Category Archives: foraging

Spurweed is out there now – don’t delay

Posted on March 6, 2022 by tedmanzer

I thought I’d post a quick note on a nasty weed.This recent warm weather has made many lawn weeds pop. Among them is spurweed (Soliva sessilis)) otherwise known as lawn burweed, stickerweed and sandbur. It is a low growing fine … Continue reading →

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Spring weeds are now appearing

Posted on February 27, 2022 by tedmanzer

Spring weeds are now appearing It has been quite a while since I’ve posted any articles, but this is a time that we need to get outside and check out what is coming up in our lawns and garden beds. … Continue reading →

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Dill Pickles can be made from those big orange cucumbers too

Posted on August 10, 2020 by tedmanzer

Back in 2014 I posted a column about making sweet pickles from big overripe cucumbers. I included a recipe my mother used and still makes for her church. She’s now almost 88.  The recipe was called Ruth’s pickles and I … Continue reading →

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Winter foraging can be fun and challenging

Posted on November 29, 2019 by tedmanzer

Collecting edibles near your home can be a satisfying and money-saving hobby. It’s fun realizing there are things right under your nose that are tasty and available in quantities needed for a family meal. Winter is a lean time of … Continue reading →

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Giant puffballs are common and nearly impossible to misidentify

Posted on November 12, 2019 by tedmanzer

Those who know me know I’m paranoid about leading foragers astray, especially mushroom hunters. Recently, someone asked me to identify a picture of a mushroom in her yard, and it was a giant puffball (Calvatia gigantea) They’re common this time … Continue reading →

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Black gum is an underused landscape tree

Posted on September 15, 2019 by tedmanzer

Trees are beginning to change color. One of the earliest and most spectacular is the black gum. You won’t see much of it in domestic landscapes around here, but maybe you should. Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) is a common forest … Continue reading →

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Canning can be a rewarding hobby

Posted on August 28, 2019 by tedmanzer

When I was young, home-canned fruits and vegetables were a mainstay of our diets. I especially loved the jams and jellies, particularly wild strawberry. There was never a problem finding canning supplies in stores. The home-canning supplies seemed to dwindle … Continue reading →

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Many poisonous mushrooms await foraging greenhorns

Posted on August 27, 2019 by tedmanzer

I’ve never been one to promote mushroom foraging even though I do it myself, and there are many relatively safe fungi out there. Too many poisonous lookalikes abound. I’ve taught long enough to know that no matter how concrete and … Continue reading →

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Cilantro is a versatile herb with a long history

Posted on April 30, 2019 by tedmanzer

Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) is an annual herb used in numerous recipes from various cultures. It’s also known by different names, including coriander, Mexican parsley and Chinese parsley. It’s been cultured for at least 5000 years. Many Egyptian tombs contain seeds … Continue reading →

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Comfrey is a plant of many misconceptions

Posted on April 25, 2019 by tedmanzer

Pick up any book on poisonous plants and comfrey will be in it. It is an old-time herb that has been used for centuries for various things. Some folks eat it. Some make tea. Some make topical medicines from it. … Continue reading →

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