Cooking & Baking
Related: About this forumWell another spring in the Prairie - That means
Another spring without Ramps or Morel mushrooms
Harvesting those every spring was a part of my past life in the hills.
They were part of what I was raised to consider the common wealth of the Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania - you know, plants to forage, fish to catch and game to hunt.
My Great Uncle Red (no hillbilly jokes if you please, I never heard a single soul ever call him by his given name) would take me into the woods to get mushrooms, ramps, sassafras root and wild horseradish.
He passed right after my 13th birthday, we were planning a trip into the Allegheny National forest.
The Dogwoods were in full bloom when he passed. He missed it by 2 weeks...
Because "2 weeks after the last dogwood blossom up until a week after the oaks start dropping their spinners" were what he considered peak foraging season - although the ramps' leaves were up quicker than that.
Then, mid June until late September was berry season - Mulberries, Black Berries and Raspberries - gathering these was kid work.
There was whole bunch of berries lost the first time the kids went out to gather them. Of course, the laxative effect of fresh raspberries reminded us the rest of the summer to bring most of them home for jam and pies, not gorge ourselves while picking.
There were other plants but those weren't as important. For instance, my Grandmother loved fiddleheads and ate them plain or pickled... I wasn't that fond of them myself.
Out here on the Prairie there just isn't as much woodland, the climate is different and I am not young and energetic anymore. I just miss the wild food sometimes. I miss the hills and hollers.
Ohiogal
(31,669 posts)It's indeed a beautiful place. I can understand why you miss it.
Thanks for sharing your memories with us.
The Polack MSgt
(13,159 posts)Even though I didn't live a comfortable life back in SW PA... I miss the good and forgive the bad I suppose.
Thanks for reading and yes I agree, the forests of Pennsylvania are some of the most beautiful places on earth
lunasun
(21,646 posts)grow around here in the forests with thier sticks
Spring What no rhubarb ? Spring means rubarb to me
Ramps - what is that? A friend and I are looking for something the "old people ' used 'to pull ' that started with an r . I'll have to look that up . Lots of dandelions here for uses and giant horseradish like you mentioned
Spinners sooner than I imagine will be on my drive way I suppose as time drifts on and winter finally becomes a far away memory . Lasted long enough !!!
The leaves are on the mulberry tree and blackberry bush here but no berries yet that's about it .
Have a happy spring
https://www.picclickimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/66cAAOSwcgNZCJ3y/$/Hand-Carved-Morel-Mushroom-Walking-Hiking-Stick-Fishing-_1.jpg
The Polack MSgt
(13,159 posts)But it has broad flat leaves not long tubes. Tastes like a mix of garlic and scallions
We would cut the top half inch or so of the bulb wth the leaves - leaving the roots and the rest of the bulb to resprout.
The leaves were what we wanted any way the bulbs are really strong
I never had a stick. I was young.
The adults had walking staves because it's steep and uneven where i grew up.
Thanx for reading