Comment

Comment by Sandra on July 15, 2011 at 7:57pm

Definitely I want a CD!  I sent you a PM.

Thanks for the info on the thistle.  You're an encyclopedia of information!

Comment by Alan Russo on July 14, 2011 at 5:38pm

As far as I know all members of the Genus Cirsium are edible. This includes Bull, Common,Sow,Yellow and all the other 'common' Thistles. Where I live the most common Thistle is the Nodding Thistle which is actually in a different genus but is the one I use most often as a edible and medicinal plant just because it grows all over my property. The things I warn people about are one, don't go by common names,  I have seen people call plants Thistle when they are not, not all prickly plants are Thistles (like Wild Prickly Lettuce or Teasel just to name two common mistakes )Two, be sure you are collecting in a non polluted place as many plants can store things like heavy or toxic metals and pesticides. For the roots, collect from the first year plants in the early spring or fall, because the second year the plants will flower and the root will become woody and not very palatable. Basically if in the Fall you find a basal rosette without a spent flower stalk it is a first year plant and is fair game.

Yes, I do Wild Edible and Medicinal Plant workshops (among others)when I can get enough people to sign up which has been far more difficult in NC than I ever dreamed it would be. The economy has not helped as people don't have as much expendable cash as they used too.

PS I sent you a private e-mail recently about the CD

Comment by Sandra on July 12, 2011 at 8:15pm

Btw, Alan, do you run any courses or classes?

Comment by Sandra on July 12, 2011 at 8:14pm

Those thistle roots looked good (and the dandelion greens, too) - are there any caveats in gathering thistle roots I should be aware of?  And we're talking about the common purple thistle, right?

Comment by Sandra on July 12, 2011 at 8:06pm

We had bamboo in my back yard when I was a kid growing up in New Mexico.  I loved it, loved playing in it and making tipis using it.

No, I hadn't checked out that post, Alan.  Will do it right this minute - thanks!

Comment by Alan Russo on July 11, 2011 at 6:43am

Welcome William.

Can't wait to hear more of the Ethnobotany of the UK as I have no idea of the wild plants that live there.

One of my favorite plants is Bamboo and my plan was to surround my property with the tallest biggest clumping bamboo that would grow in my area. Unfortunately the price was more than I could afford so it never happened. I still dream!

Sandra, did you ever read my post that includes  Thistle? http://ethnobotanist128.blogspot.com/2011/03/dandelion-greensdandel...

Comment by Sandra on July 9, 2011 at 8:53pm

Grass soup - now there's an idea I haven't heard of before.  Not sure I would like it, but I'm sure it would depend on the types of grasses.  The Solway Coast is where in the UK?  North - east, west?  -24 C. (-11 F.) and you grew mountain bamboo there?? 

Does your hobby include using plants only in recipes or utilitarian and/or medicinal uses as well?  I love thistle and all its many properties, don't know why I like this plant, I just do.  Still learning about the thistle - I'm sure there is much more to discover about it.

Comment by William (Rustler) Saunders on July 9, 2011 at 6:16pm

This group will be great for me as I am a Horticulturalist, I specialise in Hedgerow, grasses, bamboo, herbs and orgainc gardening, as just a hobby now.

I recently moved onto the Solway Coast- marsh flats! in Cumbria Uk, so it's virgin gardening for me! as most of my plants were killed off in Winter 2010/2011 permafrost of -24c..even the mountain bamboos were killed off- herbs non existent. The new place has wild sloe's-loganberries,cob-nuts, rose hips, comfrey, elderflowers and as yet unidentified plants/ wild foods..

Plenty of homework to do (book reading) and preparing for the pot, hopefully? Anyone have recipes for thistle and grass soups? worth a try

Comment by Alan Russo on June 24, 2011 at 6:26pm

Hey, made some "Wild" Pancakes today using Yellow Dock seeds for flour. Check it out:  http://ethnobotanist128.blogspot.com/

Comment by Sandra on June 23, 2011 at 2:37pm

OK, Alan, I get it now.  Never knew the brown part was called the flowers.  But it makes sense now that you say it.  I need to get to the cattail patch early next year to collect pollen I think.

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