His appearance is what you’d expect: utilitarian. The Wildman is wearing a long-sleeved blue windbreaker and khaki pants with multiple pockets. A strap holds a shovel and an iPad. A safari hat shades his face. His fingernails have already been in the soil.  “Take a quick look at my books and then we’ll get started,” he says. Several cooking and foraging books are laid out on the front window of his dusty car. As the parents get their kids’ jackets zipped and the snacks packed up, the Wildman breaks out […]

As the name indicates, Bayberry grows around coastal areas such as bays and bogs. Matt picked this for me a few days ago in Jamaica Bay. Who needs the florist? Just forage for a bouquet! Below are other beautiful plants you can find around the Jamaica Bay area. The leaves and dried fruit of the Bayberry plant are aromatic. It’s given Greek name Myrike means fragrance. If you crush the dried berry, a strong scent will release. Bayberry shrubs therefore are widely used in soaps, candles and oils but it has more purpose, such as insect repellent. It is used […]