Winter foraging

[little_john]

Does anyone have any good ideas for edible plants in the late-winter, early-spring months (aka now), specifically in the central California Sierras? I'm going backpacking up there next week but have been hard-pressed to find any information about what I might find to eat. Thanks!

[Ranger andy]

ya the in side of a pine trees bark is edible and is alway around it tast good!!!

[MatthewnOK]

I'm not sure in california, but around here the dandelions are starting to pop up. They taste pretty good just remember to clean them with purified water.

[little_john]

Ate a dandelion head on campus today actually! probably not a great idea considering it could have had any manner of herbicides on it, but I'm still kickin'. Thanks for the advice! I will try the pine bark for sure

[canid]

i've yet to see many spring plants emerging in the lower cascade/foothill region, but the irises are blooming, and that is one of the indicators for the spring season beginning.

there was a good deal of miner's lettuce up along the water courses, and there are tons of acorns on the ground and many where still in sound condition.

for the very careful; there are buckeyes still on the ground aswell.

if you can locate them [we don't have many in the foothills near me], the spring shoots of blackberry can certainly be eaten, and the young, still tender leaves aswell.

if you have a fishing liscence, many of the streams have crawfish, which can be gathered by hand at need.

[little_john]

Thanks canid, that is good to know. i wasn't familiar with miners lettuce but after a little research that sounds like a great thing to look out for. buckeyes are an interesting idea... i've heard of people eating them but never tried it. they are eaten in a porridge after several boilings correct?

[canid]

yes, but like many 'famine foods' used aboriginally, the preperation is important, and in this case, doing it wrong would be serious. they must be crushed, chopped or otherwise made thin to get the water to seep completely through them or toxins will not be leached. they have also been used for fish poison, and could probalby be used for washing/sanitation.

[Styric]

[QUOTE=canid;103604]

for the very careful; there are buckeyes still on the ground aswell.

QUOTE]

Those buckeyes are very useful. The ground up nut can be sprinkled into small pools of water that contain fish. The affects of the powder will stun the fish and they will rise to the surface momentarily allowing for snatch and grab with a net or other device. I am not recommending this as it is illegal of course. I don't remember the name of the tribe but is an old ways survival method. I will research the tribal info.

[Ranger andy]

check this out hope it helps http://homepage2.nifty.com/shizen/recreation/edibleplant.html

[Styric]

Cool link Ranger andy! That was a great article.

[laughing beetle]

Dude! He's camping in California, not Japan!!:confused:

[Ranger andy]

sorry lol but u can find the same stuff there

[Ranger andy]

http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/index.html this is also a nice web site

[little_john]

Hey, info on Japan is great too. I spent a good portion of my childhood in Japan, so it is very natsukashii (memorable) to see those pictures.

I have been trying to get more information on buckeyes so I can identify them but have been having trouble. any links/ideas with good images?

[Styric]

Hey, info on Japan is great too. I spent a good portion of my childhood in Japan, so it is very natsukashii (memorable) to see those pictures.

I have been trying to get more information on buckeyes so I can identify them but have been having trouble. any links/ideas with good images?

I used to have a bunch. Those buckeyes are everywhere. Kind of ugly tree. Very useful though. I will post some links tonight if I can.

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

Does anyone have any good ideas for edible plants in the late-winter, early-spring months (aka now), specifically in the central California Sierras? I'm going backpacking up there next week but have been hard-pressed to find any information about what I might find to eat. Thanks!

the mustards are coming up. winter cress, wild onion, and mabe dandylions.

[Ranger andy]

why thanks and cool japan cool

[nell67]

Buckeyes look similar to the chestnut

[Styric]

Here are the links I promised about the Buckeye.

http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=188

http://www.survival.com/fish.htm

[Ranger andy]

cool sites styric! ! !

[SARKY]

fiddle heads might be coming up right about now, take a little butter with you.