About tedmanzer
I grew up in Old Town Maine and got a B.S. at the University of Maine in Plant Sciences/ minor in Botany. From there I moved to West Virginia and earned a M.S. in Agronomy at WVU. I also met my wife there. She grew up in rural WV as the daughter of tenant farmers who raised cattle and hogs. Their lifestyle at times was one of subsistence and I learned a lot from them. I've always been a foraging buff, but combining my formal botanical knowledge with their practical 'Foxfire-type' background opened up my eyes a little more.
I recently retired from teaching high school agriculture after 25 years teaching with my wife. Until recently I wrote a weekly nature/foraging column for the local paper (dailyadvance.com). I also have written several Christian nature/adventure novels that can be purchased on Amazon in paperback and in Kindle format. One is a five book family saga I call the 'Forgotten Virtues' series. In the first book, Never Alone, a young boy comes of age after his father dies in a plane crash, and he has to make it alone. The second book, Strange Courage, takes Carl from his High School graduation to his recovery from a nasty divorce. The third book, Second Chances, takes Carl from his ex-wife's death and the custody of his son to his heroic death at age 59. The fourth book, Promises Kept, depicts how his grandchildren react and adjust to his death (this one is not yet published). In the final book, Grandfather's Way, his youngest and most timid granddaughter emerges from the shadow of her overachieving family and accomplishes more in four months than most do in a lifetime. I use many foraging references with a lot of the plants I profile in these articles in those books. I also wrote a romance novel titled Virginia, set in rural West Virginia in the early 1980s. It is available on Amazon and is a different type of romance from a man's perspective.
I won’t deny that amaryllis (Hippeastrum sp.) is one of the most striking flowering houseplants. Huge clusters of flowers are dramatic and that’s why people pay so much for a single bulb. Most people don’t realize those huge bulbs are … Continue reading →
Many people see bats fluttering around at dusk and get nervous. Some get downright scared. There’s no need for this hysteria. Bats fill an important role in the ecosystem and provide us comfort at the same time. I wish I … Continue reading →
I love to cook. Maybe it’s because I love to eat. Food has always been something I’ve analyzed. People might say I’m arrogant, but I’ve never seen a recipe I couldn’t alter and make it better at least for me. … Continue reading →
We watch them and listen to their irritating call. It certainly doesn’t sound very intelligent, but crows are so intelligent it’s almost scary. Drive, walk or jog down the road without any weapon and crows won’t pay you any mind. … Continue reading →
Posted in general nature
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Tagged American crow, fabulous memories, good parents, irritating call, nature, nest in thick evergreens, open places, seed thieves, social birds, stealing eggs, West Nile Virus
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A few years ago I wrote a column about chokeberries. They were common in the places I picked blueberries in Maine. Huckleberries were too, and they’re great, so maybe they can be a future column. The Genus name for chokeberry … Continue reading →
Posted in foraging
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Tagged Aronia, Aronia arbutifolia, Aronia floribunda, Aronia melanocarpa, bees, chokeberry, currant-like, deer food, jelly, landscape shrubs, super-fruit
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Valentine’s Day is over, but we can look back at what our gifts supposedly mean. First off, I don’t really buy into flower meanings. If you and your significant other like a particular species and color that’s all that matters. … Continue reading →
Posted in general nature
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Tagged buttercups, Carnations, colors, daffodils, flower symbolism, lilac, Mums, positive vibes, Roses, Valentine's Day, violets
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I’m a big fan of wild persimmons (Diospyros virginiana). I try to hit the woods this time of year and procure a good mess of them. Sometimes the deer and other animals beat me to it. Wild fruit are seedy … Continue reading →
Posted in foraging
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Tagged 'Giombo', 'Hachiya', Asian persimmon, astringent, dioecous, Diospyros virginiana, Fuyu, Korean Persimmon, non-astringent, persimmon, sooty mold, wild persimmon
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Nearly everyone is familiar with the fuzzy green fleshed kiwi fruits (Actinidia deliciosa) in grocery stores. Their taste is sweet and tart at the same time. The flavor reminds me of blackberries. Best of all, kiwi vines grow well in … Continue reading →
Posted in foraging
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Tagged Actinidia arguta, Actinidia deliciosa, cold hardy, dioecious, full sun, hardy kiwi, Issai, kiwi, pruning, trellis, well drained soil
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Pruning is an important task to perform on our landscaping. Too often it is done in an untimely manner. Many folks prune their trees and shrubs based on convenience instead of what is in the best interest of the plants. … Continue reading →
Turmeric is an herb likely not in most people’s spice racks, at least by itself. Curry powder is roughly 50% turmeric. Mustard owes much of its yellow color to turmeric. I like to use turmeric in most relishes and pickles … Continue reading →
Posted in foraging
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Tagged anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, bright yellow, curcumin, curry powder, ginger lilies, improved brain function, mild flavored, regulate blood sugar, spike-like white or pink flowers, tubers, turmeric
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tedmanzer 