Yesterday, after finishing preparation and direct seeding of two beds of New England Pie pumpkins, we went to run some errands. The finale of these errands was a peach and mulberry forage. These are the fruits of our labor:
There is a freezer on the farm large enough to store 2-3 dead mobsters, but instead it is nearly practically of foraged fruit. Smoothies, jams, compotes, and maybe some mulberry pancakes are down the road.
I think I first heard about foraging through a New York Times article, but I can’t find the original source. The article mentioned “Wildman” Steve Brill who takes people on foraging tours around the New York area. I am actually considering going on one in Prospect Park when I return home. First, I assumed they were expensive, but they are actually just a suggested donation of $20. The problem with touring Prospect Park with the Wildman is that I don’t live conveniently close to the park, so any gleaning or foraging skills I learn will be specific to an area far away from me. The next step of my life as a forager must be applying the skills learned on the farm and wherever else I pick up skills (Brill’s book, blog entries, more blog entries, and even an iPhone app) to the places where I live. Knowing how to identify edible wild plants is only half of the battle. You need to know where to look for them, and then where the best loot grows.
An internet search led me to information about wild foraging in New Jersey, but I think it is going to take my own footwork to actually glean a sizable amount of food from my New Jersey suburbs or wherever I end up.
one palate, many plates 