Herbal Medicine Series : Episode 3– Top 5 Wild herbs to grow for medicine and food.

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Summary: In this episode, Suzanne Shires, a master herbalist, discusses the top five wild foods to grow and propagate on your homestead. She emphasizes the importance of positively identifying wild plants and recommends using a good ID book. Suzanne introduces the first wild food, Jerusalem artichoke, which is a perennial plant with edible roots, leaves, and flowers. She also talks about evening primrose, a biennial plant with edible buds and flowers, and its medicinal properties for women's health. Suzanne then discusses the benefits of nuts, including black walnut and hickory nuts, and their uses in cooking and as a source of nutrition. In this conversation, Suzanne Shires discusses the importance of incorporating wild foods into a homestead. She covers five categories of wild foods: mushrooms, nuts, fruits, tree greens, and wild greens. Suzanne provides information on identifying and harvesting these foods, as well as their nutritional and medicinal benefits. She also shares tips on using and preparing these wild foods. Suzanne emphasizes the importance of foraging in safe and clean areas and suggests finding local resources and mentors to learn more about wild foods.

KEYWORDS

wild foods, grow, propagate, homestead, positively identify, ID book, Jerusalem artichoke, perennial, edible roots, leaves, flowers, evening primrose, biennial, edible buds, flowers, medicinal properties, women's health, nuts, black walnut, hickory nuts, cooking, nutrition, wild foods, homestead, mushrooms, nuts, fruits, tree greens, wild greens, foraging, harvesting, nutritional benefits, medicinal benefits

TAKEAWAYS:

Positively identify wild plants using a good ID book and avoid relying solely on plant apps. Jerusalem artichoke is a perennial plant with edible roots, leaves, and flowers. It is rich in inulin, which is beneficial for diabetes. Evening primrose is a biennial plant with edible buds and flowers. It has medicinal properties for women's health. Nuts like black walnut and hickory nuts are highly nutritious and can be used in cooking. They require proper processing to remove tannins and prevent rancidity. Eating wild foods by the seasons can provide a variety of nutrients and support overall health. Incorporating wild foods into a homestead can provide a diverse range of nutritional and medicinal benefits. Mushrooms, such as morels and chicken of the woods, can be foraged and used in various culinary dishes. Nuts, like black walnuts and hickory nuts, are high in nutrition and can be harvested from wild trees. Wild fruits, such as blackberries and wineberries, are rich in vitamins and antioxidants and can be used in cooking, teas, and other preparations. Tree greens, like mulberry leaves and hawthorn leaves, are edible and nutritious, and can be used in salads, teas, and other recipes. Wild greens, including daisy greens, lamb's quarter, and stinging nettle, are highly nutritious and can be used in cooking, salads, and medicinal preparations. It is important to forage in safe and clean areas and to learn from local resources and mentors when incorporating wild foods into a homestead.

TITLES

The Importance of Positively Identifying Wild Plants Nuts: Highly Nutritious Foods for Cooking and Health Foraging for Health: How Wild Foods Can Enhance Your Well-being The Nutritional and Medicinal Benefits of Wild Foods for Homesteaders