Foraging Food from the wilds of Maine (live, moving)
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I have read with interest about people who gather fiddleheads, and blueberries, and of course hunting game and even apples (ala the great apple debate in the debt thread)
I am wondering what other foods are growing wild. I am sure there are elderberries and black berries and raspberries.
Does anyone know anything about Wild Mushrooms in Maine. Is there a society that is into mushroom gathering.
I know that it is shrimp season and has been scallop season recently. How about mussels and are there quohogs in Maine.
How about nuts? Are there any wild foods that you harvest and use?
There are enough apple trees to supply all the apple pies in all the fairs across the country every day of the year. And that's just counting the trees on my property!
Other than those, I found raspberries, wild strawberries and blackberries. There was the single Indian cucumber that that I gobbled up. Thought there would be more, but just found that single one.
I managed to take a picture of an apple tree but my camera didn't catch the true number of apples that it bore. I think there were more apples than leaves on it, and a whole bunch of them on the ground under it.
Wow! Thank you msina!!!!! You are a sourcebook of info. That will keep me busy for awhile! I can't thank you enough.
Not that I expect to cut down on the food bill thru foraging.. ..but I love to know what is edible, and something of the history of local foods that people gathered. There is somethng special about taking somethng from the Bounty of the Earth...that no one planted or tilled or cultivated...that is just part of the interdependant web of which we all are part. To me, food growing wild, free,for the gathering, is evidence of "Grace".
I had forgotten about New England's wild Concord Grapes--when I was a kid, we used to gather them for mom who turned our afternoon of play, into jelly and juice and even Grape Pie.
I am also remembering gathering dandilion greens in the spring (being careful to avoid the bitter flowering ones).
I would really love to learn about mushrooms but without an expert am a bit afraid to trust the picture in a field guide book. I know that Dad used to get puff balls and he always said there are no poisonous imposters to worry about. We also used to gather the coral shaped fungi and mom cooked that. I know that there is an imposter Morel--I picked one once and even though I only tasted a tiny bit....I felt an odd sensation of paralysis in my mouth and throat!!!!!!
Around the end of September you can canoe down some of our placid streams in natural bogs and gather wild cranberries. Mattagodus and Baskahegan streams come to mind. Some ponds also have them on the shoreline. The Indians used to pull their canoes up under the edges of the bushes and knock the cranberries into the canoe with sticks. Then just scoop them up with a birchbark scoop and put them in baskets. We still do it pretty much the same way.
In the spring we gather fiddleheads. In Quebec they are called tete de viol which translated is head of the violin. Same thing. The fiddle heads are ready about the same time as the lobstermen start their season. Mmmmm good.
Around the end of September you can canoe down some of our placid streams in natural bogs and gather wild cranberries. Mattagodus and Baskahegan streams come to mind. Some ponds also have them on the shoreline. The Indians used to pull their canoes up under the edges of the bushes and knock the cranberries into the canoe with sticks. Then just scoop them up with a birchbark scoop and put them in baskets. We still do it pretty much the same way.
I think Maine will get me out door and keep me healthy. will i dare that is the question.
That sounds SO cool! I am glad that I have a kayak... two person variety even, and I am quit looking forward to doing this!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man
Around the end of September you can canoe down some of our placid streams in natural bogs and gather wild cranberries. Mattagodus and Baskahegan streams come to mind. Some ponds also have them on the shoreline. The Indians used to pull their canoes up under the edges of the bushes and knock the cranberries into the canoe with sticks. Then just scoop them up with a birchbark scoop and put them in baskets. We still do it pretty much the same way.
In the spring we gather fiddleheads. In Quebec they are called tete de viol which translated is head of the violin. Same thing. The fiddle heads are ready about the same time as the lobstermen start their season. Mmmmm good.
well, beginner luck, it was working first time.i ll try again
too cold for the wagon, trailer needed
moving up
well, it's not working.
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