Tag: Spring foraging

Burdock is a biennial plant, meaning its life cycle spans two years, which significantly affects the optimal time to harvest its leaves for different purposes. The texture and flavor of the leaves change dramatically as the plant matures, making timing crucial for a successful harvest.

The Latin name for the European Beech, *Fagus sylvatica*, can be traced back to the Greek word *fagein*, meaning 'to eat'. This ancient history hints at what many foragers know: you can eat the leaves of a beech tree, provided you harvest them at the right time.

According to research, the leaves of wild ramps can contain at least 1.5 times the vitamin C content of an orange. But how healthy are ramps overall, beyond their impressive vitamin C levels, and what other health benefits do these wild leeks offer?

Captain Cook brewed spruce beer on his sea voyages to combat scurvy, thanks to the needles' high vitamin C content. While modern diets typically don't require this, spruce needles, particularly the soft new growth known as 'tips', offer a unique citrus and pine flavor that can elevate your cooking and foraging experience.

Often considered a nuisance lawn weed, henbit dead nettle is an incredibly versatile and nutritious plant, providing a vital food source for early-season pollinators and offering a variety of culinary and medicinal benefits for humans.