Vermont Archives - Page 2 of 2

Spring is here in Vermont, and the foraging season is off to a good start.

Well it has been quite the cold and wet spring here in Stowe, VT. I’m not sure on the stats, but it certainty feels like the coldest spring in the last decade. This unusually cold weather has created a slower start for the region in regards to vegetative growth, and I would estimate most foragable foods to be delayed in their appearances by 1-2 weeks.

Despite this two week delay, the early spring foraging season got off to a success with all the regular Vermont wild foods making their first appearances of the season.

Fiddleheads

Yes, fiddleheads of the Ostrich Fern are always a treat, and probably the most popular foraged item of the Spring in Vermont and New England. This year I collected about 2 dozen fiddleheads, all from the ostrich fern, and ate them spaced out over a few different meals. If you haven’t read up on sustainable foraging practices, you can here – and learn that these small meals are my favorite way to practice sustainable foraging.

Ramps

Fitting in with fiddleheads, the ramp or wild leek is a close second for most popular foraged food in New England and Vermont. In Canada as well, as Montreal has made foraging for ramps illegal in order to protect them from the ramp(ant) over harvesting that has been occurring in that region. They are delicious for sure, but you really don’t need many to toss into any dish you are making seeing as they have a strong onion and garlic flavor. I tossed a few into soups, pastas, and eggs this Spring, and it was fantastic. No need to make that pesto.

Morels

The fabled morel is probably the most sought after of all the wild mushrooms in Vermont. For good reason too. I’ll admit it is probably my favorite tasting mushroom. Just heating it up in water is enough to enjoy the wonderful delicate mushroom flavor this prized wild food has. I found a handful of morels so far this season in Stowe, VT with two of the biggest I have ever seen.

things to do in vermont — Foraging for Morels in Vermont

Violets

I love when the masses of violets take over the lawns across New England. In Vermont you would be hard pressed to find a single lawn without at least one lonesome violet growing in it. I love the violet flowers and will toss them onto any spring themed dish I make.

purple flower in vermont — Violets are beautiful

DANDELIONS

Speaking of the edible lawnscape, dandelions can’t be missed come spring in New England. They are nutritious, but there leaves turn bitter too quick. I prefer the flowers.

things to do in stowe, VT — Dandelions and Violets for days

japanese knotweed

Oh the knotweed. I used to chop it down as a kid for fun hacking my way through the endless armies of it, but it is now everywhere including the USDA list of invasive species. Luckily it is a pretty decent edible in the spring when the reddish green shoot tastes like a mix of rhubarb and asparagus. Don’t worry about over harvesting this one, but do be careful not to spread it.

what to do in stowe vermont — cooking Japanese knotweed

pheasant back mushroom

The pheasant back or dryad’s saddle mushroom is by no means my favorite wild edible out there. It pops out in early spring, and it is certainly a beautiful mushroom, but it feels like a battle to try and get anything tender enough to eat off of it. That texture problem combined with a sort of funky cucumber flavor makes this mushroom pretty low on the list of choice. This spring I tried a couple sauted in butter, and even made some flavored water.

Dryad's saddle in Vermont — The Pheasant Back Mushroom in all its beauty

ASPARAGUS

Although not naive to America, it has been here a mighty long time (1700’s). I found asparagus growing in the woods of a friends yard, and on the coast at the beach. Everybody knows asparagus is delicious.

stinging nettle

This vicious spring green packs quite the punch, in both the taste and nutrition department. Also if you touch the needles it will sting you with poison, which is coincidentally also how you identify this weed. I think this is one of the best tasting wild greens and love making tea out of the leaves on a cold spring morning.

what to do in vermont — Stinging nettle being prepared along with other foraged foods

trout lilly

I hear every now and again that this flower is endangered, so be careful with these ones. In Stowe, VT and surrounding area, they are absolutely everywhere come spring, and the first real flower that pops out in the forests of the Green Mountains. I will occasionally snack on the flowers.

edible wild foods in vermont — Trout lilies busting on through to spring!

Top 5 Things to do in Stowe Vermont According to Stowe Forager

A lot of people ask me what to do in Stowe, VT for fun or entertainment. It may seem from the surface that there isn’t a whole lot going on here, but in reality, Stowe has everything you need! As a 10 year veteran of this mountain town, I have found plenty of things to do here in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Really the hard part in making this list was narrowing it down to just recommending only 5 things to do! I’m always up for a good challenge though, and I love a good top 5 list, so here it goes.

Things to do in Stowe Vermont VT — Snowboarding at Stowe

What to do in Stowe, VT – The Top 5

A guided tour with Stowe Forager

Ok, sorry, but obviously this has to be first. I know, I’m a bit partial, but even if I wasn’t I think I would still vote for a guided foraging walk. It’s everything I like rolled into one. A casual, social nature walk through the green mountain wilderness, that is both highly educational and mentally stimulating. If that dose’t sound like a good time, then I don’t know what does!

Things to do in Stowe Vermont — A Yellow Birch Leaf

Backcountry skiing in Stowe

Really for me this is the heart and soul of this town. For most that come here, Stowe Mountain Resort offers plenty of ski opportunities, both on and off trail. I would always recommend for most skiers to stay on the trails, but for those that are highly experienced and seek adventure – enter the backcountry. There is nothing as thrilling and fun as skiing through the trees on a powder day. But be warned, if you don’t know where you are going, it is probably best to go with someone who does! The dangers of the backcountry in Stowe are real, please be careful!

Skiing in Stowe Vermont — Snowboarding in Stowe VT

Mountain Biking in Stowe

Believe it or not, there is not always snow on the ground here in Vermont, and Stowe Mountain Resort is not always open for skiing. So what do us extreme types do in the summer to replace the thrill of back country skiing? We mountain bike. The trail systems here in Stowe are endless and offer everything from hair raisingly big rock drops, to casual beginner strolls. Mountain biking is a healthy, fun activity to do in Stowe, VT that also showcases the natural beauty of the Green Mountains!

Mountain Bike Stowe VT — Mountain Biking in Stowe Vermont

The Stowe Recreation Path

Speaking of biking, there is another type of bike riding being done in Stowe besides mountain biking. If you are here when there is not snow on the ground, the family friendly rec path is loads of fun for everybody. You can rent a bike from the myriad of bike shops in town and crooze up and down the path, stopping at all the bars and restaurants along the way! If you are looking for something to do in Stowe, I think this is your best bet. And did I mention that in the winter our good friends over at StoweNordic.org are out grooming the path for cross country skiing? That’s right, the Stowe rec path is actually a 4 season treat!

Hiking and Snowshoeing in Stowe

Last but not least, I can’t leave out a good ol fashion hike. The green mountains offer spectacular hiking and views all around. In Stowe you can check out a number of classic hiking trails such as Hellbrook, The Long Trail, Hazelton, Pinnacle, and Sterling Pond. All these trails offer their own unique perspective on hiking and Stowe, and all are sure to please. In the winter you can snowshoe just about anywhere, but the notch is always a favorite.

hiking in Stowe Vermont — Encountering some Lichen on a hike in Stowe

… And Then Came Stick Season

Autumn Is Beautiful But Brief in Stowe Vermont

Autumn is a very short season in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Here in Stowe, it seems to last about 3 weeks. Each week is packed to the brim with activity, and the small mountain town is in a constant state of hustle and bustle. Thousands and thousands of tourists come to Stowe, VT looking for things to do and sights to see.

As much as all the tourists can be annoying to any local, It’s not as though I can’t understand the madness. Autumn in the Green Mountains is an absolutely breathtaking event to witness. The tourists bring money to the local economy and the town buzzes with the collected humanity. And then, all of a sudden, It’s over.

Foliage Autumn Stowe Vermont — Autumn Leaves

And Then There is Stick Season

After about three weeks of decent foliage, with one week being the definitive peak, everything changes. Here in the Green Mountains of Vermont we enter our 5th season: Stick Season. Where does the name come from? You guessed it: when the leaves have all fallen, all that is left are the naked branches. Essentially just waiting for their fate of becoming a stick!

So stick season is defined by the lack of leaves, but also i is defined by what it is not. It is not winter. There is no snow. Well maybe a flurry, or maybe Mount Mansfield or Stowe Mountain Resort will get a good coating here and there and a gaggle of ski bums will hike up to ski down.

It is cold like winter and the temperature no longer feels like fall. Without the snow or leaves, and with the cold temperatures, there is nothing to do. Eventually the tourists get the hint as the restaurants and shops close up for the month before Thanksgiving and the town gets a glimpse of solitude.

What Is There To Do During Stick Season?

Nothing. There really is not much to do, and that is what makes stick season special to me. I find it as a much needed break from the madness. I sometimes call it meditation season because I find it is a great time (if not the only time) of year for me to really focus on mental health, spirituality, and meditation.

I do enjoy going for a walk or hike during stick season (duh, I am the Stowe Forager after all). But I will say that there really is not much to see. Everything is grey, all the time. And I mean everything. All the plants, the trees, the sky, the ground, the water – just everything, grey.

But there is some sort of mystic beauty in all this grey. As Adam Duritz of the Counting Crows once said: grey is my favorite color. There is something incredibly grounding about the color, and so too, about stick season in Stowe, Vermont.

Foraging or Photographing?

I find that on my regular foraging walks, it becomes much harder to find anything edible. Sure there are still some things you can find and eat, maybe some late berries of some sort, or a tuber root. And it can be fun to find these things, as it is quite hard to do, so perhaps more rewarding.

But for me, I just don’t really enjoy foraging for the things I can find during stick season, so it sort of ends up marking the end of my foraging season. I do find that I really enjoy take photos. I feel less pressure to get a good shot, as there is very little actually calling out for attention.

Instead I find myself becoming more creative with my photography. Taking strange photos of strange things, and maybe giving them a fun edit after. And that is stick season in Stowe Vermont. The Green Mountains of Vermont, but in grey.