Wild Food Foragers vs Ecologists

[urbpan]

Over the past month I've become slowly aware of a separation between two communities that should be closely aligned. It's similar to the division between cat-lovers and ecologists, but with its own distinctions

Comments

[kryptyd]

This is a very interesting post. I always thought that anyone who cared hated all invasives and wanted to get rid of them. I've also never heard knotweed being described as useful for anything other than planting it under disputed roads (like the one they put through the Hill of Tara). Any time I ever heard crusties discussing this tactic I tried to dissuade them, because we certainly don't need anyone purposefully spreading knotweed around Ireland or the UK (which are the two places I've heard road protesters discussing this tactic in).

[gigglingwizard]

Young knotweed has a taste and crunch like sour apples. As I'm allergic to raw apples (and raw pears, plums, cherries, peaches, etc.), I'm delighted to have a bit of knotweed growing near my house. It also makes a nice privacy screen, at least in the summer.

[asakiyume]

fascinating! The only time I tried cooking it, it became too mushy. Maybe, though, I should try making a pie out of it? (Do you have any recipes you particularly like that you could share?)

Also, when you say young shoots, how big is too big, in your estimation?

[gigglingwizard]

I've never tried cooking it. Half the appeal of it for me is that it's something sweet and crunchy that I can eat fresh.

I've been cutting stalks that are 2-4 feet high and eating the bottom foot or so. They are very fibrous, so I just chew them up to get the juice and a little bit of pulp out, then spit out the fibers. I usually peel off the outside first, or I split it open and scrape the inside off with my teeth.

[asakiyume]

Wow, I never thought to try it raw! There's a stand by our town library; I'm going to go try it (and impress my family: they always knew I like foraging but this will show them I'm *hardcore*)