As much as the new forager reads about how to Identify any wild edible, there will never be enough words to replace the real experience. This is why a foraging tour is leaps and bounds more beneficial than simply reading about the desired foraged foods. Since I am not currently running foraging tours, I thought a video might be the next best thing. Hope this impromptu video I took today will help you on your quest to successfully identifying chanterelle mushrooms in Vermont.
Saint John’s Wort is Currently in Bloom in Stowe, VT
Saint John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) is one of my favorite foraged plants to make a tea out of. It is easily identifiable, and easy to make a tea out of the fresh flowers and leaves. St. John’s wort has been used medicinally for ages, and is often bought over the counter at health stores in pill form. It is used to treat depression, and symptoms that arise from depression such as anxiety and insomnia. However, take note that if you are taking other medications you should read up on the interactions, as it is known to have negative interactions with some prescription meds.
How to Identify St. Johns Wort
Identifying saint johns wort is pretty easy. Here are some tips and trips to identify this medicinal plant in Stowe Vermont.
- First, you should be aware when Saint Johns Wort flowers, since that is what you are mostly after. In the northern Green Mountains of Vermont, the plant begins to flower in late June or early July, and will continue to flower throughout the month of July.
- The flower itself is bright yellow with 5 petals
- Perforated leaves. The Latin name of St Johns Wort is derived from the perforated leaves. When held up to a light source, you will always see a bunch of translucent dots on every leaf. This a very good way to identify st johns wort.
- Another good way to identify saint johns wort is by taking the flowers or flowers that have started to turn to seed and smooshing them in your hand. Although they are yellow, they will magically turn purple in your hand. This effect is also evident in the tea, which comes out purple as well.
How to Make Tea out of Saint Johns Wort
Making tea out of Saint John’s Wort is easy and rewarding. Follow the directions below for a delicious and medicinal tea.
- The first step is to harvest some of the flowers and leaves of the plant. Just cut the stem on a couple of flowering branches and you are good to go.
- Next, you should wash the plant under cool water, and chop of any roots, or parts that are mostly just stem
- Next fill a pot with some water. The amount of water used will determine the strength of taste and potency of tea. In this recipe I used a quart and a half of water for the above pictured amount of foraged plant.
- Gently bring the pot of water to a boil. As soon as boil is reached, take off heat and let slowly cool/steep till desired temperature is reached.
- There you have it, delicious and medicinal Saint John’s Wort!
Stowe Forager Has Garnered it’s First Guest Appearance! Read on to Learn What Dave The Plant Guy Has to Say About Foraging for Willow
Willow is one of my favorite forage species and the great news is that where you find willow, they are often abundant and fast growing. Even better, they are well-adapted to browsing as they appear to be a favorite of many animals as well – I have watched beavers, deer, and rabbits preferentially devour willows.
Willows have long been known as a nutritional food source and there has actually been some scientific investigation into the nutritional profile; according to nutritiondata.com they are a great source of Vitamin A and C as well as a good source of calcium, phosphorus, and iron. Flavor varies depending on the part of the tree used but is usually slightly astringent and fresh new growth has an almost citrusy flavor, which gradually increases in bitterness as the tissue becomes woodier. Any part of the willow is edible but I prefer the tender bits – my favorite being the strongest bright red new shoots off of recently browsed stems as they have the sweetest flavor and are crunchy and hydrating.
Harvesting fresh new growth also places the least strain on the growth of the plant after harvest, though willows have remarkable regenerative abilities. This regenerative capacity is imparted in some small way to those around willows through two well-known compounds: the bark contains salicylic acid, which is the origin of aspirin and the growing tips contain indolebutyric acid, which is the basis of many commercial plant rooting hormones… and yes, that means if you cut a woody sprig of willow and stick it in wet ground, it will probably root and start a new willow. Whether you consider it foraged or farmed at that point is up to you!
Willow (Salix sp)
18 May 2020
All information in this post has been provided by Dave The Plant Guy