Foraging Ethic

A foraging ethic is a code of behavior that guides one’s foraging activities in a way that minimizes impact. Harvest common species, avoid spreading invasive plants, tread lightly, and develop and awareness of other animals which depend on the foods you gather.

Continue reading

Wintergreen ice cream brownie torte

Wintergreen ice cream brownie torte

This wintergreen ice cream brownie torte uses a quick and simple ice cream recipe, enhanced with homemade chocolate chips and spread on a decadent brownie layer. Use homemade wintergreen extract if you’re a forager, or purchase ready made extract.

Continue reading

Wintergreen: how to harvest it and make an alcohol extract

Wintergreen, Gaultheria procumbens

How to identify, locate, and harvest wintergreen leaves and berries, and use it to make an alcohol extract to give your culinary creations a wonderful minty flavor.

Continue reading

Hawthorn berries: identify, harvest, and make an extract

Learn to forage for hawthorn berries and use them to make hawthorn berry extract.

Continue reading

Cranberries from the wild

Wild large cranberries

Wild cranberries begin to ripen in September, but I like to wait until late October, or even November, to harvest them. They sweeten as the season progresses, especially if they are hit with a frost after they have already turned … Continue reading

Hickory Nuts: Foraging for Pignut and Shagbark Hickory Nuts

Most hickory nuts in the US are edible, the most popular one being the pecan, which has a limited range in the south. Here in central New England (and in much of the estern US), the most common hickories are … Continue reading

Autumnberry ice cream pie with hazelnuts

Why not turn an invasive plant into an elegant dessert? This sumptuous pie starts with a nutty, no-bake graham cracker crust. It’s layered with a thick, sweet-tart autumnberry sauce made from the berries of the invasive shrub, autumn olive. Then … Continue reading

Autumn olive: foraging for autumnberries

Until recently, few people were aware that the berries of autumn olive, Elaeagnus umbellata, are edible. But the secret is out. More and more are harvesting these tasty fruits for both sweet and savory dishes. In addition to great flavor, … Continue reading

Elderberry ice cream with chocolate hazelnut crunch

Fruit purees and syrups add great flavor to ice cream, but the extra water can lead to crystallization, giving the ice cream a gritty texture. Not so with elderberry syrup. For whatever reason, elderberry syrup actually lends elasticity and smoothness … Continue reading