AK Spring Wild Edibles Class (Meet the Plants)

Comments from a student.

On 10 May, AK students met with AK foraging afictionado "Hue" in Greenbelt Park to discover edible plants and have a few blood seeking tick encounters under a rain threatening sky. The class discovered many edible plants growing in the park and were amazed to also discover that many grew in their own backyards. Hue also brought some Ramps (Allium tricoccum - Wild Leeks) and Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) pie (yes, it was yummy!) from his recent foraging class in West Virginia the weekend before for us to taste. The Ramp tasted like a cross between an onion and garlic... raw it was powerful, but I think it would be excellent cooked. The Knotweed pie was reminiscent of rhubarb, very tasty. I had wished there was more.

Allium tricoccum, known as ramps, ramson, wild leek, or ail des bois (french), is a member of the onion family (Alliaceae). They are found from the U.S. state of South Carolina to Canada and are especially popular in the cuisine of the US state of West Virginia and the Canadian province of Quebec when they emerge in the springtime. Found in groups with broad, smooth, light green leaves, often with deep purple or burgundy tints on the lower stems and a scallion-like bulb strongly rooted just beneath the surface of the soil. Both the white root and the broad green leaves are edible.

Japanese Knotweed is an invasive plant native to eastern Asia in Japan, China and Korea. The young shoots and stems are edible as a lemony spring vegetable, with a flavor similar to mild rhubarb. In some locations, semi-cultivating Japanese knotweed for food has been used as a means of controlling knotweed populations that invade sensitive wetland areas and drive out the native vegetation. Harvest these hardy plants to the ground and eat them whenever you can. Now worries cause they will return next year.

Among the edible plants we discussed we also found and examined poison hemlock and learned how to distinguish it from other commonly found edible plants in Greenbelt Park; Wild Carrot and Yarrow (fennel looks them most like poison hemlock, but is not found in the park). In ancient Greece, hemlock was used to poison condemned prisoners. The most famous victim of hemlock poisoning is the philosopher Socrates. Sometimes the characteristic red spots found on the stem and branches are referred to as "the blood of Socrates" in reference to his death.

A useful tip to determine whether a plant is poison hemlock rather than wild carrot or fennel, which it resembles, is to crush some leaves and smell the result. Wild carrot smells like carrot and fennel smells like anise or licorice, whereas the smell of poison hemlock is often described as mouse-like or musty. Considering the high toxicity of poison hemlock, if the plant cannot be identified it must be discarded.

All in all, throughout the day we identified and sometimes tasted over thirty wild edible plants. Definitely, we learned so much that I'm not sure I will remember all of it and hope to take the class again next year. I especially liked sampling the cattail shoots. Nice flavor.

The overnight heavy rain was threatening all day with sprinkles once or twice, but it was welcomed weather. The rain kept the ticks on the ground rather than waiting for us on the tail grasses hope to catch a ride when one of us walked by. Ticks have been such a nuisance at the park in recent years because of the high deer population, short mild winters and dry summers. Only after some afternoon sunshine did we begin to have problems with tick... good thing Hue duct taped everyone's pants to their shoes and conducted many tick checks.