Search: horsemint

Two and a half gallons of Jambul Wine before racking. Photo by Green Deane

Fermenting ripe Tindora into wine. This pizza-like photograph by Green Deane

Three reasons prompted me to resurrect my wine-making past: I had nothing to do when Covid hit, I saw a lot of fruit going to waste, and I could use several of these “country wines” in my foraging classes. Since April I have started Beautyberry Wine, Blueberry Wine, Loquat Wine, Pindo Palm Wine, Cactus Pad Wine, Coconut Wine, Mango Wine, Orange Wine, Lemon Wine, Lime Wine, Tangerine Wine, St. John’s Mint Wine, Pomegranate Wine, Roses Petal Champagne, Horsemint Wine, Jambul Wine, Juniper Berry Mead, Blackberry Wine, Blackberry Mead, Mushroom Wine, Star Fruit Wine, Pineapple Wine, Tomato Wine, Sumac Wine and Tindora Wine (aka Ivy Gourd, the latest experiment. I’m not a idle person.)  I’ve also done a few standards along the way like Concord Grape, Chianti, Lambrusco and Watermelon Wine (It’s sweetish and I have 12 gallons of it so I will need help emptying the bottles.) 

Pickled Florida Betony Roots. Photo by Green Deane

Like Lacto-fermentation (pickling) making wine follows a basic recipe: Material, water, sugar, yeast and time. (Making pickles it is material, water, salt, spices and a lot less time.) The Tindora Wine recipe, which I won’t know if it works until next year, took some decisions. When green Tindora tastes similar to a cucumber. Cucumbers are crispy water with a delicate flavor and aroma. A cucumber wine that tastes like cucumbers is hard to make. A strong yeast could destroy the flavor and aroma (exactly the same problem with Star Fruit Wine.) When Tindora is ripe it is more like a sweet red pepper with a different color and constituents altogether. So a yeast that treats delicate floral aromas was called for rather than a broad-shouldered one that eliminates character but produces 18% alcohol levels. I’m aiming for 12%, You need at least 8% alcohol to preserve any wine. Also what color will the final wine be? Guessing it will be a blush the sugar goal is slightly sweet so not a lot of sugar was added at the beginning. A little will be added at the end to reach a certain level of desired sweetness. Wine making is a lot of little decisions and keeping clean. One common question is if using wild fruit why not use wild yeast, after all that’s how it was done in the past. 

Again, the issue is similar to making vinegar: Use wild or cultivated bacteria to pickle; use wild or cultivated yeasts to make wine. All fermenting bacteria and yeast do other things than just make acid or alcohol. They can “throw” flavors, good and bad because they can digest more than just the carbohydrates or sugar. They can also work too slowly letting worse bacteria or yeast to take over. They can under perform by not making enough acid or alcohol to preserve whatever you are fermenting. With wild yeast and bacteria you sometimes get a great performer but more often you get a poor one. Specifically bred yeast or bacteria do not improve your chances of success but they do reduce the number of things that can go wrong. I have an article and a video on collecting wild pickling bacteria here. I have the same for cider here and here.  And lastly I started a Facebook page called Florida Wine, Bread and Beer where I post my fermenting exploits. 

Classes are held rain or shine.

Unsettled weather this time of year makes schedule making weeks ahead of time a challenge and I’m trying to fit in some private classes as well. This weekend it’s classes in Orlando and Gainesville. 

Saturday, October 24th, Blanchard Park, 10501 Jay Blanchard Trail, Orlando, FL 32817. 9 a.m to noon. Meet at the pavilion by the tennis courts by the YMCA building. 

Sunday, October 25th, Boulware Springs Park, 3420 SE 15th St.,  Gainesville, FL 32641. Meet at the picnic tables next to the pump house. 9 a.m. to noon.

Sunday, November 1st, Dreher Park, 1200 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach, 33405. Take exit 68 (Southern Boulevard) off Interstate 95 and go east. Entrance to the park is an immediate right at the bottom of the interstate bridge. Follow the convoluted signs to the science center (which is not where the GPS puts you.)  Park anywhere. We meet 300 feet north of the science museum near the banyan tees. 9 a.m. to noon. 

Saturday, November 7th, Bayshore Live Oak Park, Bayshore Drive. Port Charlotte.  9 a.m. to noon. Meet at the parking lot at Bayshore and Ganyard. 

Sunday, November 8th, Mead Garden: 1500 S. Denning Dr. Winter Park, FL 32789. Meet near the bathrooms. The entrance to the park is off Denning not Pennsylvania as some GPS say

To read more about the classes, to pre-pay or sign up, go here. 

The Chinese Tallow tree is also called the Pop Corn Tree.

Is it edible? Yes, no, maybe… The Chinese Tallow tree is both banned and championed. It’s edibility is also linked to why it’s even in the United States to begin with.  The tree was imported by none other than Ben Franklin (well… he sent some seeds to a friend.)  The purpose was to use the white external seed fat for making candles which beef suet, tallow, was once used for. Hence the tree’s name in English. In theory that small coating of saturated fat on the outside of the seed is edible. It is also very stable. But there are two problems. It can be very difficult to remove and inside the seed there is an oil toxic to humans. So the fat and the oil should not mix. Some people have experimented with crushing the entire seed and heating the mash thus melting the saturated fat along with releasing the toxic oil. When they settle the edible fat and the non-edible oil are separated.  In China, where the tree is valued, they steam the white saturated fat off. The tree, while an invasive species in some areas of North America — such as Florida — is being considered as a good candidate for bio-fuel. You can read my article about it here about it here. A later magazine article about the species is here.   

Caesarweed is in the hibiscus group.

Caesarweed is a common sight locally but right now it is being a seasonal extrovert and blossoming profusely. Like the Chinese Tallow tree above, Caesar Weed is another plant intentionally imported for industrial use, in its case making fiber for burlap bags and the like. It’s not strong enough to make a sturdy rope like Skunk Vine (which is also blossoming now and was imported to make rope.) But if thrown in water and allowed to rot for a few weeks long blast fibers are left over. The tasteless flowers are edible, the seeds can be ground and used like corn starch, and the leaves have medicinal uses besides being a famine food. They are hairy and upset the tummy. You can read about Caesar Weed here or see a video I did on it here. 

We don’t have the opportunity to often use the word “windfall” in modern society as it was originally coined: A benefit caused by the wind literally knocking something down. Roman armies gathered wind-felled wood for their camp fires. 

Cambium strips are easy to harvest from downed trees. Photo by Green Deane

Cambium strips are easy to harvest from downed trees. Photo by Green Deane

From a foraging point of view downed oaks don’t provide much windfall. Only the ones that were masting are of interest and they were already dropping acorns. But there are a couple of tree species worth investigating if they are blown over. One is pines. It’s an opportunity to harvest cambium and or nearly ripe cones for their seeds. It’s fairly easy to strip “fillets” off downed limbs or young trunks. And one does not have to climb the tree for the cones. A second tree worth investigating is the Chinese Elm. It’s used in landscaping intensely. During the Great Depression of the 1930’s they were planted by the millions and perhaps are the most intentionally planted tree outside of the lumber industry.  A windfall of this species brings not only young leaves and samaras within reach but also provides easy access to the tree’s cambium which is edible. Every tree’s cambium grows differently and is the “living”part of the tree. It grows in two directions at once, in and out. The inner cambium become the wood of the tree. The outer cambium becomes the bark of the tree. This gives each tree it’s distinction wood and bark. And on the Chinese Elm (all Ulmus actually) and the pine (all Pinus) the cambium is edible.

Green Deane videos are now available on a USB.

Changing foraging videos:  My nine-DVD set of 135 videos has been selling for seven years and are still available. They are the same videos I have on You Tube. Some people like to have a separate copy.  A second option is a16-gig USB that has those 135 videos plus 15 more. While the videos can be run from the DVDs the videos on the USB have to be copied to your computer to play. They are MP4 files. The150-video USB is $99 and the 135-video DVD set is now $99. The DVDs will be sold until they run out then will be exclusively replaced by the USB. This is a change I’ve been trying to make for several years. So if you have been wanting the 135-video DVD set order it now as the price is reduced and the supply limited. Or you can order the USB. My headache is getting my WordPress Order page changed to reflect these changes. We’ve been working on it for several weeks. However, if you want to order now either the USB or the DVD set make a $99 “donation” using the link at the bottom of this page or here.  That order form provides me with your address, the amount — $99 — tells me it is not a donation and in the note say if you want the DVD set or the USB. 

Green Deane Forum

Want to identify a plant? Perhaps you’re looking for a foraging reference? You might have a UFO, an Unidentified Flowering Object, you want identified. On the Green Deane Forum we — including Green Deane and others from around the world — chat about foraging all year. And it’s not just about warm-weather plants or just North American flora. Many nations share common weeds so there’s a lot to talk. There’s also more than weeds. The reference section has information for foraging around the world. There are also articles on food preservation, and forgotten skills from making bows to fermenting food.

Silk Floss Tree Bossom. Photo by Green Deane

What people actually do with plants and what people write about what people do with plants can vary greatly. Ceiba’s (SAY-bah) are a good example. There are ten trees in the tropical genus. Various parts of various species are eaten variously which makes sense as the greater Mallow Family is generally user-friendly (unprocessed cotton seed oil and ephedrine in Sida being two exceptions.)  Thus it is difficult to state specifically  what is edible on each species Ceiba. The names can also vary in English from Silk Cotton to Silk Floss to Kapok and numerous native and Spanish versions. The seed oil is edible on some species as are buds, blossoms, and young leaves on others. Even the wood ash can be used as a salt substitute. But some caution is called for as the trees have also been used to treat numerous medical conditions internally and externally. There are two species in Dreher Park in West Palm Beach where the winters are mild. I’ve seen three Ceibas planted in Orlando. One is near the West Orange Bike Trail in Winter Garden and is about 30 feet tall. They are twice that in West Palm Beach.  You can read a little more about the Silk Floss tree  here. 

This is weekly newsletter #428, If you want to subscribe to this free newsletter you can find the sign-up form in the menu at the top of the page.

 To donate to the Green Deane Newsletter click here.

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Monarda punctata, Horsemint, Bee Balm, in full blossom. Photo by Green Deane

We’ve mentioned it a few times in recent newsletters but it bares repeating one more time: Horsemint — see above — is in season and very easy to find now. Look in grassy sandy places or along paths in always dry areas. The pleasant side of the plant is that it smells nice and makes a Thyme-like spice. The naughty side of the species is that it contains Thymol which is a relaxant. Made into a tea it calms you down. How much it calms you down depends on how much you use and your personal response to it.  You can also hang some in your house as an air freshener. You can read about Horsemint here. 

Crowfoot Grass seeds are gluten free. Photo by Green Deane

Crowfoot Grass, which is starting to ripen now, is not native to North America. It’s from Africa where the species is used to make unleavened bread and a frothy beer. While crowfoot grass is easy to harvest — when ripe — the grains are tiny, eye of a needle size. You can collect about two quarts an hour — making them calorie positive —  and they can grow in large colonies making harvesting easy. Usually you collect the grains while sitting and using window screen plastic as a strainer.  The grains have a small amount of cyanide in them but drying and cooking drives that off. Though minute botanically they are a mouthful: Dactyloctenium aegyptium. That means ‘little comb fingers from Egypt.’ You can find Crowfoot Grass from Maine to California skipping the upper northwest side of the country.  

Classes are held rain or shine.

Last Saturday’s plant foraging class in Gainesvile almost turned into a mushroom class because we saw so many species. There were Chanterelles by the hundreds, Indigo Milk Caps and other Milk Caps and a variety of Boletes. Sunday’s class near Daytona Beach wasn’t a washout but almost was. One dry area I checked out at 8 a.m. was by 11 — with the tide and on-shore wind — almost knee deep in water. We managed to slosh on to see out local Goji Berry in blossom. Rain might be the case with my upcoming Saturday class in Ft. Pierce. By Thursday or Friday a low that went south might come back north as a rain maker. We’ll just have to see. Whether the potential rain makes it far enough north for Sunday’s class in Palm Harbor is an unknown. I hold classes in the rain unless its reaching tropical storm or hurricane conditions.  

Saturday, September 26th, George LeStrange Preserve, 4911 Ralls Road, Fort Pierce, FL, 34981, 9 a.m. to noon. This location does not have an official bathroom. Plan accordingly. There also may be some flooding which might alter our normal walk around the area. 

Sunday, September 27th, John Chestnut County Park: 2200 East Lake Road, Palm Harbor, FL 34685. Nine a.m. to noon. Meet at the trail head of the Peggy Park Nature Walk.  

Saturday, October 3rd, Mead Garden, 1500 S. Denning Dr. Winter Park, FL 32789.  9 a.m. to noon, meet by the bathrooms. Note this is Mead Garden just northeast of Orlando. Not Ft. Mead which is 90 miles further south. Also the entrance to Mead Garden is on the west side on S. Denning Drive, Winter Park. Some GPS programs put the entrance on the east side on S. Pennsylvania Avenue, Winter Park. That was decades ago.   

Sunday, October 4th, Tide Views Preserve, 1 Begonia Street, Atlantic Beach Fl 32233 (near Jacksonville Fl.) 9 a.m. to noon. Meet near the main bathrooms. 9 a.m. to noon. There is no charge for this class but donations will be accepted. The reason is this is it’s an exploratory class at a new location. Let’s find out what’s there together.   For more information, to pre-pay or to sign up for a class go here. 

Wild and cider apples can be bitter.

Apple season is upon us, depending where you live. When I was a kid back in the BC era — Before Computers — I always associated going back to school with raiding apple trees. (We always went back to school on the Tuesday after Labor Day.) I also raided the concord grapes in the nearby hedge rows as well. The actual word for that is “scrumping” (which was an actual verb for juvenile fruit stealing long before modern slang added other meanings.) There were orchard apples trees and there were wild apple trees. Sometimes the wild apples were from cultivated apples that grew up literally from a tossed apple core. Other times they were real wild apples, small and tart if not bitter. Those were usually better off cooked by a camp fire along a river while fishing after school. I walked or biked four miles to school daily and often didn’t get home until after dark (which means I thankfully missed anything my mother tried to cook.) Where I grew up there were many abandoned homesteads with flourishing apple trees in unused yards. There is something philosophical knowing the cared-for apple tree outlived family and home. Back then there was also a greater variety of apples than even just a few decades later because of mechanization. Even when I was young there was a great diversity of apples. Some would not store at all — eating apples —  some that would stay hard for months only softening in mid-winter or spring. Others were only good for cider or cooking and or just jelly. And contrary to common belief, apples will grow in Florida. I recommend Apple Anna, a very nice blush. To read more about apples go here.

The nose doesn’t always know.

The aroma of a wild food is the most flexible of all descriptions. This is for two reasons: Noses differ and plants differ. Taste is also quite flexible but aroma variations beat taste out. When you read in a foraging guide, or even in my articles, that a plant smells like such-and-such know that the description is quite subjective. There are several local species that elicit different descriptions even when noses are whiffing the same sample. One low-growing fruit — the Gopher Apple — has been described as smelling like pink bubble gum, a new plastic shower curtain, or no aroma at all. The smelly spice Epazote ranges in opinions from citrusy to floor varnish to industrial cleaner. Even among non-edibles the olfactory estimations can vary such as with the toxic Laurel Cherry. Some think its cyanide smells like almonds, other think they smell maraschino cherries, some can’t smell the cyanide at all. In guide books a reported aroma is just that, a guide. It is not always for certain by any means. There’s room for aromatic latitude.

Carl Linnaeus had a dirty mind.

Plant Pronunciations: What’s really important is knowing the plant and whether you can eat it or not. What you call it is secondary. Common names are okay as long as you know many plants can have the same common name. “Indian Potato” comes to mind. There are two problems with common names. You and someone else could be talking about the “Indian Potato” but actually be talking about two different species. Also every plant — in theory — has one botanical name but can have virtually dozens of common names. Many times it is just easier to remember the one botanical name. Dead Latin was chosen for the naming plants because … well… it’s dead, non-changing, non-evolving. Perhaps it was also chosen by academics as a way to keep Latin from disappearing completely. Another possibility was they wanted to use naughty descriptions and if in Latin most wouldn’t know how lewd some names are. But know even when Latin was spoken it had regional accents and far flung Latin became French, Spanish and Romanian. At home it became Italian. There is no etched-in-granite correct way to pronounce botanical names. Hmmmm…. take Vagus. It can be said like the city, Los Vegas, or vah-GOOSE. It means literally “wandering.” And of course there are different pronunciations botanical names in American English vs British English such as with the pine genus (PINE-us, vs. PEEN-iss.)

Pedanius Dioscorides

Pedanius Dioscorides

Many “Latin” plant names are mangled Greek. Take the genus Dioscorea, the true yams. Dead Latin has it dye-oh-SCORE-ree-ah. That makes my ears hurt. It’s named after a Greek physician, Dioscorides, 40-90 AD. So I prefer thee-oh-score-REE-dez which closer to the Greek way of saying it. The only time the botanical name is truly important is to make sure the two of you are discussing the same plant. This happened recently when I received an email from Singapore about how to use the Skunk Vine.  There are several Skunk Vines (like Indian Potatoes, Hog Plums et cetera.) As we were exchanging information about Paederia foetida without the botanical name that would have been difficult. Scientific names of any species can be a personal hurdle. And some times you don’t have a choice. The majority of mushrooms do not have a common names. You just have to bite the Boletus. 

Green Deane videos are now available on a USB.

Changing foraging videos:  My nine-DVD set of 135 videos has been selling for seven years and are still available. They are the same videos I have on You Tube. Some people like to have a separate copy.  A second option is a16-gig USB that has those 135 videos plus 15 more. While the videos can be run from the DVDs the videos on the USB have to be copied to your computer to play. They are MP4 files. The150-video USB is $99 and the 135-video DVD set is now $99. The DVDs will be sold until they run out then will be exclusively replaced by the USB. This is a change I’ve been trying to make for several years. So if you have been wanting the 135-video DVD set order it now as the price is reduced and the supply limited. Or you can order the USB. My headache is getting my WordPress Order page changed to reflect these changes. We’ve been working on it for several weeks. However, if you want to order now either the USB or the DVD set make a $99 “donation” using the link at the bottom of this page or here.  That order form provides me with your address, the amount — $99 — tells me it is not a donation and in the note say if you want the DVD set or the USB. 

Green Deane Forum

Want to identify a plant? Perhaps you’re looking for a foraging reference? You might have a UFO, an Unidentified Flowering Object, you want identified. On the Green Deane Forum we — including Green Deane and others from around the world — chat about foraging all year. And it’s not just about warm-weather plants or just North American flora. Many nations share common weeds so there’s a lot to talk. There’s also more than weeds. The reference section has information for foraging around the world. There are also articles on food preservation, and forgotten skills from making bows to fermenting food. This is weekly newsletter #424, If you want to subscribe to this free newsletter you can find the sign-up form in the menu at the top of the page.

 To donate to the Green Deane Newsletter click here.

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Horsemint (Monarda punctata) will be easy to find for several months. Photo by Green Deane

Wild mints can be prima donnas: Once on stage they hate to get off.  Locally we would expect to see Horsemint, Monarda punctata in full bloom by September but it has pushed the season and can be found now. The species can also flower for several months. This week I saw a nice stand along a bike trail in south Vousia County, exactly where one would expect to find it: On a dry bank up from the trail. You can also find it in the same area near roads especially roads that cut through a sand hill. It was also starting to look pretty in Mead Garden last weekend. Look for the showy pink bracts. If you want to read about Horsemint you can go here

I find Russian Thistles in front of hotels on Daytona Beach. Photo by Green Deane

We shouldn’t forage along railroad tracks and you can blame it all on the Russian Thistle. This species, best known as the tumble weed that rolls across the wild west in movies, came with immigrants to southern South Dakota in the early 1870’s. Best guess is it contaminated their flax seed. By 1895  it reached New Jersey and California. The question was how? A professor who worked for the Department of Agriculture figured out the trains were spreading the seeds coast to coast. It was a remarkable idea at the time and brought him much fame. His solution to the unintentional distribution? Kill plants long railroad tracks. Thus began the practice of putting down some mighty and long-lasting chemicals to kill weeds sprouting amongst the iron rails. Railroad tracks are a good place to find seeds to take home and plant but not to find food. There have even been a few reported deaths from foraging along rail road tracks.

Foraging classes are held rain, shine, hot or cold. Photo by Nermina Krenata

Two well-known but less visited locations are on the class schedule this weekend: Lake Woodruff Preserve in Deland and Ft. Desoto in St. Petersburg. At Woodruff we will walk two two-mile loops, one along dike roads and one in the woods. Ft. Desoto has a persimmonhurst and a lot of poison ivy. We also see Goji Berries there. 

Saturday, August 8th,  Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge, 2045 Mud Lake Road, DeLeon Springs, FL. 9 a.m. to noon. Lot’s of walking, no water, rustic bathroom. We meet where Mud Lake Road dead ends which is the extreme west end. (The address is the ranger station. We do NOT meet at the ranger station unless the gate to the refuge is close for some reason. Then we walk. It’s federal property and access can be sporadic.) Like Haulover Canal below this is wild Florida more than suburbia. 

Sunday, August 9th, Ft. Desoto Park, 3500 Pinellas Bayway S. St. Petersburg Fl 33715. There is an entrance fee to the park. Meet at the fishing pier parking lot. 9 a.m to noon. (Same pier as the Egmont Key Ferry.) 

Saturday, August 15thBayshore Live Oak Park, Bayshore Drive. Port Charlotte. 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at the parking lot on Bayshore Road across the street from Ganyard Street. 

Sunday, August 16th, Haulover Canal, Merritt Island National Refuge, north of the Kennedy Space Center. Let’s try this again. An ascending bridge thwarted the last class there. 9 a.m. to noon. No drinking water on site, Port-O-Lets for bathrooms. Lots of Mosquitos (why it is called Mosquito Lagoon.) We meet at the west end of the northwest side of the canal. This class involves more than three miles of walking and can be strenuous. 

For more information, to pre-pay or to sign up go here. 

Goldenrod is ruderal. What does that mean? Read the article. Photo by Green Deane

Also seen blooming now is Goldenrod. It is a bit of a treasure hunt and disappointment. The treasure hunt is that one species is better than all the rest for tea, Solidago odora. It does grow here, has an anise flavor, but is hard to find. It’s reported in most counties but is not common. Goldenrod grows in about half of the United States, southwest to northeast. Other Goldenrod species can also be made into tea, perhaps all of them particularly for herbal applications, but they don’t taste anywhere near as good.  In fact, after the “Boston Tea Party” of 1773 halted tea imports colonialists drank Goldenrod tea and even exported some to China. It did not catch on. However, every time I see a Goldenrod I pull off a leaf and crush it hoping to detect the tell-tale anise smell. It’s a golden treasure hunt.

The mysterious Swamp Mallow. Photo by Green Deane

Hibiscus moscheutos is one of my mystery plants and ranges over much of the United States except for the high plains states and the west coast (and my native state of Maine.)  The Swamp Rose Mallow is blossoming in damp spots locally particularly along the St. John River. I think its blossoming is more related to the shortening of the days than the weather per se. It has five separate petals united at the base and five green sepals. The blossom lasts only one day. They range from cream with a red or purple center to pale pink. It has a sticky, stringy juice. The question is, as a Hibiscus, are the blossoms edible or other parts? I have never found a reference to edibility. In fact, it seems only one Native American tribe used it medicinally, the Shinnecock who lived on what we now call Long Island. They used it for bladder infections. European settlers, however used the species for a wide variety of ailments. As several writers attest it “abounds with mucilage.” It is always interesting when such a wide-spread plant is rarely mentioned in the ethnobotanical literature. That could mean it wasn’t used, we didn’t ask, or they didn’t tell us. To read more about mallows go here. 

Green Deane videos are now available on a USB.

Changing foraging videos:  My nine-DVD set of 135 videos has been selling for seven years and are still available. They are the same videos I have on You Tube. Some people like to have a separate copy.  A second option is a16-gig USB that has those 135 videos plus 15 more. While the videos can be run from the DVDs the videos on the USB have to be copied to your computer to play. They are MP4 files. The150-video USB is $99 and the 135-video DVD set is now $99. The DVDs will be sold until they run out then will be exclusively replaced by the USB. This is a change I’ve been trying to make for several years. So if you have been wanting the 135-video DVD set order it now as the price is reduced and the supply limited. Or you can order the USB. My headache is getting my WordPress Order page changed to reflect these changes. We’ve been working on it for over three weeks. However, if you want to order now either the USB or the DVD set make a $99 “donation” using the link at the bottom of this page or here.  That order form provides me with your address, the amount — $99 — tells me it is not a donation and in the note say if you want the DVD set or the USB. 

Green Deane Forum

Want to identify a plant? Perhaps you’re looking for a foraging reference? You might have a UFO, an Unidentified Flowering Object, you want identified. On the Green Deane Forum we — including Green Deane and others from around the world — chat about foraging all year. And it’s not just about warm-weather plants or just North American flora. Many nations share common weeds so there’s a lot to talk. There’s also more than weeds. The reference section has information for foraging around the world. There are also articles on food preservation, and forgotten skills from making bows to fermenting food.

Pindo Palm fruiting can vary greatly. Photo by Green Deane

When something is ripe or ready to be harvested varies. A window of a few weeks is normal for most species but often can be extended. Pindo Palms can demonstrate that. I normally start looking for Pindo Palm fruit at the end of spring. Memorial Day reminds me their season is coming soon. By June I am usually eating some here and there. We are now early-August and I had my first Pindo Palm fruit today in Central Florida. The palm’s fruit is one of my favorite wild edibles. I definitely do not have a sweet tooth — in fact I carry the gene for fruit sugar intolerance — but Pindo Palm fruit is one I really like so I keep a close eye on them. While they like late spring and early summer you can find an odd one here and there fruiting around Thanksgiving or Valentine’s Day. They are also a hearty palm and can take a lot of cold temperatures. 

This is weekly newsletter #417, If you want to subscribe to this free newsletter you can find the sign-up form in the menu at the top of the page.

 To donate to the Green Deane Newsletter click here.

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Monarda punctata, Horsemint, Beebalm. Photo by Green Deane

It’s the time of year when Horsemint is easy to find. Yes, it has been mentioned before but it’s worth mentioning again. To find it I could just say look for all the insects attracted to it. Horsemint is popular plants with the… Insecta Crowd. Or, you can just look for large pink bracts. Bracts are akin to lower leaves right below the blossom. (The bright red parts of a Poinsettia at Christmas are bracts. The Poinsettia blossoms themselves are small and nondescript.) On the Horsemint the bracts are easy-to-spot identifiers. The species also likes a specific environment which is high and dry or about as far from a swamp as you can get. Most of the time you will spot them while driving. Many roads in Florida cut through sand hills. This often creates upward sloping banks on either side of the road. That’s exactly where Horsemint likes to grow with or without vegetative competition.  They are also colonial: Where you find one you usually will find many. Horsemint also has other interesting properties. To read more about it go here. I also have a video.

Coco plums come in three colors but one flavor. Photo by Green Deane

In Port Charlotte last Saturday we found some ripe Cocoplums. Like Natal Plums. they are not actually plums but about the right size to be called that. Cocoplums come in three colors: White, dark red, and a dark blue purple that is almost black. Cocoplums are not everyone’s favorite but I like them and the seed tastes like granola or almonds. Next on the fruit find were Ground Cherries. Like the “plums” above Ground Cherries are not cherries but more closely related to tomatillos. We found a few ripe ones. They can produce all year but tend to have two seasons, before and after the summer heat. Following the Ground Cherries were Simpson’s Stoppers. The sweet berries are often in pairs and resemble marmalade in flavor with a slight bitter aftertaste. They were not yet fruiting in Port Charlotte but two weeks ago were fruiting in Largo. A big find — literally — was a Jambul Tree, which like the Cocoplum comes in three colors, white, red and dark purple. It’s a large commercial product in the Asian part of the world. Even when totally ripe and sweet there is a bit of astringency. What is odd this year is the fruiting time. It’s usually heavy with fruit in August but I think late rains in May has thrown the season off. And the Jambul is not just a south Florida resident. They also thrive and fruit mid-state in Orlando. And in our foraging in Orlando class Sunday one of the more unusual finds was Ringless Honey Mushrooms. That’s a species we usually see in November or so. However, there have been reports of them flushing because of the rain and we found a bunch just starting. And if Tropical Storm/Hurricane Dorian hits this weekend we might be overrun with mushrooms next week. Speaking of mushrooms…

It’s interesting that the current recommendation for eating mushroom — even cultivated store-boughten ones — is that they be cooked. Who suggested that I do not know but it is the mainstream view new based on genetics. One argument is only a small percent of the population have the enzymes to completely digest the chitin raw mushroom contain, a few more can digest it poorly and most not at all. This, it is reported, leads to gastro-intestinal distress et cetera. If true this raises other issues: Most insects have chitin and if we can’t digest chitin then maybe insects are not a good source of food. However, we do seem to eat insects and I personally have been eating shrimp shells (yes I eat the entire shrimp shells and all) for more than 30 years. That chitin doesn’t seem to bother me and I find it flavorful. But back to mushrooms…

A variety of edible “Milk Caps.” Photo by Green Deane

More salient perhaps is a 2015 study that found boiling edible mushrooms decreased their arsenic bioaccessibility as much as 71% depending upon the species. Frying them reduced the arsenic bioaccessibility by 11%. From a reduction-of-arsenic point of view boiling mushrooms is better than frying. But there are two devils in the details. The three species they tested are all cultivated: Shiitake, grocery store button mushrooms, and oysters. Would wild ones have yielded different results?  And… there is toxic arsenic and nontoxic arsenic made by plants. It is not reported which arsenic the researchers were detecting. Also which ever arsenic it was it was far more present in “ground” grown mushrooms than log- or wood-grown mushrooms. This suggested, according to the researchers the nontoxic arsenic — at least — was involved in structural support of the non-log raised mushrooms. (I guess that means mushrooms that grow on wood are sturdier and mushrooms that grow on the ground need more internal support.) And to confuse the issue one report said: “Except for Agaricus sp. (with predominantly the nontoxic arsenic compound arsenobetaine ) inorganic arsenic predominated in most of the store-bought mushrooms (albeit with low total arsenic concentrations). Should inorganic arsenic predominate in these mushrooms from contaminated areas, the risk to consumers under these circumstances should be considered.

Humans have been eating mushrooms long enough for each culture to know which ones kill quickly, which ones sicken, and which ones do not. Cooking mushrooms was not an option for a long time (nor was cooking insects.) One might construe that to mean humans were not made to eat mushrooms or insects but that would also have to apply to a lot of foods that are easier to digest and more nutritious if cooked.

Can allergies be blamed on Stevia?

Is there a Stevia Ragweed connection? I recently heard a doctor say there was but it was, shall we say, an informal remark. She said her husband can’t use Stevia because he is allergic to Ragweed. She then said the species are related. That is technically but distantly true. Both species are in the Aster Family which has some 22,000 members. It’s the largest of all plant families. Indeed, when folks have a difficult time identifying a plant they often call it a DLA… a Dirty Little Aster. Other than being in the same 22,000-member clan there is little else in common with the two. Also Stevia is consumed. If it is an allergen it would have to be by consumption. Ragweed has irritating pollen and is breathed in, a totally different mechanism. (Meaning people who are allergic to Ragweed would be able to eat it if it were edible.) I think the good doctor made a leap rather than a fact-supported deduction. You can grow Stevia in Florida. Unprocessed Stevia leaves are actually quit bitter.

Classes are held rain or shine but not tropical storms or hurricanes.

Weather may interfere with classes this weekend. The class Saturday in Apopka is probably unaffected by the approaching tropical weather. Or if it is it would probably be just rain and we hold classes in the rain. However, current prediction have the storm coming ashore on the east coast of Florida Sunday morning. It was coming ashore right at Ft. Pierce exactly when class is to start Sunday there at George LeStrange Preserve. Now they have move the landing further north. If the veers east a little and lands further north south Florid might be sunny Sunday morning. I will leave Ft. Pierce on the schedule in case “Dorian” moves out to sea or dissipates. We should have a good idea Friday. If it brings storm condition to the Ft. Pierce area that class will not meet.

Saturday August 31st, Wekiva State Park, 1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka, Florida 32712. 9 a.m. to noon. Arrive very early as there will be a lot of people wanting to go to the springs at 8 a.m. to swim. There is a park admission Fee: $6 per vehicle. Limit 8 people per vehicle, $4 for a single occupant vehicle, $2 pedestrians or bicyclists. Meet at the Sand Lake parking lot (road on left after entrance. Go to end of road.) Unlike city parks or the urban area, Wekiva Park is “wild” Florida. There are very few weeds of urbanization. The edibles are mostly native plants and far between. There is a lot of walking in this class. After class you can swim in the spring.

Sunday September 1st, George LeStrange Preserve, 4911 Ralls Road, Fort Pierce, FL, 34981. 9 a.m. to noon. The preserve has no official bathroom or drinking water so take advantage of the various eateries and gas stations before arrival. 

Saturday September 7th, 329 N. Park Avenue, Winter Park. 9 a.m. to noon.  Parking is free in the parking garage behind Panera’s.  This is a class specializing in finding wild edibles in an urban setting.

Sunday September 8th, Ft. Desoto Park, 3500 Pinellas Bayway S. St. Petersburg Fl 33715. Meet by the bathrooms at the parking lot of the “bay” fishing pier (not the “gulf” fishing pier.) 9 a.m. to noon. There is a fee to get into the park. The fishing pier is about halfway along the SW/NE road along the southern end of the park.

Saturday, September 14th, Wickham Park: 2500 Parkway Drive, Melbourne, FL 32935-2335. 9 a.m. to noon.Meet at the “dog park” inside the park.

October 11-12-13, foraging classes at Putney Farm, Honea Path, South Carolina.

Don’t forage along railroad tracks.

We shouldn’t forage along railroad tracks and you can blame it all on the Russian Thistle. This species, best known as the tumble weed that rolls across the wild west in movies, came with immigrants to southern South Dakota in the early 1870’s. Best guess is it contaminated their flax seed. By 1895  it reached New Jersey and California. The question was how? A professor who worked for the Department of Agriculture figured out the trains were spreading the seeds coast to coast. It was a remarkable idea at the time and brought him much fame. His solution to the unintentional distribution? Kill plants long railroad tracks. Thus began the practice of putting down some mighty and long-lasting chemicals to kill weeds sprouting amongst the iron rails. Railroad tracks are a good place to find seeds to take home and plant but not to find food. There have even been a few reported deaths from foraging along rail road tracks.

Goldenrod is Ruderal. What's that mean? Read the article. Photo by Green Deane
Goldenrod is ruderal. What’s that mean? Read the article. Photo by Green Deane

Also seen blooming now is Goldenrod. It’s a bit of a treasure hunt and disappointment. The treasure hunt is that one species is better than all the rest for tea, Solidago odora. It does grow here, has an anise flavor, but is hard to find. It’s reported in most counties but is not common. Goldenrod grows in about half of the United States, southwest to northeast. Other Goldenrod species can also be made into tea, perhaps all of them particularly for herbal applications, but they don’t taste anywhere near as good.  In fact, after the “Boston Tea Party” of 1773 halted tea imports colonialists drank Goldenrod tea and even exported some to China. It did not catch on. However, every time I see a Goldenrod I pull off a leaf and crush it hoping to detect the tell-tale anise smell. It’s a golden treasure hunt.

Donations to upgrade EatTheWeeds.com have gone well. Thank you to all who have contributed to either via the Go Fund Me link, the PayPal donation link or by writing to Green Deane POB 941793 Maitland FL, 32794.  And I am in the process of writing to folks who are interested in exchanging some webmastering for foraging classes. As they used to say when we had television with antennas, stay tuned.

This is weekly newsletter 370. If you want to subscribe to this free newsletter you can find the sign-up form in the menu at the top of the page.

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Bunya Bunya have starchy not oily seeds. Photo by Green Deane
Norfolk Island Pine has edible seeds.

Bunya Bunya get no respect in countries where people have plenty of food. The falling large cones — about this time of year — are consider a legal hazard and the trees are often cut down (as they were at the entrance to Bok Tower in Lake Wales. That plant preserve is the last place one would think they would be removed.) The bigger the cone the more likely it will have kernels in the shells. It is a bit of work to get the enclosed nuts out of their green husks. As the kernel taste more like chestnuts than pine nuts I prefer to roast them. This also makes the outer shell more brittle and easier to crack. You can read more about the Bunya-Buya here.    A reasonably close relative with edible seeds is the Norfolk Island Pine, upper right. They used to be standard landscaping fare and are far more common. Also called the Norfolk Pine, the species is common in warm, humid coastal areas because the species is quite salt tolerant (though there is one down the street from me in the middle of the state.)  At one time the greater family included a huge amount of species ranging over much of the earth. Botanists tell us that most of them died out along with the dinosaurs leaving just a few species ranging from South America to Australia. While in its native habitat the Norfolk Pine can reach 150 feet high and 10 feet through in North America it is often a house or office plant popular because it somewhat resembles a stringy Christmas tree.

Boerhavias have minute blossoms.

Foraging is like treasure hunting. While pedaling along a bike trail I had to stop at an intersection and noticed some Boerhavia diffusa. It’s a common marginal edible probably from India or somewhere near there. One usually finds it in somewhat trashy ground such as sidewalk cracks, parking lots, and dumps. So when I stopped at the intersection it was no surprise to see Boerhavia growing there. But growing next to it was a white Boerhavia, B. erecta. The leaves are more pointed than the common species and it’s a Florida native. B. erecta, the “Erect Spiderling” or “Erect Boerhavia”  has spread to other parts of the world and is reportedly edible and medicinal like B. difussa. You can read about the ruby-blossomed B. diffusa here.

Goldenrods turn towards the sun. Photo by Green Deane

Also seen on bike trails and blooming now is Goldenrod. It is a bit of a treasure hunt and disappointment. The treasure hunt is that one species is better than all the rest for tea, Solidago odora. It does grow here, has an anise flavor, but is hard to find. It’s reported in most counties but is not common. Goldenrod grows in about half of the United States, southwest to northeast. Other Goldenrod species can also be made into tea, perhaps all of them particularly for herbal applications, but they don’t taste anywhere near as good.  In fact, after the “Boston Tea Party” of 1773 halted tea imports colonialists drank Goldenrod tea and even exported some to China. It did not catch on. However, every time I see a Goldenrod I pull off a leaf and crush it hoping to detect the tell-tale anise smell. It’s a golden treasure hunt.

Sugarberries have warty bark and no thorns. Photo by Green Deane

There is a tree you should be scouting for now so when the fruit ripens next month you’ll have some already located. As in real estate so in foraging: Location, location, location. Hackberries (also widely know as Sugarberries) like to be near but not in fresh water. You can often find them about 10 feet above the local water table but I’ve seen them as low as three feet. Usually you can find them up the bank from the water. Older Hackberry bark will often be warty, sometimes heavily so. Leaves have uneven shoulders, and on the back side of the leaf notice three prominent veins at the base, unusual for tree leaves. The small-pea sized fruit is green this time of year but will ripen to a burnt orange. The entire fruit is edible though the seed is hard. To read more about them go here.

Foraging classes are held rain or shine, heat or cold.

My foraging classes this weekend range from Jacksonville to north central Florida in Cassadaga. The Jacksonville campus is always a pleasant location with great diversity. Colby Park in Cassadaga is a small but fruitful place that historically draws small classes. More personal attention that way. It has edible “Yams” and good examples of Kudzu.

Saturday, August 10th, Florida State College,  south campus, 11901 Beach Blvd.,  Jacksonville, 32246.  9 a.m. to noon. We will meet at building “D”  next to the administration parking lot.

Sunday, August 11th, Colby-Alderman Park: 1099 Massachusetts Street, Cassadaga. Fla. 32706. 9 a.m. to noon. Meet by the bathrooms. 

Saturday August 17th, Eagle Park Lake, 1800 Keene Road, Largo, FL 33771. 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at the pavilion near the dog park.

Sunday August 18th, Ft. Meade Outdoor Recreation Area, 1639 Frostproof Highway, Fort Meade, FL 33841. (Frostproof Highway is also Route 98.)  9 a.m to noon. Meet at the bathrooms in the middle of the park which is due south from the highway and not near the entrance.

Saturday, August 24th, Bayshore Live Oak Park, Bayshore Drive. Port Charlotte. 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at the parking lot at the intersection of Bayshore Road and Ganyard Street. 9 a.m. to noon.

Sunday, August 25th, Blanchard Park, 10501 Jay Blanchard Trail, Orlando, FL 32817. 9 a.m. to noon. Meet next to the tennis courts by the YMCA building.

Saturday August 31st, Wekiva State Park, 1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka, Florida 32712. 9 a.m. to noon. Arrive very early as there will be a lot of people wanting to go to the springs at 8 a.m. to swim. There is a park admission Fee: $6 per vehicle. Limit 8 people per vehicle, $4 for a single occupant vehicle, $2 pedestrians or bicyclists. Meet at the Sand Lake parking lot (road on left after entrance. Go to end of road.) Unlike city parks or the urban area, Wekiva Park is “wild” Florida. There are very few weeds of urbanization. The edibles are mostly native plants and far between. There is a lot of walking in this class. After class you can swim in the spring.

Sunday September 1st, George LeStrange Preserve, 4911 Ralls Road, Fort Pierce, FL, 34981. 9 a.m. to noon. The preserve has no official bathroom or drinking water so take advantage of the various eateries and gas stations before arrival. 

Saturday September 7th, 329 N. Park Avenue, Winter Park. 9 a.m. to noon.  Parking is free in the parking garage behind Panera’s.  This is a class specializing in finding wild edibles in an urban setting.

Sunday September 8th, Ft. Desoto Park, 3500 Pinellas Bayway S. St. Petersburg Fl 33715. Meet by the bathrooms at the parking lot of the “bay” fishing pier (not the “gulf” fishing pier.) 9 a.m. to noon. There is a fee to get into the park. The fishing pier is about halfway along the SW/NE road along the southern end of the park.

Saturday, September 14th, Wickham Park: 2500 Parkway Drive, Melbourne, FL 32935-2335. 9 a.m. to noon.Meet at the “dog park” inside the park.

October 11-12-13, foraging classes at Putney Farm, Honea Path, South Carolina.

Horsemint is starting its showy season. Photo by Green Deane

Wild mints are prima donnas. Once on stage they hate to get off.  Locally I would expect to see Horsemint, Monarda punctata, in full bloom this month but late rains might have pushed the season back. Horsemint can flower for several months. I have found some unshowy ones located exactly where one would expect to find it: On a dry bank up from a trail. You can also find it in the same area near roads especially roads that cut through a sand hill. Look for the showy pink bracts. If you’re in the Carolinas you’ll be seeing the bright red Monarda didym. Where I grew up in New England the wild mints were called Oswego Tea.

Sweetgum Fruit are often found by bare feet.

Do you know why the Sweet Gum tree is called that? Because while it tastes mighty bad it is not as bad as the other “gum” trees, one of which is not season yet but is fruiting, the Black Gum. You have to like sour and bitter to like the Black Gum tree.  If you don’t the fruit is offensive and elicits comments that cannot be printed in wholesome publications. This did not stop desperate settlers from adding a lot of sugar to the fruit and making jelly out of it. The seed itself is easy to identify in that under the pulp there are vertical striations covering the seed. I have seen the species in classes in Gainesville and Jacksonville. The tree usually looks gangly and has branches that are often on a 90-degree angle to the trunk.  To read more about the Black Gum and its nearly-offensive but edible relatives click here.

Green Parasol Spore Print
Green Parasol Spore Print

What is that mushroom on your lawn? Locally a toxic mushroom has been flourishing, the Green Spore Parasol also called the Green Parasol and the False Parasol, Chlorophyllum molybdites . It causes more non-fatal mushroom poisonings than any other species in North America. This is because it has some close look alikes that are edible. The Green Spore Parasol is almost unique in that it is one of the very few mushrooms with green spores. If you pull off the stem and lay the cap on a white piece of paper or clear plastic for a few hours to a day it will leave a green spore print. They almost aways pop up on lawns and often in a “troop” or what we used to call a fairy ring. Also called the “Gut Wrencher” a few people seem immune to its toxin but don’t try it. The one death on record involved a two-year old child who ate some raw, had convulsions, then died 17 hours later. Adults usually get go-to-the-hospital diarrhea, among other gastro-intestional symptoms. There is, however, no lasting organ damage. The mushroom is, however, is deadly to horses. (There is one reference to edibility after processing a particular way but I have not tried it.)

Green Deane Forum

Want to identify a plant? Perhaps you’re looking for a foraging reference? You might have a UFO, an Unidentified Flowering Object you want identified. On the Green Deane Forum we — including Green Deane and some 8,000 others from around the world — chat about foraging all year. And it’s not just about warm-weather plants or just North American flora. Many nations share common weeds so there’s a lot to talk about, such as the one to the left. There’s also more than weeds. The reference section has information for foraging around the world. There are also articles on food preservation, and forgotten skills from making bows to fermenting food. Recent topics include: Roadside Plant. Weed In Garden. Those Special Places. Yellow Fruit Found Along River. Bee Humor. Pretty Purple Plant. Cultivated Apios Americana, Mushroom Identification Tips, Another Bolete: Edible? Wood Potato, Chocolate Mushie, Are All Crown Berries Edible? Keeping our cells young,  Apple-like fruit on a vine, Square stem and balls of flowers, Is the saw Palmetto supposed to be bitter? Is This A Young Dandelion? Looks Like A Thistle Flower. Mint? Is This A Gopher Apple? and No Flower Too Wrong. You can join the forum by clicking on the button on the upper right hand side of this page.

Railroad track land can be toxic. Photo by Green Deane

We shouldn’t forage along railroad tracks and you can blame it all on the Russian Thistle. This species, best known as the tumble weed that rolls across the wild west in movies, came with immigrants to southern South Dakota in the early 1870’s. Best guess is it contaminated their flax seed. By 1895  it reached New Jersey and California. The question was how? A professor who worked for the Department of Agriculture figured out the trains were spreading the seeds coast to coast. It was a remarkable idea at the time and brought him much fame. His solution to the unintentional distribution? Kill plants long railroad tracks. Thus began the practice of putting down some mighty and long-lasting chemicals to kill weeds sprouting amongst the iron rails. Railroad tracks are, however, a good source of exotic seeds.

Foraging DVDs make a good gift to watch during the lifeless months of winter.

All My Videos are available for free on You Tube. They do have ads on them so every time you watch a Green Deane video I get a quarter of one cent. Four views, one cent. Not exactly a large money-maker but it helps pays for this newsletter. If you want to see the videos without ads and some in slightly better quality you can order the DVD set. It is nine DVDs with 15 videos on each for a total of 135 videos.  Many people want their own copy of the videos or they have a slow service and its easier to order then to watch them on-line. The DVDs make a good gift for that forager you know especially as spring is … springing. Individual DVDs can also be ordered or you can pick and choose. You can order them by clicking on the button on the top right hand side of this page (if your window is open wide enough.)  Or you can go here.

Donations to upgrade EatTheWeeds.com and fund a book have gone well. Thank you to all who have contributed to either via the Go Fund Me link, the PayPal donation link  or by writing to Green Deane POB 941793 Maitland FL, 32794.  Recent upgrades have been paid now the Forum needs work and several function 

This is weekly newsletter 367. You can sign up for this free newsletter by clicking on menu (or find in the command line) Newsletter Sign-up.

I am in the need for a part-time webmaster who knows WordPress and who would like to exchange web work for foraging classes. The job would consist up upgrading or resolving some current issues — mostly minor – to solving future issues as they arise. 

 

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A very tasty Old Man of the Woods. An identifying characteristic is a crushed stem that turns deep red or orange. Photo by Green Deane

If you are in the habit of eating wild mushroom then you’re waiting for the spring rains. Local this usually happens in latter April or early May. That and warmer ground temperature tells mushrooms to grow. As a prelude I had my first edible wild mushroom find of the season this week.

You can powder the dry stem then add it to salt for flavoring. Photo by Green Deane

Old Man of the Woods, Strobilomyces sp.  is a rather distinct mushroom. There are a few variations  — a microscope helps to sort them out — but they are all edible. There are at least three species in North America and are in a group of mushrooms called Boletes. These mushrooms do not have gills but rather pores on the underside. The saving grace is none of them cause lasting organ damage if you eat a toxic one. There is a short check list one can use to tell if a Bolete is a potential edible.  In Europe most of the Boletes are edible, in North America most are not, and in The South if not Florida many are unidentified. Opinions vary on the Old Men. Some cook and eat the entire mushroom. Others just the cap with pores throwing away the stems, others just the cap throwing away the pores, and some not liking the texture dry the pore-less cap, powder it, and use it for flavoring. I like the cap with pores fried which is how I cooked the one at the top of the newsletter. To me they taste like Porcini mushroom. The only drawback is you find only one or two at a time.

Milk Caps exude a white liquid. Photo by Green Deane

One local trio of edible mushroom we are waiting for are called “Milk Caps.” When broken or scraped all three weep a liquid, often white. It is not a latex but is called that. The liquid, however, can also be light yellow or watery. That the mushroom is the weeping helps you identify the genus, sometimes the species. Common locally is the Lactifluus hygrophorides, L. corrugis, L. volemus var. volemus and L. luteolus. The latter is edible but smells strongly like a dead fish.  I picked some twelve pounds of them last year. They’re a substantial mushroom with a good flavor and texture. They are also fairly easy to identify. It has a ruddy cap, slightly felt-like to touch, wide-space gills, and bleeds a white fluid that does not stain the mushroom. 

Chanterelles are a different color inside than outside. Photo by Green Deane

Perhaps the most coveted wild mushroom locally is the Chanterelle. We have several species and sometimes they are difficult to sort out. That is not just in the field. The genus is, as they say, is under revision and the names are changing. Experts can’t agree exactly how many species there are and how many of them are found locally. It’s fairly easy to tell if one has a Chanterelle. It’s a bit more of a challenge to figure out which Chanterelle you have. I collected some 22 pounds of them last year. They are distinct enough in flavor and texture to hold their own in recipes. I like them sautéed with scrambled eggs.

Pineapple Guava blossoms are peppery. Photo by Green Deane

Perhaps no ornamental was championed as much as the Pineapple Guava. However the perfect shrub for many places never really caught on. There could be several reasons for that. It probably didn’t help that a close relative, the Strawberry Guava, is a severe invasive species in some locations.  The shrub also does not get showy. It’s almost always drab. And while the blossoms are extroverted you have to hunt for them. While the entire blossom is edible most people only eat the petals. Five or six months from now they will be dark green fruit that stay green as they ripen. They just get softer. The shrub is easy to identify when in blossom. To read more about both guavas, go here.

Cooked blossoms are comfort food. Photo by Green Deane

Let us revisit what is blossoming this time of year: The Eastern Coral Bean. It is also sometimes called the Cherokee Bean. What is odd about this plant is the edible flowers produce toxic beans.  So we do not eat the red and black beans. A few of the red blossoms are edible raw but they are usually boiled then mixed with other foods notably scrambled eggs. When you cook the blossoms they turn light green. The distinctive shape of the leaves makes the shrub easy to identify. Young leaves are edible cooked but are marginal fare. Like the Pawpaws above they prefer dry, sunny places. A few raw red blossoms seem okay but if eaten in larger amounts they can be mind altering and approaching dangerous. Boiled they are fine. (Juice from the shrub’s stems, by the way, has been used to treat scorpion stings.)  You can read more about the Eastern Coral Bean here.

Forestiera segregata

What’s the old saying? Close but no cigar. That might be the case with Foresteria segregata. Also called Florida Privet and Swamp Privet, you can find it anywhere from brackish waterways to an intentional ornamental in landscaping. The straight limbs were used for arrows and the blue berries possibly used for ink. I suspect the species has never worked its way into ethnobotanical literature because the berries taste bad. I’m not sure, however, if the story ends there. Yes, the berries are not considered edible. That said I have not found any references to toxicity but that might be because they are too foul to eat. However, it is in the Olive family and olives don’t taste good unless “cured.” What I wonder is 1) if the fruit are edible if 2) they are treated (meaning cured)  like olives?  It’s pure speculation on my part. They could be toxic for all I know. But it’s an idea.

Foraging classes are held rain or shine, heat or cold.

Foraging classes: Saturday’s class is in my own backyard, so to speak, Orlando, Blanchard Park. The rain should be past but it might be a little chilly. Sunday’s class is in Eagle Park Lake in Largo, a site we haven’t visited for several months.

Saturday, April 20th, Blanchard Park, 10501 Jay Blanchard Trail, Orlando, FL 32817. 9 a.m. to noon. Meet next to the tennis courts by the YMCA building.

Sunday, April 21st, Eagle Park Lake, 1800 Keene Road, Largo, FL 33771. 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at the pavilion near the dog park. Arrive earlier than later as it is Easter and the park can fill fast.

Saturday, April 27th,  Red Bug Slough Beneva Road, Sarasota, FL, 34233.  9 a.m. to noon. Meet at the parking lot. 

Saturday, May 4th, Colby-Alderman Park: 1099 Massachusetts Street, Cassadaga. Fla. 32706. 9 a.m. to noon. Meet by the bathrooms. 

Sunday, May 5th: Ft. Meade Outdoor Recreation Area, 1639 Frostproof Highway, Fort Meade, FL 33841. (Frostproof Highway is also Route 98.)  9 a.m to noon. Meet at the brown bathrooms in the middle of the park which is due south from the highway. 

Saturday, May 11th,  Dreher Park, 1200 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach, 33405. 9 a.m to noon. Meet just north of the science center in the north section of the park. 

Sunday, May 12th, Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge, 2045 Mud Lake Road, DeLeon Springs, FL. 9 a.m. to noon. A few hundred feet after crossing the railroad tracks on Mudlake Road there in the parking lot on your right.  We meet there. This is a hike of approximately four miles, two out and back mostly native species, very few ornamentals. While the walking is easy we are exposed to the elements, sun on a clear day, wind on a cold day. Check the weather, dress appropriately. Bring water, wear suitable footwear. Know that as it is federal land it can be closed anytime for any reason without notice. 

Saturday, May 18th, Florida State College,  south campus, 11901 Beach Blvd.,  Jacksonville, 32246.  9 a.m. to noon. We will meet at building “D”  next to the administration parking lot.

Sunday, May 19th, Boulware Springs Park, 3420 SE 15th St.,  Gainesville, FL 32641. 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at the picnic tables next to the pump house.

For more information or to sign up for a class go here.

Foraging is more than identifying edible wild plants. It also involves knowing how to cook them, when they are prime to harvest, and subject of this review, where to find them. In real estate the mantra is “location, location, location.” We could use that with plants but a refinement would be “environment, environment, environment.”

Sea Purslane tolerates salty ground.

We know not to look for swamp plants in a desert, unless there is an isolated spring there such as an oasis. Likewise, few cactus grow in swamps though there are exceptions. We also usually find salt tolerant plants near the shore or inland near salt licks (and sometimes along northern roads salted every winter.) But some of those salt-tolerant plants will grow in your garden and do not need to be in a salty environment. Sea Purslane is found on the shore or near brackish water where its job is to build soil by forcing the wind to slow down and drop sand. But, it will also grow in your garden, no salt or wind needed. Other plants are more picky and won’t grow well if not in their preferred location.

Blueberries, Roan Mt. North Carolina.

For example, one species I am long-familiar with is Blueberries. They like soil on the acidic side, a pH below 7 on a 14-point scale. I grew up in poor-soil Maine where one could find 120-acre fields of nothing but Blueberries. Yet where I live in Florida Blueberries are found in small colonies in isolated pockets. Why? One answer is Florida is a limestone plate (alkaline not acidic) so it is a waste of time to look for Blueberries unless there are acid-producing pines, oaks or perhaps cypress nearby. I planted Blueberries specifically bred for Florida but one has to amend the soil — the amount of acid — nearly as much as one has to work daily to keep a pool from turning green. They eventually died, one of my few failures.

Dandelions like acidic soil.

Another example is Dandelions. I have observed for several decades that Dandelions don’t like Florida, or at least the areas of Florida I visit. They like acidic soil. It might be it is not Florida’s heat they don’t like but rather the alkaline (“sweet”) soil. The few places I have seen Dandelions growing have been areas of acidic soil again near pines and often oaks. Dreher Park in West Palm Beach is a good example. What Dandelions there are there can be found growing in lawn grass amongst oaks. While I have also found Dandelions year round they tend to favor the winter months such as November through February.

Henbit, one of the few “sweet” springtime greens. Photo by Green Deane

Some plants can do well in nearly any soil. Henbit, Dead Nettle and Shepard’s Purse are good examples. However, a close relative of Shepard’s Purse, Poor Man’s Pepper Grass, likes soil on the alkaline side. This means you probably won’t find Pepper Grass near Pines and Oaks. Plants that like acidic soil (below a pH of 7.0) that you can find near Oaks and Pines include Eastern Bracken Fern, Curly Dock, Mullein, Nettles, Violets, Pineapple Weed, Plantagos, Wild Radish, Sheep Sorrel, Sow Thistle, and wild Strawberries. Plants that like it on the “sweet” or alkaline side besides Pepper Grass? Wild Carrots, Lamb’s Quarters, Amaranth, Pokeweed, White Mustard, and Purslane. Don’t look for those in an oak scrub or with a lot pines around.

Wild Garlic likes thick soil.

Besides the pH of soil the kind of soil can make a difference. Chicory likes “heavy” soil meaning lots of clay, or rocks. Also liking heavy soil is Broadleaf Dock, Daisies, Milkweed, Plantains, true Thistles, and Wild Garlic. Plants that can endure hard packed soil include Field Mustard, Morning Glories — some of which are edible — and Pineapple Weed (it used to grow in our gravel driveway.) Going the other directions, plants that like sandy soil include Goldenrods, Sandspurs , Horsemint, and Spurge Nettle. Plants too look for in agricultural soil include chickweed, Dandelions, Lambs Quarters, Plantains, Amaranth and Purslane. And while Florida Betony can grow edible roots in rich loam or sand it tends to grow larger and easier to harvest roots in sand.

Crab Grass likes low-calcium soil.

By their very presence some plants can tell you about what’s in or not in the soil. Burdock likes soil very high in iron and sulfate but low in calcium and manganese. Chickweed and Dandelions like low-calcium low-phosphorus soils. Crabgrass likes very low levels of calcium, phosphorus but high levels of chlorine, magnesium and potassium. Oxalis and Hop Cover, however, prefer low levels of calcium but high levels of magnesium. Purslane and Mustard like high phosphorus levels.

Clover prefers low nitrogen soil.

If you see a healthy patch of White Clover you know the soil is lacking in nitrogen. Or said another way, you won’t find happy White Clover in nitrogen-rich soil. I suspect that holds true for other members of the pea family as well. Because of preferences you will usually not find amaranth and clover growing together. Red Clover, however, prefers to grow in areas of soil high in potassium. Wild Garlic also likes high potassium as well along with chlorine, magnesium, and sodium.

The Nine DVD set includes 135 videos.

All My Videos are available for free on You Tube. They do have ads on them so every time you watch a Green Deane video I get a quarter of one cent. Four views, one cent. Not exactly a large money-maker but it helps pays for this newsletter. If you want to see the videos without ads and some in slightly better quality you can order the DVD set. It is nine DVDs with 15 videos on each for a total of 135 videos.  Many people want their own copy of the videos or they have a slow service and its easier to order then to watch them on-line. The DVDs make a good gift for that forager you know especially as spring is … springing. Individual DVDs can also be ordered or you can pick and choose. You can order them by clicking on the button on the top right hand side of this page (if your window is open wide enough.)  Or you can go here.

Green Deane Forum

Want to identify a plant? Looking for a foraging reference? Do you have a UFO, an Unidentified Flowering Object you want identified? On the Green Deane Forum we chat about foraging all year. And it’s not just about warm-weather plants or just North American flora. Many nations around the world share common weeds so there’s a lot to talk about. There’s also more than weeds. The reference section has information for foraging around the world. There are also articles on food preservation, and forgotten skills from making bows to fermenting food. One special section is “From the Frightening Mail Bag” where we learn from people who eat first then ask questions later. You can join the forum by clicking on “forum” in the menu.

Donations to upgrade EatTheWeeds.com have gone well. Thank you to all who have contributed to either via the Go Fund Me link, the PayPal donation link or by writing to Green Deane POB 941793 Maitland FL, 32794.

This is weekly issue 351.  

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The Chinese Tallow tree is also called the Pop Corn Tree.

Chinese Tallow seed oil –Stillingia — is toxic. It has industrial uses, however.

Is it edible? Yes, no, maybe… The Chinese Tallow tree is both banned and championed. It’s edibility is also bound to why it is even in the United States to begin with.  The tree was imported by none other than Ben Franklin (well… he sent some seeds to a friend.)  The purpose was to use the white external seed fat for making candles which beef suet, tallow, was once used for. Hence the tree’s name in English. In theory that small coating of saturated fat on the outside of the seed is edible. It is also very stable. But there are two problems. It can be very difficult to remove and inside the seed there is an oil toxic to humans. So the fat and the oil should not mix. Some people have experimented with crushing the entire seed and heating the mash thus melting the saturated fat along with releasing the toxic oil. When they settle the edible fat and the non-edible oil are separated.  In China, where the tree is valued, they steam the white saturated fat off. The tree, while an invasive species in some areas of North America — such as Florida — is being considered as a good candidate for bio-fuel. You can read my article about it here about it here. A later magazine article about the species is here.   

Caesarweed blossoms are edible.

Caesarweed is a common sight locally but right now it is being a seasonal extrovert and blossoming profusely. Like the Chinese Tallow tree above, Caesar Weed is another plant intentionally imported for industrial use, in its case making fiber for burlap bags and the like. It’s not strong enough to make a sturdy rope like Skunk Vine (which is also blossoming now and was imported to make rope.) But if thrown in water and allowed to rot for a few weeks long blast fibers are left over. The tasteless flowers are edible, the seeds can be ground and used like corn starch, and the leaves have medicinal uses besides being a famine food. They are hairy and upset the tummy. You can read about Caesar Weed here or see a video I did on it here. 

Monarda punctarta

Horsemint is happy right now. It begins to be seen in August, usually flourishes in September, and hangs out till October. However, it’s still going strong this first week in October and oddly can sometimes a specimen or two can be found way out of season during warm weather. Horsemine is in a large family of mints in the Monarda genus. Back home it was called Oswego Tea. As far as I know they are all useable. I would say edible but one does not tend to eat a lot of mint. It is used for flavoring, teas, and the like. Horsemint likes dry, sandy soil and growing among other weeds. It usually creates a stand of its own. It is also a species some folk would like to make illegal. To read why, go here. To see my video go here. 

Last week’s newsletter published a mushroom mystery seen in Port Orange, which is a few miles south of Daytona Beach on the coast. A palm stump had what appeared to be Oyster Mushrooms on them. There are at last three edible Oyster mushrooms locally. While they do have a general season they are more discovery than a mushroom you can expect to find regularly. This time of year one expects some small ones with lilac-colored spore prints and later in the cooler months larger Osyters with white spore prints. My first guess was Pleurotus pulmonarius. Andrew Gerren agreed: 

Pleurotus pulmonarius, Oyster Mushrooms.

“I believe the specimen is indeed an oyster. Likely Pleurotus pulmonarius, commonly known as the phoenix oyster or Italian oyster. It has a tendency for hardwoods/deciduous softwoods but unlike most other oyster species it can be found/cultivated on conifers. Cool to find it on palm! They are typically smaller and whiter than ostreatus, but can get pretty big and still be a greyish-brown depending on environmental conditions. It might seem silly but a good way to ID oysters is by smell, oysters seem to have a rather distinct smell. But decurrent, tightly packed, blade-like gills are great indicators of an oyster. The specimen on the left is a good demonstration of the gills running down the stem to the base/attachment point. The lilac/white spore print is good confirmation as well. This time of year I would have usually thought ostreatus but the fact that it is florida and a palm tree I would say pulmonarius. The size and color also point to pulmonarius. All oysters that I am aware of are edible though. Its an easy mushroom to cultivate as well.”

This is also a good time and place to reiterate that Ringless Honey Mushrooms are being reported here and there though the usual season’s time is the first two weeks in November. It can flush any time of year but usually it is around November.  I found a bunch in Gainesville Saturday last but since I was on a multi-day fast there was no opportunity to eat them.

Classes are held rain or shine or cold. Hurricanes are an exception.

Foraging Classes: Lots of traveling this weekend. The Saturday foraging class is in Largo, on the west coast north of St. Petersburg. It’s a nice location. On our last class there notable finds were Latex Strangler Vine (edible fruit) and several edible Old Man of the Woods mushrooms. Sunday’s class is more remote: Haulover Canal. This class involves more than three miles of walking and climbing some embankments. We get to see salt tolerant plants to scrub species. We should be able to find some Tallow Plums… tasty. Note the meeting spot for that class is a bit unusual, the northwest end of the canal. Then we walk east, visit the Manatee viewing area, cross the one bridge, then wander around the southeast and southwest parts of the canal finally recrossing the bridge and back to where we started. Bathrooms are Port-O-Lets. Bring drinking water. 

Saturday, October 6th, Eagle Lake Park, 1800 Keene Road, Largo, FL 33771. 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at the pavilion near the dog park, south end of the park. 

Sunday, October 7th, Haulover Canal, Merritt Island National Refuge, north of the Kennedy Space Center.  9 a.m. to noon. Take SR 405 east from Titusville to SR 3, then turn left, or north. Haulover Canal is the only bridge you will cross on SR 3, approximately six miles. Go over the bridge, then turn left onto a dirt road, follow that to its western end. This class requires much walking,  more than miles, and some embankment climbing.  

Saturday, October 13th, Florida State College,  south campus, 11901 Beach Blvd.,  Jacksonville, 32246.  We will meet at building “D”  next to the administration parking lot. 9 a.m. to noon.

Sunday, October 14th, Wickham Park: 2500 Parkway Drive, Melbourne, FL 32935-2335. Meet at the “dog park” inside the park. 9 a.m. to noon.

To read more about the foraging classes or to sign up go here. 

Foraging DVDs make a good gift to study during long winter.

All of Green Deane’s videos are available for free on You Tube. They do have ads on them so every time you watch a Green Deane video I get a quarter of one cent. Four views, one cent. Not exactly a large money-maker but it helps pays for this newsletter. If you want to see the videos without ads and some in slightly better quality you can order the DVD set. It is nine DVDs with 15 videos on each for a total of 135 videos.  Many people want their own copy of the videos or they have a slow service and its easier to order then to watch them on-line. The DVDs make a good gift for that forager you know especially on long, cold winter months. Individual DVDs can also be ordered or you can pick and choose. You can order them by clicking on the button on the top right hand side of this page (if your window is open wide enough.)  Or you can go here.

Donations to upgrade EatTheWeeds.com and fund a book have gone well and made it past the half way mark. Thank you to all who have contributed to either via the Go Fund Melink, the PayPal donation link or by writing to Green Deane POB 941793 Maitland FL, 32794.  There are many needs left such as expanding the foraging teacher page and the page on monotypic edibles. Several functions were also lost when we transitioned to the new website.  There’s always something and such things get more complex and expensive every year. 

Green Deane Forum

Want to identify a plant? Need to identify a plant? Looking for a foraging reference? Maybe you have a UFO, an Unidentified Flowering Object, you want identified. On the Green Deane Forum we — including Green Deane — chat about foraging all year. And it’s not just about warm-weather plants or just North American flora. Many nations share common weeds so there’s a lot to talk about. There’s also more than weeds. The reference section has information for foraging around the world. There are articles on food preservation, and forgotten skills from making bows to fermenting food. Recent topics include: I Finally Found Wapato, Looks like Corn, Weed With Pod At Top, A Mile Walk In The Woods, Chicken of the Woods?, Elderberry Fungus, Spurge Nettle 2018, Does Anybody Know This Berry, and Five-Minute “English” Muffin with Beautyberries.  You can join the forum by clicking on the button in the menu line.

This is weekly issue 324. 

If you would like to donate to Eat The Weeds please click here. Or you can use my Go Fund Me  link, or by writing to Green Deane POB 941793 Maitland FL, 32794

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Wild Chanterelles and wild rice waiting to be cooked. Photo by Green Deane

Edible Black Trumpet Mushroom. Photo by Green Deane

There’s an old phrase: “Sometimes you have to bow to the absurd” meaning you can’t ignore the bizarre even if you’d like to. We should change the phrase slightly to “sometimes you have to bow to the obvious.” Last Sunday during our foraging class in Gainesville we could not ignore the chanterelles. And although the focus of the foraging class is not mushrooms per se it would have been wrong to ignore these tasty fungi. There were enough for everyone wanted some to go home with many. More so, the students also developed a quick eye for finding them. You can be sure chanterelles will be foraged for again. I also had a personal best. I found a Black Trumpet mushroom. I have been with others when they found the edible chanterelle relatives and I have seen them on hiking trails in the Appalachian Mountains. But, this was the first one I found in Florida. Incidentally, during Saturday’s class in Orlando we saw Ringless Honey Mushroom (unusual this time of year) the so-called White Chicken of the Woods, Laetiporus persicinus (more on that edible next week) and Ganoderma curtisii, a medicinal Reishi mushroom some try to eat. 

Sumacs are in blossom. Photo by Green Deane

What is that? It’s a common question locally now that sumacs are in bloom. Their creamy terminal blossoms stand out looking somewhat exotic among the dark green foliage. The most common species here is Winged Sumac which is also one of the most widely-distributed sumac in North America. It’s found nearly everywhere though in different locales other species may dominate.  Where I grew up in Maine Staghorn Sumac was the common species and grew quite tall. I see them often when I visit North Carolina. The key to making sure you have an edible sumac and not toxic Poison Sumac or Brazilian Pepper is location of the blossom and subsequent fruit. Edible sumacs have terminal clusters of medium to dark red berries covered with fine hair. In this case “terminal” means they are on the very end of  the branch, like the blossom on the left. Brazilian Pepper has pink berries that are further down the branch. Poison Sumac, which only grows only in wet places, has dull cream to green-cream berries also further down on the stem. To read more about sumacs go here. 

Foraging classes are held rain or shine.

Foraging Classes are about three hours long and cover edible and medicinal plants and mushrooms we find that day. It’s all hands on. Sampling is allowed.

The Saturday class Aug 11 will be rescheduled for September.

Sunday, August 12, Wickham Park, 2500 Parkway Drive, Melbourne, FL 32935-2335. Meet at the “dog park” inside the park, 9 a.m.

Saturday, August 18th, Wekiva State Park, 1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka, Florida 32712. There is a park admission Fee: $6 per vehicle.  $4 for a single occupant vehicle, $2 pedestrians or bicyclists. Meet at the Sand Lake parking lot (after you pay pass the parking lot on your left then turn left at the Y. Go to the end. This is a rustic walk; No water, no official bathrooms, and a hot time of year. The class is three hours or less.) I recommend you arrive early as the park fills with bathers. 

Sunday August 19th, Eagle Park Lake, 1800 Keene Road, Largo, FL33771. 9 a.m. Meet at the pavilion near the dog park.

Monday, August 27th, 1624 Taylor Road, Honea Path, South Carolina. Ever want to meet Green Deane but he never seems to come to your neck of the woods? Then mark Monday, August 27th, on your calendar. Green Deane will have a free foraging class in Honea Path, South Carolina, at the Putney Farm, 1624 Taylor Road. Several folks have signed up. The foraging begins at 10 a.m., rain or shine (except hurricanes.) All of Green Deane’s classes are hands on, walking outside. Wild edible plants, medicinals and perhaps a mushroom or two will be on the agenda (as Green Deane is in the Carolinas that week studying local mushrooms.) Donations to Putney Farm are appreciated as they are hosting the event. For more information you can contact Putney Farm on Facebook or Green Deane at GreenDeane@gmail.com. 

Saturday, September 1st, TBA

Sunday, September 2nd, Red Bug Slough Preserve, 5200 Beneva Road, Sarasota, FL, 34233. 9 a.m.

Saturday, September 8th, Blanchard Park, 10501 Jay Blanchard Trail, Orlando, FL 32817. 9 a.m. Meet at the pavilion east of the tennis courts near the YMCA.

To learn more about the classes go here. 

Monarda punctata, Horsemint, Beebalm. Photo by Green Deane

Wild mints are prima donnas. Once on stage they hate to get off.  Locally I would expect to see Horsemint, Monarda punctata, in full bloom in a few weeks but it has pushed the season and can be found now. Horsemint can flower for several months. This Sunday we located some exactly where one would expect to find it: On a dry bank up from a trail. You can also find it in the same area near roads especially roads that cut through a sand hill. Look for the showy pink bracts. If you’re in the Carolinas you’ll be seeing the bright red Monarda didyma. In my native state of Maine it was called Oswego Tea. No doubt there is a showy mint near you. If you want to read about Horsemint you go here.

Green Deane Forum

Want to identify a plant? Need to identify a plant? Looking for a foraging reference? Maybe you have a UFO, an Unidentified Flowering Object, you want identified. On the Green Deane Forum we — including Green Deane — chat about foraging all year. And it’s not just about warm-weather plants or just North American flora. Many nations share common weeds so there’s a lot to talk about. There’s also more than weeds. The reference section has information for foraging around the world. There are articles on food preservation, and forgotten skills from making bows to fermenting food. Topics have included: Tea, Salt and Amla, Small Bush and Flower, Ragweed? Pine Cough Drops and Needles, Odd Vine? Hunting and Trapping Ethics. Knife Accidents. Some Kind of Lespendeza and Survival Garden. You can join the forum by clicking on the button in the menu line.

Green Deane DVD Set

All of Green Deane’s videos available for free on You Tube. They do have ads on them so every time you watch a Green Deane video I get a quarter of one cent. Four views, one cent. Not exactly a large money-maker but it helps pays for this newsletter. If you want to see the videos without ads and some in slightly better quality you can order the DVD set. It is nine DVDs with 15 videos on each.  Many people want their own copy of the videos or they have a slow service and its easier to order then to watch them on-line. They make a good gift for that forager you know. Individual DVDs can also be ordered. You can order them by clicking on the button on the top right of this page or you can go here.

Donations to upgrade EatTheWeeds.com and fund a book have gone well and made it past the half way mark. Thank you to all who have contributed to either via the Go Fund Me link, the PayPal donation link or by writing to Green Deane POB 941793 Maitland FL, 32794.  The Forum needs work and several function problems need to be fixed specifically the search and categories ( a partial solution is that when you do a search other finds are directly below the main one shown. Scroll down.)  A continuing problem is finding  an indexing program or function for a real book. Writing programs used to do it automatically if you designated a term for indexing. Now that most books are ebooks most writing programs do not provide and indexing function. The hunt continues. 

This is weekly issue 316. There will be no newsletter August 28, 2018. I will be in the Carolinas studying mushrooms. 

If you would like to donate to Eat The Weeds please click here. Or you can use my Go Fund Me  link, or by writing to Green Deane POB 941793 Maitland FL, 32794.

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Monarda punctata, Horsemint, Beebalm, Oswego. Photo by Green Deane

There’s a wonderfully aromatic plant that prefers to hide most of the year. If you know what it looks like and the habitat it populates you can find it. But this time of year and into the early fall it’s waving at you saying “look at me!” This past week in our foraging class in Ft. Pierce we saw Horsemint, Mondarda punctata, just starting its extroverted stage. When the species is ready to be pollenated it really wants bees and other insects to find it by developing pink bracts (which look like extra leaves below the blossom.)  Monarda punctata is in a large group of wild mints known for their showy display. Some relatives are called Mountain Mint or Scarlet Beebalm and grow to five feet tall or so. Where  I grew up it was called Oswego Tea. Its active ingredient is thymol. You can read about it here. 

Tallow Plum or commonly one of the many “hog plums” Photo by Green Deane

Thorny Tallow Plums are nearly ripe. During our foraging class last weekend in Ft. Pierce we found a Tallow Plum with ripening fruit, not quite ready to eat. I’ve found them in two coastal locations nearly ready to eat. The one inland Tallow Plum I know — west Orange County — of is still blossoming.  Despite being rather common (as coastal shurbs) there is still much that is not know about the Tallow Plum. It can be clones and it can be parasitic, or it can be free standing on its own. When you find one you usually find several… or more of the same plant just spread out though that might be just a costal behavior. The one inland example I know is lonely. As many of you know my sites do not allow Wikipedia entries (because when it comes to foraging their entires are usually more wives tales than information you can really use. ) I notice their picture of Tallow Plum has red-orange fruit, an uncommon exception. A yellow fruit picture would be more representative of the species as orange fruit is vey rare. Eat the fruit in moderation. Do not eat the leaves. They contain a chemical which on digestion becomes cyanide. Also don’t eat the seed, plant it. You can learn more about the Tallow Plum here. 

OMG! The Orlando Mushroom Group in the field collecting mushrooms. Photo by Green Deane

The Orlando Mushroom Group (OMG!) had its third fungal foray Sunday to great success. Nearly two dozen folks turn out for the hunt a few miles west of Sanford. Joshua Buchanan was the resident mushroom expert. Everyone who wanted to went home with some chanterelles to try. They weren’t the only edible species found. Gem-studded Puffballs also got picked along with two or three species of Milk Caps (which do not have a common name among them. More confusingly they all used to be Lactarius and now they are Lactarius and Lactifluus… yes, with two “U’s”… Dead Latin spelling rules…) We also saw some medicinal mushrooms — local Reishis — and Boletes to use the edibility test on. If you have forgotten the Bolete Edibility Test it is: The Bolete is not edible if it has an orange cap, orange pores, red pores, stains blue and or is bitter. (That does eliminate some edible ones but it does get rid of all the toxic ones.)  There were also several deer. They go well with mushrooms, too. Joshua also got to show the mushroom he makes a fire cloth out of and the wild mushroom you can use for fish bait. You can follow the Orlando Mushroom Group on Facebook. Or, as we now own OrlandoMushoomGroup.com, if anyone is interested in building a website for the group please let me know.  

Edible Pecan Truffles, Tuber lyonii.

Did you know truffles grow in Florida? They had been on my list to do since last fall when in Gainesville I noticed a mycology professor with a sturdy, short rake… well, it’s kind of hard to not to notice a mushroom professor carrying a chunky Viking-esque hand rake… it resembled a flat-bladed calm hoe (for you New Englanders who know what backbreaking work digging clams are.) When I inquired he told me he had been hunting truffles. He was looking for the right combination of tree, landscape, and signs of other creatures looking for the fungus, too. One edible species is the Pecan Truffle, Tuber lyonii. It’s called that because it was first noticed in Pecan orchards. Not the same flavor as European Truffles — more nutty — but it still fetches some $200 a pound. They are also found with hickories, oaks, hazels, basswood and chestnuts (which suggest that at one time they were very prolific as chestnuts were the dominant tree species in eastern North America.) Subterranean Pecan Truffle are usually found near the surface, which is why you use a rake instead of a shovel to find them. Surprisingly the truffles are found more often with younger trees. Perhaps that is the age that benefits them both the most from their ectomycorrhizal relationship (the fungus supplies nutriments to the tree and the tree provides sugar and moisture.)  Ectomycorrhizal is from three Greek words meaning “outside” “fungus” and “Root.” The fungus creates a netting-llike pattern outside the root (vs. invading the root) and they exchange needed material. Florida is fortunate in that the truffle season lasts from August to December and if the winter is mild sometimes into February. The truffles take a break between March and June.  We do have three truffle-looking fungus that you should not mistake for truffles: Hymenogaster, which smells like radishes, Pig Skin Puffball, which when mature has a thick skin and is purple inside, and Dead Man’s Foot (and other names.) It is a Pisolithus with what looks like pearls of grain inside. Dogs can be trained to find Pecan Truffles… sounds like a good excuse to add a new four-footed member to the family. But it has to be one with a good nose… 

Foraging classes are held rain or shine, heat or cold.

Foraging Classes: Two central Florida classes this weekend, Orando and Ocala. Foraging class in Ocala used to be common on my schedule when I had a place to stay there thus I would do Ocala and Gainesville on the same weekend. Now Ocala is about three times a year so this is a good time to see what that area has to provide. The other class is in Blanchard Park here in Orlando. It’s an easy park to walk around with a wide variety of edibles. 

Saturday, July 7th, Blanchard Park, 10501 Jay Blanchard Trail, Orlando, FL32817. 9 a.m. Meet at the pavilion east of the tennis courts near the YMCA.

Sunday, July 8th, Jervey Gantt Recreation Complex, 2390 SE 36th Ave., Ocala, FL, 34471.  9 a.m. Meet at the entrance to the pool, aka Aquatic Fun Center.

Saturday July 14th, Seminole Wekiva Trail, Sanlando Park, 401 West Highland St. Altamonte Springs, Florida 32714. 9 a.m. Meet at the first parking lot on your right after entering. 

Sunday July 15th,Eagle Park Lake, 1800 Keene Road, Largo, FL33771. 9 a.m. Meet at the pavilion near the dog park.

Saturday, July 21st, Bayshore Live Oak  Park, Port Charlotte, Fl. 9 a.m. Meet at the parking lot at the intersection of Bayshore Road and Ganyard Street.

Sunday July 22nd, Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge, 2045 Mud Lake Road, DeLeon Springs,FL. 9 a.m. Meet at the parking lot on right after crossing the railroad tracks. It will be a long, and hot class. Bring water. Bathrooms are port-O-lets. 

Green Deane DVD set of 135 videos

All of Green Deane’s videos available for free on You Tube. They do have ads on them so every time you watch a Green Deane video I get a quarter of one cent. Four views, one cent. Not exactly a large money-maker but it helps pays for this newsletter. If you want to see the videos without ads and some in slightly better quality you can order the DVD set. It is nine DVDs with 15 videos on each.  Many people want their own copy of the videos or they have a slow service and its easier to order then to watch them on-line. They make a good gift for that forager you know. Individual DVDs can also be ordered. You can order them by clicking on the button on the top right of this page or you can go here.

For more information about the classes go here.

This is (a short holiday) weekly issue 311.

If you would like to donate to Eat The Weeds please click here. Or you can use my Go Fund Me  link, or by writing to Green Deane POB 941793 Maitland FL, 32794.  

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  • His name was Will Endres and he was a North Carolina herbalist…Poison ivy, foraging classes, horse mint, ground cherries, foraging USBs, the Green Deane Forum, Southern Wax Myrtle, https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-475-september-21-2021/474

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-474-september-14-2021/

    Chance happens in foraging. 

    Coralwood, Kudzu, Foraging Classes, Favolus Mushrooms, learning edibles,  foraging USB, the Green Deane forum, aroma and cyanide

    473

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-473-september-7th-2021/

    It would be convenient if Pindo Palms fruited regularly. 

    Pindo palms seeds, Canna, Foraging classes, Ghost Pipes, Labor Day, Tallow Plums

    472

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-472-august-31-2021/

    Are there any Shiitake mushrooms locally? 

    Train Wrecker, Chicken of the Woods, Foraging Classes, Dogwood, Hackberries, Kudzu, foraging DVDs and the Green Deane Forum 

    471

    A white Water Hyacinth was seen recently in the Little Econ River east of Orlando. 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-471-august-24th-2021/

    Water hyacinth, Foraging Classes, Wild grapes, Tumble Weed, Goldenrod, Swamp Mallow, Foraging USBs, the Green Deane forum, Donations  

    470

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-470-august-17th-2021/

    One way northern and southern climates differ is the greater array of non-native species that are constantly being imported and or found in southern climates.

    Torell’s Eucalyptus, Chaya, Guavas, Java Plum, Ground Cherries, Coco-plums, Natal Plum, Dragon Fruit, Podocarpus, Persimmons, Foraging USBs, Green Deane Forum, Donations, the Two-Leaf Nightshade 

    469

    Plants remind one that weather is less dependable than we might think. 

    Jambul, Chanterelles, Cactus Fruit, Sugarberry, Doveweed, Foraging Classes, Isabelline, Foraging USBs, the Green Deane Forum, and Donations

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-469-august-10-2021/

    468

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-468-august-3-2021/

    Yes, there are land crabs in Florida and the rest of the gulf coast.

    Land crabs, Foraging classes, Grapes, Podocarpus, Horsemint, Saw Palmetto, Goldenrod, Russian thistle, USBs, Green Deane Forum, donations. 

    467

    Candyroot, Foraging Classes, Wild Grapes, DVDs, Green Deane Forum, Donations, Saw Palmetto, Barnyard Grass, Brookweed 

    Is it the season or is it the rain?

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-467-july-27th-2021/

    466

    This summer’s foraging classes at Putney Farm in Honea Path South Carolina are now history

    Foraging in South Carolina, American Beech, Sourwood, Birches, Moringa, foraging Classes, Sumac, Country Wine, Saw Palmetto, foraging USB, Green Deane Forum, and Donations

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-466-july-20th-2021/ 

    465

    Newsletter #465, July 13th, 2021

    Kousa Dogwood, Sassafras, Wild Carrots, Birches Apples

    Apples, Mushrooms, Podocarpus, Foraging Classes, Knotweed, Cactus, Peppervine, Foraging DVDs, the Green Deane Forum, donations, 

    464 

    In real estate it is location, location, location. 

    Blue Indigos, Milk Caps, Jelly Fungus, Strawberry Guava, Foraging Classes, Pandamus Grass, Smilax, Foraging DVDs, Green Deane Forum and Donations

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-464-july-6th-2021/

    463

    Podocarpus are not fickle but they are slightly unpredictable. 

    Podocarpus, Java Plum, Stillwater Canoe, Mushrooms, Foraging classes, Atamasco Lily, foraging USBs, the Green Deane Forum, and donations  

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-463-june-29th-2021/

    462

    If you think you are not allergic to poison Ivy …

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-462-june-22-2021/

    Poison Ivy, Socks and Pythons, Black Cherries, Pokeweed, Yuck, Foraging Classes, Cashews, USBs, the Green Deane Forum, Donations.  

    461

    Sycamores, bacteria, Foraging Classes, Beautyberries, USBs, the Green Deane Forum, Donations, Sweet Acacia

    Sugar maples are famous for their syrup but how many species of trees can you actually tap?

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-461-june-15th-2021/

    460

    What can be said about the Jambul Tree?

    Jambul, Foraging Classes, Maypops, Pindo Palms, Chaya, Foraging USBs, Green Deane Forum, Donations, 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-460-june-8th-2021/

    459

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-459-june-1st-2021/

    For more than 60 years I have associated Lilacs with June.

    Lilacs, American Lotus, Foraging Classes, Chinese Tallow Tree, Eastern Hemlock, foraging USBs, the Green Deane Forum, Donations, toxic Atamaso Lilies. 

    This week’s debatable question is “can you eat elderberries raw?”

    Elderberries, Two-leaf Nightshade, Foraging Classes, Morning Glories, foraging USBs, the Green Deane forum, donations, Jack in the Pulpit 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-458-may-25th-2021/

    457

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-457-may-18th-2021/

    Acres of wild blackberries….

    Blackberries, foraging is illegal, Sea Blite, Foraging classes, Sea Purslane, foraging videos on USBs, the Green Deane Forum, 

    456

    The Bunya Bunya and Norfolk Pine are closely related.

    Bunya Bunya, Norfolk Pine, Allergic reactions, foraging classes, Chickasaw Plums, Blue Mushrooms, cattails, foraging videos on USBs, and the Green Deane Forum, 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-456-may-4th-2021/

    455

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-455-april-27th-2021/

    Is it edible? 

    Evening Primrose, False dandelions, Yucca, Foraging classes, foraging videos on USBs, the Ghreen Deane Forum, 

    454 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-454-april-20-2021/

    Pineapple Guava, Hercule’s Club, Usnea, Miner’s Lettuce, Foraging Classes, Paper Mulberry, Where do you forage, Foraging Videos, the Green Deane Forum, Brookweed, 

    Perhaps no ornamental has been championed as much as the Pineapple Guava

    453

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-453-april-13-2021/

    It’s about time to make a prediction.

    Ringless Honey Mushrooms, Eastern Coral Bean, Foraging Classes, Watercress, Marlberries, Foraging Videos, Green Deane Forum, Donations, 

    452

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-452-april-6th-2021/

    On the east coast of my native state of Maine about seven miles south of Portland is the Town of Scarbrough.

    Paper Mulberries, Foraging Classes, Deer Mushrooms, Hercules Club, USB Videos, Green Deane Forum, Donations.

    451 

    Which tree has more life, the Mulberry or the Moringa? 

    Mulberry, Atamasco lily, Foraging Classes, Blueberries, Huckleberries, Watercress, Foraging USBs,  the Green Deane Forum, Smilax, 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-451-march-30th-2021/

    450

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-450-march-23-2021/

    wisteria, Cherokee Rose, Deer Mushrooms, Foraging Classes, Hydrilla, Garlic, video USBs, Green Deane Forum, Donations

    The weather may be chilly still it’s a hot time of year for foraging. 

    449 

    It’s not June that’s busting out all over but rather Vacciniums, mostly blueberries.

    Vacciniums, groundnuts, evening primroses, foraging classes, video USBs, Pawpaws, Florida Pennyroyal,

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-449-march-16-2021/

    448

    The Greeks were perhaps the first people to call things what they were such as “yoke mate” for spouse or “shiny leather” for the Reishi mushroom.

    Bottlebrush tree, Candyroot, Loquats, Mulberries, Foraging classes. USB, the Green Deane Forum 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-448-march-09-2021/

    447

    Fireweed, Latex Strangler Vine, Foraging Classes, Clover, Bacopa, Violets, USBs, Cashews 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-447-02-march-2021/

    Fireweed/burnweed has a flavor chefs love. 

    446

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-446-feb-23-2021/

    Loquats, Loquat wine, Wild Garlic, Foraging Classes, Chickweed, Lamb’s Quarters,  Toxic Butterweed, Bulrush, USBs, and the Green Deane Forum, 

    While driving around have you seen a tree with large, dark green leaves and yellow fruit?

    445

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-445-feb-16-2021/

    Can you eat red mangroves?

    Mangroves, foraging classes, plantagos, Passion Flowers, Black Medic, USBs&DVDs, Alligator pendent, and the Green Deane Forum  

    444

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-444-february-9th-2021/

    Young and tender describes them best: Elm leaves we nibbled during our foraging class in Gainesville Saturday.

    Elms, Eastern Red Bud, Foraging Classes, Ragweed, Cattails, Coquina, Mole Crabs, USBs & DVDs, the Green Deane Forum, nickerbeans, alligator tooth. 

    443

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-443-february-2-2021/

    If you look across local lakes now you will see ruby red splotches on the horizon. 

    Maples, Drymaria, Foraging Classes, Seaweed, USBs & DVDs, the Green Deane Forum, Jabuticaba, 

    442

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-442-january-26-2021/

    Violets, False Hawk’s Beard, Foraging Classes, Stink Horns, Weed Seeds, USB & DVDs, the Green Deane Forum 

    A common blossom that’s easy to identify is the wild violet. 

    441

    Our mighty stinging nettles are up.

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-441-january-19-2021/

    Stinging nettles, Sow Thistle, Foraging Classes, Chickweed, Wild Geraniums, Silverthorn, USBs & DVDs, and the Green Deane Forum 

    440

    The Western Tansy Mustard is one of our shortest-lived wintertime forageables. 

    Western Tansy Mustard, Eastern Gamagrass, Begonias, Foraging Classes, Spiderworts, USBs&DVDs, the Green Deane Forum, 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-440-january-12th-2021/

    439

    Our tasty winter green chickweed is in its glory. 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-439-january-05-2021/

    Chickweed, Sheep Sorrel, Oxalis, Latex Strangler Vine, Pellitory, Black Medic, Geranium, Horsemint, Henbit, Shepherd’s Purse, Plantain, Wild Mustard Radish, Canna, Cattails, Foraging Classes, Botany Builder #12, USB & DVDs, and the Green Deane Forum

    438

    What difference can 172.4 miles make?

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-438-december-29th-2020/

    Goji berry, Sea Rocket, Black Medic, Harlequin Glorybower, Foraging Classes, Nagi Tree, Glasswort, USBs & DVDs, the Green Deane Forum 

     

    437

    At what point does a “wild” plant become an edible plant?

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-437-december-22-2020/

    Florida Thatch Palm, Sleepy Hibiscus, Cereus, Bauhinia, Foraging Classes, Cockroach Berry, Silverthorn, USBs and DVDs, the Green Deane Forum 

    436 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-436-december-15th-2020/

    Usually we see Christmas Berries about April. 

    Christmas Berries. Foraging Classes, Sow Thistle, Mustards & Radishes, Black Calabash, USBs & DVDs, and the Green Deane Forum  

    435

    Our first sighting of one of our winter comestibles happened Saturday

    Chickweed, Ringless Honey Mushrooms, Foraging Classes, Henbit, Wild Geraniums, Peltate, Is this Plant Edible? foraging USB & DVDs, the Green Deane Forum,  

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-435-december-08-2020/

    434 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-434-december-01-2020/

    Winter Podocarpus, Acerola, Foraging Classes, Chufa, Redflower Ragweed, Weeds of Southern Turf Grasses, foraging USBs &DVDs, the Green Deane Forum.

    Actually there’s nothing wrong with the photo per se, it’s the time of year that’s different.

    433

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-433-november-24-2020/

    Every April of so we go looking for Wild Garlic…

    Wild Garlic, Big Caltrop, Foraging Classes, Ghost Pipes, Balm of Gilead, USBs & DVDs, Green Deane Forum 

    432 

    We are shifting mushrooms seasons from terrestrial to trees or ground to wood.

    Lion’s Mane, Gooseberries, Foraging classes, Sea Purslane, Foraging in urban areas, USB and DVDs, the Green Deane forum 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-432-november-17th-2020/

    431

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-431-november-10-2020/

    While looking for the yellow-blossomed Dandelions…

    Dandelions, Mustard and radishes, Plantains, Foraging Classes, Brazilian Pepper,Skunk Vine, USBs & DVDs, the Green Deane Forum 

    430

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-430-november-3-2020/

    During our foraging class in West Palm Beach Sunday we saw inch-high sprouts of the winter edible Pellitory.

    Pellitory, Poor Man’s Peppergrass, Foraging classes, Seaweed, Jelly Fish, Southern Wax Myrtle, Stinkhorns, Jack Ol Lanterns, USBs & DVDs, the Green Deane Forum. 

    429

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-429-october-27-2020/

    During our foraging class Sunday in Gainesville we dug up a couple of Winged Yams. 

    Winged Yams. Tropical Almond, Foraging Classes, Roses, Bay Leaves, Citron Melon, the Honeycomb Mushroom, USBs and DVDs, the Green Deane Forum.

    428

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-428-october-20-2020/

    Country Wine, Foraging Classes, Chinese Tallow Tree, Caesarweed, Cambium, USBs and DVDs, the Green Deane Forum, and Ceibas

    Three reasons prompted me to resurrect my wine-making past. 

    427

    Mother Nature has her own schedule.

    Ringless Honey Mushrooms, Golden Rain Tree, Foraging Classes, Dragon Fruit, Partridgeberry, DVDs & USB, the Green Deane Forum

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-427-october-13-2020/

    426

    Fall is a good time to write about Yellow Pond Lilys.

    Yellow Pond Lilys, Persimmons, Monstera deliciosa, Turkey Tails, Foraging Classes, Sida, sumacs, two sages and a pusley, USBs and DVDs, and the Green Deane Forum

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-426-october-6-2020/ 

    425

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-425-september-29th-2020/

    The question isn’t whether Reishi mushrooms grow in North America. 

    Reishi mushrooms, Wax Myrtle Berries, Foraging Classes, American Beautyberries, Sea and Wood Oats, Ground Cherries, Anoles, Chestnut Bolete, DVDs and USB, the Green Deane Forum. 

    424

    Horsemint is in season and easy to find. 

    Horsemint, Crowfoot Grass, Foraging Classes, Apples, the aroma of wild food, plant pronunciations, foraging DVDs and USB, the Green Deane Forum,  

    423

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-423-september-15th-2020/

    No one told the Ringless Honey Mushrooms it isn’t November.

    Ringless Honey Mushrooms, the Syzygiums, Foraging Classes, Heartwing Sorrel, Bacopa, Groundnuts, USB and DVDs, and the Green Deane Forum 

    422

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-422-september-8th-2020/

    Pindo and Queen Palms, Canna, Indian Pipes, Foraging Classes, Scrumping, USBs and DVDs, the Green Deane Forum. 

    421

    In the backwoods of Maine where I grew up Dogwoods were small.

    Perennial Peanut, Kousa Dogwood, Sugarberry/Hackberry, Foraging Classes, Ground Cherries, foraging DVDsUSBs, the Green Deane Forum. 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-421-september-01-2020/

    420

    Gracie gets the prize. 

    Black Trumpets, Persimmons, foraging classes, Kudzu, Wild Apples, the toxic False Parasol, foraging USBs and DVDs, and the Green Deane forum. 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-420-august-25th-2020/

    419

    Last Sunday’s foraging class — Haulover Canal — was a hot one with a lot of walking.

    Tallow Plums, Foraging Classes, Goldenrod, Saw Palmettos, White Spiderling, Sumac, foraging DVDS & USBs, 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-419-august-18th-2020/

    418

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-418-august-11-2020/

    There is probably some Syzygium in your kitchen.

    Bunya Bunyas, Syzygiums, Chanterelles,  Cactus Tuna, Sugarberry, Doveweed, Isabelline, foraging DVDs and USB, the Green Deane Forum…

    417

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-417-august-04-2020/

    Wild mints can be prima donnas.

    Horsemint, Russian Thistle, Foraging Classes, Goldenrod, Swamp Mallow, foraging videos, Green Deane Forum, Pindo Palms 

    416

    With apologies this newsletter is starting with the foraging class schedule.

    Wild Grapes, foraging class schedule, Pepper Vine, Podocarpus, Country Wine Update, Sumacs, Saw Palmettos, Foraging Videos, Green Deane Forum, Black Gum

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-416-july-29th-2020/

    415

    July is passing and that means many different things to foragers depending upon your location on the rotation.

    Forked-tendril grapes, pindo palms, cactus, foraging classes, the false roselle, barnyard grass, strawberry guava, foraging DVDs & USB, the green Deane Forum, 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-415-july-21-2020/

    414

    It’s called Pandanus and Screw Pine and a lot of other names as well.

    Pandanus Grass, Smilax walteri, Foraging Classes, Knotweed, Pineapple Weed, Tamarind, Toe Biters, foraging videos on USB, and the Green Deane Forum 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-414-july-14th-2020/

    413

    Is it time to rethink Magnolias? 

    Magnolias, Foraging Classes, Podocarpus, Florida Wine, Bread and Beer, Foraging Videos on USB, Green Deane Forum, Strawberry Guavas

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-413-july-7-2020/

    412

    First an apology to those who showed up for a class last Sunday at Haul Over Canal to find, like me, the road closed.

    Chamberbitters, foraging classes, Grapes, Magnolias, videos on USB, Green Deane Forum, and Bacopa 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-412-june-30th-2020/

    411

    What can be said about the Jambul Tree? 

    Jambul Tree, Foraging Classes, Morning Glories, Boletes, Poke Sallet, Tindora, Foraging Videos on USBs, and the Green Deane Forum 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-411-june-23-2020/

    410

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-410-june-16th-2020/

    Sugar maples are famous for their syrup but how many species of trees can you actually tap?

    Tapping trees, grapes, foraging classes, American Beautyberries, Creeping Fig, Richardia, videos on USBs and the Green Deane Forum 

    409

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-409-june-9-2020/

    There’s an old song “what a difference a day makes.”

    Mushroom class, foraging classes, Natal Plum, Surinam Cherries, Foraging videos on USBs, the Green Deane Forum. 

    408

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-408-june-2-2020/

    Yellow ponds, that’s how I think of it, or in some places, yellow rivers.

    American Lotus, Jack in the Pulpit, Black Cherries, a toxic lily, Chinese Tallow Tree, Foraging Classes, Maypops, Videos on USBs, and the Green Deane Forum.

    407

    In the realm of plant populations there is endangered, threatened then rare. 

    Candyroot, American Lotus, Foraging Classes, Eggs, USBs and the Green Deane Forum 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-407-may-26-2020/

    406

    This was a “Prunus” foraging week. 

    Chickasaw Plums, Indigo Milk Cap, Black Medic, Foraging Classes, Cattails, Foraging Videos, Podocarpus, Wine Making, Blue Porter Weed, Green Deane Forum, Wild Pineapple. 

     https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-406-may-19-2020/

    405

    We are in between mushroom seasons, so to speak.

    Boletes, Society Garlic, Gopher Apples, Foraging Classes, Foraging DVDs/USBs, Botany Builder #28, Maypops, Toxic Cherry Laurel, Cochineal Dye, and the Green Deane Forum. 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-12-may-2020/

    404

    This week’s debatable question is “can you eat elderberries raw?”

    Elderberries, Grapes, Common Plant Names, Redflower Ragweed, Fakahatchee Grass, Ground Nuts, Foraging Classes, Foraging videos, Wild Coffee and Coralberry, the Green Deane Forum. 

     

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-05-may-2020/

    403

    Now is a good time to go looking for blackberries. 

    Blackberries, Pineapple Guava, the Bacopas, Foraging Classes, Foraging Videos now on USB drives, Eastern Coral Bean, Coquina, Green Deane Forum, and Cotton 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-28-april-2020/

    401-402 

    At one time there were just Opuntias.

    Cactus, Gopher Apples,  Deerberries, Foraging Classes, Mushrooms, Foraging DVDs, Persimmons, Avocados, Paper Mulberry, Pawpaw, Smartweed, Green Deane Forum and YUCK!, 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-april-14-21-2020/

    400

    Watercress grew in a ditch behind an apartment complex I lived in near Sanford, Florida…

    Watercress, Wild Garlic, Marlberries, Chokeberries, American Nightshade, Chamberbitter, Green Deane Forum, Donations, DVDs 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-7-april-2020/

    399

    Blossoming this time of year is the Eastern Coral Bean, sometimes called the Cherokee Bean.

    Eastern Coral Bean, Sea Blite, Foraging Classes, Pineapple Guava, Foraging DVDs, Variegated Mahoe, Australian Pine, Bananas, Green Deane Forum, Donations, Making Wine 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-31-march-2020/

    398

    If you have an established ivy gourd…

    Ivy Gourd, Swinecress, Foraging Classes, Cashews, Henbit, Purslane, DVDs, Green Deane Forum, Donations, Basswood, 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-24-march-2020/

    397

    A common blossom that’s easy to identify is the wild violet.

    Violets, Seablite, Loquats, foraging classes, Redflower Ragweed,  Latex Strangler Vine, Green Deane Forum, Donations, DVDs, Ivy Gourd 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-17-march-2020/

    396

    Fireweed/Burnweed has a flavor chefs love.

    Fireweed/Burnweed, Clover, Foraging Classes, Waning Weeds, Fungi, Creeping Cucumber, Bacopa, Pennyroyal, DVDs, Green Deane Forum, Donations 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-10-march-2020/

    395

    A few newsletters ago it was mentioned the Mulberries were in blossom.

    Mulberries, foraging classes, Pawpaws, Time Change, Dandelions and False Dandelions, Winter Plants and Wintergreen, Green Deane Forum, DVDs, Donating, and foraging photo #19 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-3-march-2020/ 

    394

    Species in the Rumex genus can be difficult.

    Rumex, Foraging Classes, Citron Melons, Loquat, Clover, Green Deane Forum, Foraging DVDS, Donations, 

     https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-25-february-2020/

    393

    What are those white blossoms?

    Plums, Hawthorns, Pawpaw, Foraging Classes, Blewit, Wild Garlic,  Plantagos, Green Deane Forum, DVDs, Donations, Botany Builder #38.

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-18-february-2020/

    392

    It’s time for my annual warning about Butterweed

    Butterweed, Bulrush, Foraging Classes, Wild Pineapple, Red Powder Puff, DVDs, Creeping Indigo warning, Green Deane forum, donations, 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-11-february-2020/

    391

    Most trees in the Pea Family are toxic but not all of them.

    Eastern redbud, Cattails, Pines, Foraging Classes, Coquina and Mole Crabs, Acorns, Plantagos, DVDs, the Green Deane Forum 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-04-february-2020/

    390

    While driving through the middle of the peninsula this week I noticed Lambsquarters in their most common seasonal place: Citrus groves.

    Lambsquarters, Foraging Classes, Passifloras, Doveweed, Axils, Jelly Fish, DVDs, the Green Deane Forum, Donations 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-28-january-2020/

    389

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-21-january-2020/

    Cladonia is a large genus of edible but not tasty lichen.

    Lichen, foraging classes, Botany Builder 28, Wild Lettuce, Removing Invasive Species, Botanical Names, Black Medic, Foraging DVDs, the Green Deane Forum, Donations

    388

    It’s rather obvious that wintertime foraging varies where you live.

    Winter Foraging, Chickweed and edible friends, Foraging classes, Sublimed sulfur, A cheap foraging book, Details and Solanum Americanum, Oyster Mushrooms, DVDs, Donations and the Green Deane Forum. 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-14-january-2020/

    387

    Eastern Gamagrass, aka Fakahatchee Grass, is an edible you don’t see and then you do.

    Eastern Gamagrass, Ivy Gourd, Foraging Classes, Teas, Botany Builder #10, Carpetweed, Donations, Foraging DVDs, the Green Deane Forum 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-7-january-2020/

    386

    There’s no reason to buy mustard greens now.

    Wild mustard and radish, Butter and Ruby Boletes, Foraging Classes, Edible Blossoms, Surinam Cherries, toxic Creeping Indigo. 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-31-december-2019/

    385

    It’s a good time to mention the toxic Butterweed and Rattlebox.

    Butterweed, Foraging Classes, Roses, Hawthorns, Euell Gibbons and Nutrition, Rattlebox 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-24-december-2019/

    384

    Plants give you something to look forward to especially if you know where and when to look.

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-17-december-2019/

    Wild Garlic, Chickweed, Goosegrass, Sow Thistle, Stinging Nettles, Dandelions, Sycamore, Foraging Classes, Tar Vine, Desert Horse Purslane, Green Deane Forum, DVDs, Go Fund Me, Urban Crawl

    383

    Mother Nature can be fickle and it’s almost always tied to weather.

    Grapes, Swinecress, Silverthorn, Foraging Classes, False Hawk’s Beard, Jelly Ears, Botany Builder #31,  Cactus, the Green Deane Forum, Foraging DVDs, Go Fund Me 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-10-december-2019/

    382

    Pyracanthas are furious in the fall.

    Pyrachanthas Chinese and Siberian Elms, Silverthorn, Foraging Classes, Drymaria, Botany Builder #30, Magnolia Blossoms, Ginkgo, Foraging DVDs, the Green Deane Forum, Go Fund Me, Pollination in a word, and Remembering Nefertiti

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-3-december-2019/

    381

    This time of year two wintertime foragables come up, one quite esteemed the other barely edible.

    Henbit, Wild  Geraniums, Foraging Classes, Chickweed, Horse Nettle & Tropical Soda Apple,  Bananas

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-26-november-2019/

    380

    wild Mustards and radishes, Toxic Water Hemlock, Smartweed, Foraging Classes, Golden Rain Tree, Skunk Vine, Scat Contamination, Lady Bugs, and Lion’s Mane 

    Many foraging books are what I call “Ohio-centric.”

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-19-november-2019/

    379

    Dandelions, Seaweed, Foraging classes, Jellyfish, Wax Myrtle Berries, the Stinkhorn and Jack O’Lanterns, Mustards and Radishes, the Green Deane Forum, Donations, and foraging DVDs  

    Dandelion blossoms, ten pounds of sugar, and two cakes of bread yeast became my first batch of wine.

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-05-november-2019/

    378

    Edible Mushrooms, Foraging Classes, Tie Change, Blue and Red Sages and Oakleaf Flea Bane, Chinese Elm, Christmasberries, Wild Mustards, donations, DVDs, the Green Deane Forum. 

    Unusual rains last week coaxed more life out of several edible mushroom species that were seasonally put to bed a month ago.

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-29-october-2019/

    377

    Cucumber Tree, Paul Dreher, Sida, Turkey Tails, Foraging Classes, Palmate Leaves, Richardia, Perennial Peanut, Caesarweed, Botanical Names, Donations, Foraging DVDs, the Green Deane Forum. 

    Foraging is treasure hunting for adults

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-22-october-2019/

    376

    As is often the case one can walk past edible species many times and not notice them.

    Cinnamon, Dragon Fruit, Foraging Classes, Sumac, Persimmons, Yellow Pond Lily, Donations, Foraging DVDs, the Green Deane Forum 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-15-october-2019/

    375

    The fruiting of species can be a mystery. 

    Cocoplums, Simpson Stopper, Coconut borer, Southern Wax Myrtle, Foraging Classes, Ringless Honey Mushrooms, White American Beautyberries, Wood Oats, Donations, foraging DVDs,  the Green Deane Forum 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-08-october-2019/

    skipped a week, wordpress down

    374

    Panicum is a very common group of edible native and non-native grasses in Florida and North America.

    Panic Grass, Aromas, Plant Pronunciations, Foraging Classes, Purslane, Pindo Palm Wine, Donations, DVDs, the Green Deane Forum

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-24-september-2019/(opens in a new tab)

    373

    It’s the time of year to talk about Saw Palmetto berries.

    Saw Palmettos, Tallow Plum, Foraging Classes, Wild Apples, Elevation, Donations, DVDs, the Green Deane Forum

    Newsletter 17 September 2019

    372

    Seagrapes are coming into season.

    Seagrapes, Doveweed, Foraging near roads. Foraging Classes this week, Black & Sweet Gums, Isabelline and Mushrooms of the Gulf South. 

    Newsletter 10 September 2019

    371

    Newsletter 03 September 2019

    Labor Day used to mean more than hurricanes threatening the east coast from Florida to Maine.

    Labor Day, Creeping Fig, Foraging Classes in spite of Hurricane Dorian, Liatris, Poke Weed, Yellow Pond Lilly,  Poke Weed, Mosquitos & Beer, Lawns Aren’t Green, donations, 

    370

    It’s the time of year when Horsemint is easy to find. 

    Horsemint, Cocoplums, Natal Plumbs; Mushroom, Chitin, Arsenic and Insects; Stevia and Ragweed, Foraging Classes, Railroad Tracks, Goldenrod, Go Fund Me

    Newsletter 27 August 2019

    369

    I never receive mail about Lion’s Ear.

    Newsletter 20 August 2019

    Lion’s Ear, Brazilian Nightshade, Foraging Classes, Sida, Gopher Apples and Tallow Plums, White Chicken of the Woods, Go Fund Me, Foraging DVDs, the Green Deane Forum. 

    368

    The Water Hyacinth is blooming and no doubt many people are irritated by that.

    Newsletter 13 August 2019

    Water Hyacinth, Milk Cap Mushrooms, Foraging Classes, Kudzu, Green Deane Forum, DVDs, Go Fund Me, and I need a webmaster. 

    367

    Bunya Bunya get no respect 

    Bunya Bunya, Red Spiderling, Goldenrod, Sugarberry, Foraging Classes, Horsemint, Sweet Gum/Black Gum, The False Parasol: A mushroom to avoid, Green Deane Forum, Russian Thistle and railroad tracks, Foraging DVDs, Go Fund me, and I need a webmaster.

    Newsletter 6 August 2019

    366

    What’s in season to forage? Many species now perhaps because of unusual weather pattens this year.

    What plants can you forage for now, what mushrooms can you forage now, foraging classes, Blue Porter Weed, DVDs, the Green Deane Forum, Go Fund Me 

    365

    It’s common yet uncommon, that is, not rare but you don’t notice it too often. 

    Hawthorns, American Lotus, Upcoming foraging class schedule, Chanterelles, Burgoo and Loblollies, Donations, the Green Deane Forum, foraging DVDs 

    Newsletter 23 July 2019

    364

    One more abbreviated newsletter with schedule because I have been teaching out-of-state. 

    Newsletter 16 July 2019

    Newsletter 23 July 2019

    363

    Newsletter 9 July 2019

    This and next week’s newsletters (July 9 & 16, 2019) are abbreviated because…

    362

    One would think that with a name like “Barnyard Grass” one would find the species in barnyards. 

    Barnyard Grass, Strawberry Guava, Seaside Gentian, Spanish Needles, Toxic polypore, Foraging Classes, Teaching in South Carolina, Go Fund Me, the Green Deane Forum, foraging DVDs 

    Newsletter 2 July 2019

    361

    Yes it is edible but….

    The other White Chicken-of-the-Woods, Two-Leaf Solanum, Norfolk Pines and the Bunya Bunya, Foraging Classes Florida,  Foraging Classes South Carolina. Go Fund Me, the Green Deane Forum, and foraging DVDs 

    Newsletter 25 June 2019

    360

    Ground cherries locally tend to have two seasons, spring and fall. 

    Ground Cherries, South Carolina Foraging Classes, new food crops, Florida Foraging Classes, the Winged Yam, Passion Flower, the toxic Cherry Laurel, Go Fund Me, the Green Deane Forum, foraging DVDs

    Newsletter 18 June 2019

    359

    Yellow ponds, that’s how I think of it, or in some places, yellow rivers.

    American Lotus, South Carolina Foraging Classes, Local Foraging Classes, the toxic Atamasco Lily, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Juniper Berries, Go Fund Me, Green Deane Forum, DVDs, the Chinese Tallow tree 

    Newsletter 11 June 2019

    358

    From a foraging point of view it was a very berry weekend starting with Coastal Ground Cherries, Physalis angustifolia in Port Charlotte.

    Ground Cherries, Cassine, Marco Island, Classes in South Carolina, Foraging Classes Florida, How Safe Is Foraging, Go Fund Me, the Green Deane Forum, DVDs  

    Newsletter 4 June 2019

    357

    The first time I ever saw red poppies growing was in Athens on my first visit to Greece

    Corn Poppies, Impatiens, Smartweed, Mushroom Update, Foraging Classes, Botany Builder #28 Echinate, Blue Porterweed, Green Deane Forum, Go Fund Me, DVDs, and Wild Pineapple 

    Newsletter 28 May 2019

    356

    If you were starving and came upon a patch of cattails you would have great cause for celebration.

    Cattails, Kudzu, Acorns, Lantana, Foraging Classes, Gopher Apples, Go Fund Me, and foraging DVDs 

    Newsletter 21 May 2019

    355

    The American Nightshade is a much-maligned plant

    American Nightshade, Ground Cherry, Blueberries et cetera, Carolina Bristle Mallow, Foraging Classes, Juniper Berries, Donations, the Green Deane Forum, foraging DVDs

    Newsletter 14 May 2019

    354

    There’s an odd kind of mulberry here in Florida. 

    Basswood (The Linden/Lime Tree) Chestnut Bolete, Foraging Classes, Kudzu, Wild Pineapple, Winged Yam, Foraging DVDs, Ivy Gourd, Donations, Gamagrass/Fakahatchee Grass, the Green Deane Forum 

    Newsletter 7 May 2019

    353

    There’s still time to look for Sea Blite, a seasonal salt-tolerant species that’s here this month, gone next month

    Sea Blite, Sugarberry, Foraging Classes, the Mahoe, Partridgeberry, Marlberries Revisited, DVDs, Donations and the Green Deane Forum. 

    Newsletter 30 April 2019

    352

    By April Stinging Nettles are usually gone for the season.

    Newsletter 23 April 2019

    Stinging nettles, Green Mushrooms,  Suriname Cherries, Wild Garlic, Foraging Classes, Miner’s Lettuce, Confederate Jasmine, Florida Pennyroyal, Redvein Abutilon, DVDs, Go Fund Me, and the Green Deane Forum 

    351

    If you are in the habit of eating wild mushrooms

    Newsletter 16 April 2019

    Five Edible Wild Mushrooms, Pineapple Guava, Eastern Coral Bean, Forestiera segregata the Florida Privet, Weekly Foraging Classes, Wild Edibles and locations they like, DVDs, the Green Deane Forum, and Go Fund Me 

    350

    Watercress/Wintercress grew in a ditch behind an apartment complex I lived in…

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-09-april-2019/

    Watercress, Wild Garlic, Upcoming Foraging Classes, Marlberries, Chokeberry, Making You Own Vinegar, Usnea, DVDS, Green Deane Forum, Go Fund Me, A Leafing Hickory 

    349

    Tallow Plums are something of a botanical mystery.

    Newsletter 2 April 2019

    Tallow Plums, Wild Garlic, Blueberries and relatives, Toothache Tree as a source of pepper, Foraging Classes, Eastern Coral Bean, American Nightshade, Soon it will be mushroom season, Green Deane Forum, Foraging DVDs, Go Fund Me. 

    348

    A few newsletters ago it was mentioned Mulberries were in blossom…

    Newsletter 26 March 2019

    Mulberries, Creeping Cucumber, Coco-plums, Foraging Classes and a new location, toxic Butterweed, Suriname Cherries, Green Deane Forum DVDS, Fermenting Spiderwort, Go Fund Me…  

    347

    Pawpaws can be among the most difficult and easy wild fruits to find.

    Newsletter 19 March 2019

    Pawpaws, Eating Grass, Foraging Classes, sickening Tropical Sage, Wisteria, Gladiolus, Raceme vs Spike, the Green Deane Forum, DVDs, Go Fund Me. 

    346

    With an impossible scientific name and strong aroma Fireweed is often over looked by the foraging community.

    Fireweed, Mayflowers, Lilacs, Pussy Willows, Foraging Classes, Mistetoe, Green Deane Forum, DVDs, Go Fund Me, Drying Loquats

    Newsletter 12 March 2019

    345

    Most foragers know Smilax tips are edible.

    Newsletter 5 March 2019

    Smilax berries, Marlberries, Daylight Saving Time, True Thistles, Coquina & Mole Crabs, Botanical Names, Foraging Classes, the Green Deane Forum, DVDs, and Go Fund Me 

    344

    Heads up, literally: Loquats are ripening.

    Newsletter 26 February 2019

    Loquats, Blackberries, Mulberries. Maypops, Creeping Cucumbers, Dollarweed, Strange Time of Year, Foraging Classes,  Eau de Rodent, Turkey Berry,  Toxic Tomatoes, the Green Deane Forum, DVDs, Go Fund Me, 

    343

    Lamb’s Quarters… Fat Hen… and where to find it.

    Newsletter 19 February 2019

    Lamb’s Quarters, Citron Melons, Last Average Frost Date,  Maple Seeds, Eastern Red Bud, Pink Tabebuia, Loquats, Pawpaws, Surinam Cherries, Cocoplum, Wild Mustard, Wild Radish, Blackberries. Agaricus campestris, Foraging Classes, Go Fund Me, DVDs, Green Deane Forum, Plantago rugelii  

    342

    The Western Tansy Mustard is one of our shortest-lived winter-time forageables.

    Newsletter 12 February 2019

    Western Tansy Mustard, Bittercress, Micro-Mustards, Black Medic, Foraging Classes, Florida Herbal Conference, Doveweed, the Larch, Tulips, Go Fund Me, Green Deane Forum, DVDs,  

    341

    Going north to forage is always pleasant this time of year. 

    Newsletter 5 February 2019

    Wild Garlic, Black Cherry vs Laurel Cherry, Elderberries, Foraging Classes, Lawns Aren’t Green, Florida Herbal Conference, Go Fund Me, the Green Deane Forum, Foraging DVDs 

    340

    Yeah… that’s a mouthful…

    Male Pine Cones, Poorman’s Pepper Grass and Maca, Perennial Peanut, Foraging Classes, Seaweeds, Dandelions, Nicker Beans, Florida Herbal Conference, Go Fund Me, the Green Deane Forum, Foraging DVDs, and Trametes lactinea.

    Newsletter 29 January 2019

    339

    An often overlooked wild edible is Bulrush.

    Newsletter 22 January 2019

    Bulrushes, Candyroot, Florida Pennyroyal, Sow Thistle, Wild Pineapple, Florida Herbal Conference, Calliandra, Foraging Classes, Blewits, Magnesium Deficiencies, DVDs, Green Deane Forum, Go Fund Me, Spanish Cherries 

    338

    Newsletter 15 January 2019

    A common blossom that’s easy to identify is the wild violet. It’s cultivated brethren is the pansy.

    Violets, foraging mistakes, upcoming foraging classes, the Florida Herbal Conference, Bauhinias, False Hawks Beard, Green Eyes, Florida Privet, foraging DVDs, the Green Deane Forum, Go Fund Me, Swinecress, Stink Horns, and Lawns Aren’t Green. 

    337

    Newsletter 08 January 2019

    There are Plantains that look like tough bananas and there are Plantains that are low and leafy plants. 

    Plantains/Plantagos, Fleabane, Goji Berry, Sycamore tree, Sublimed Sulfur, Richardia, Foraging Classes, Foraging DVDs, the Green Deane Forum, Go Fund Me.  

    336

    Newsletter, 01 January 2019

    Newsletter, 01 January 2019

    Making their winter debut are our stinging nettles and they might have the second-worst nettle sting on earth.

    Stinging nettles, Sow Thistles, Chickweed, Foraging Classes, Podocarpus Mystery, Hen Bit, the “Bills”, Wax Myrtle Berries, Foraging DVDs, the Green Deane Forum, Go Fund Me

    335

    Newsletter 18-25 December 2018

    Newsletter 18-25 December 2018

    Newsletter 18-25 December 2018

    A winter edible you should be scouting for is Galium aparine, or Goosegrass…

    Goosegrass, Jelly Ears, False Hawk’s Beard, Roses, Nickerbeans, Christmasberry, Dandelion, Lemon Bacopa and it’s evil bitter sister Water Hyssop, Foraging Classes, Pinellas County, Foraging Videos, Go Fund Me, Green Deane Forum, Thistle Seeds, 8th Annual Urban Crawl 

    334

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-11-december-2018/

    Pyracanthas are furious in the fall. Their brilliant red berries stand out in every landscape 

    Pyracanthas, Gingko, Chickweed, Hibiscus, Bauhinia, Foraging Classes, Death By Apple Seeds, Green Deane Forum, Foraging DVDs, Go Fund Me, can you ID the edibles? 

    333

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-04-december-2018/

    Both the Chinese and Siberian elms have several edible parts.

    Chinese and Siberian elms, if an animal can eat it, West Indian Chickweed, upcoming Foraging Classes, Passiflora lutea, the Green Deane Forum, Go Fund Me, Foraging videos, and oaks   

    332

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-27-november-2018/

    Foragers benefit from bad ideas. 

    Silverthorn, Little Mustards, Creeping Cucumber, Foraging Classes, Go Fund Me, Wax Myrtle, Green Deane Forum, Indian Pipes, Foraging Videos, 

    331

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-20-november-2018/

    The seasons are changing and so is the foraging with a shift into not only fall but winter plants.

    Christmasberry, Sugarberry, Foraging Classes, Carpetweed, Beefsteak Polypore, Go Fund Me. Green Deane Forum, Foraging videos

    330

    Common plant names can be so misleading. 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-13-november-2018/

    Silk Floss Tree, Pandanus Grass, Sand Spurs, Stinging Nettle, Foraging Classes, Chicken of the Woods, Go Fund Me, Foraging DVDs, and the Green Deane Forum  

    329

    We don’t have the opportunity to often use the word “windfall”…

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-november-06-2018/

    Chinese elm, pines and inner bark, jellyfish, wild oaks and sea purslane, foraging classes, personal notes, donations, DVD and the Green Deane Forum 

    328

    The tree is easy to find but is it edible? 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-30-october-2018/

    Golden Rain Tree, Daylight Saving Time, Back Yard Foraging and Pets, Foraging Classes, Smartweed, Go Fund Me, DVDs, and the Green Deane Forum

    327

    Learning about edible wild plants seem intimidating at first.

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-23-october-2018/

    Ringless Honey Mushroom, Foraging Class Schedule,  Morning Glories, Go Fund Me, DVDs, and the Green Deane Forum, 

    326

    Our Sumacs are happy. 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-16-october-2018/

    Sumacs, Persimmons, What is Edible? Foraging Classes, Perennial Peanut, Sea Grapes, Go Fund Me, Green Deane Forum, foraging DVDs, 

    325 

    This might be a good time to write about Yellow Pond Lilys.

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-09-october-2018/

    Yellow Pond Lily, Papaya and Castor Beans, Sida, Turkey Tails, False Turkey Tails, Foraging Classes, DVDs, Go Fund Me, Green Deane Forum. 

    324

    Is it edible? Yes, no, maybe…

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-2-october-2018/

    Chinese Tallow Tree, Caesarweed, Horsemint, Oyster Mushrooms, Foraging Classes, DVDs, Go Fund Me, the Green Deane Forum. 

    323

    Seasons can be subtle

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-25-september-2018/

    Seasons, Jambul Tree, Mushrooming, Saw Palmaettos, Foraging Classes. Toxic Caterpillars, Foraging Videos, and the Green Deane Forum. 

    322

    It was on the side of the bike trail, half squished.

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-18-september-2018/

    Persimmons, Ringless Honey Mushrooms, Bananas, Foraging Classes, Peppervine, Foraging Videos, Green Deane Forum, 

    321

    In the backwoods of Maine where I grew up Dogwoods were small.

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-11-september-2018/

    Kousa Dogwood, Canna, Ground Cherries, Cocoplums, Foraging Classes, Foraging DVDs, Go Fund Me, the Green Deane Forum, OMG!, Carpetweed, Indian Pipes 

    320

    In the olden BC days… before computers…

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-04-september-2018/

    Fall foraging, foraging classes, DVDs, Green Deane Forum,  Go Fund me, Creeping Fig 

    319

    Still unpacking from my road trip (which is my excuse for this shorter-than-usual weekly newsletter.)

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-28-august-2018/

    Mushroom class, foraging class in South Carolina, Foraging Classes, Kudzu, Radium Weed, DVDs, Go Fund Me, the Green Deane Forum  

    318

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-21-august-2018/

    This is an abbreviated newsletter

    Foraging class schedule for August and September 2018

    317

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-14-august-2018/

    Bunya Bunya get no respect in countries where people have plenty of food.

    Bunya Bunya, Norfolk Pine,  Black Gum, Sugarberry, Erect Spiderling, Green Deane Forum, Foraging DVDs, Foraging Classes, Go Fund Me, 

    316

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-08-august-2018/

    There’s an old phrase: “Sometimes you have to bow to the absurd”

    Chanterelles, Black Trumpet, Sumac, Foraging Classes, Horsemint, Green Deane Forum, DVDs, Go Fund Me, 

    315

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-31-july-2018/

    Putting on black fruit now is the much-debated Peppervine, Ampelopsis arborea.

    Peppervine, Pindo Palms, Foraging Classes, Americaln Lotus, DVDs, Green Deane Forum, Where the wild food is.  

    314

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-24-july-2018/

    Our foraging class in Port Charlotte this past week was above and beyond if you like fruit.

    Cocoplums,  Jambul Tree, Mangos, Ground Cherries, Foraging Classes, Fermenting Mushrooms, Blue Porterweed, Foraging DVDs, the Green Deane Forum, 

    313 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-17-july-2018/

    Millions of dollars and many decades have been spent trying to eradicate the edible pictured above.

    Latex Strangler Vine, Beefstake Polypore, Sugarberry, Foraging Classes, Eastern Gammagrass, Purslane, Green Deane Forum, Foraging DVDs, Lawns Aren’t Green, 

    312

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-10-july-2018/

    Lobsters… no, not the kind from the sea but the woods: Lobster mushrooms. 

    Magnolias, Lobster Mushrooms, Foraging Classes, Carpetweed, Green Deane Forum, Foraging DVDs, Bacterial Considerations, 

    311

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-3-july-2018/

    There’s a wonderfully aromatic plant that prefers to hide most of the year.

    Horsemint, Tallow Plum, Orlando Mushroom Group, Pecan Truffles, Foraging Classes, and DVDs 

    310

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-26-june-2018/

    Podocarpus does not, as they used to say, have an attitude.

    Podocarpus, Simpson Stopper, Orlando Mushroom Group, Foraging Classes, Jack In The Pulpit, Green Deane Forum, and foraging DVDs. 

    309

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-19-june-2018/

    Paper Mulberries are related to bread fruit. 

    Paper Mulberries, St. John’s Mint, Black Gum, Podocarpus, Poison Sumac, Foraging Classes, DVDs, Green Deane Forum, Blue Porterweed

    308

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-12-june-2018/

    Sorting out Morning Glories, Maypops and plants with cyanide, a Bolete with no name, Foraging Classes, Eating Little Red Bugs, the Green Deane Forum, Foraging DVDs,  

    307

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-05-june-2018/

    Yellow ponds, that’s how I think of it…

    American Lotus, Black Cherry,  Foraging Classes, Toxic Atamasco,  Milk Caps. The Old Man of the Woods, Green Deane Forum, Chinese Tallow tree, foraging DVDs, 

    306

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-29-may-2018/

    Yucca is not Yuca. Or said another way: YOU-ka is not YUK-ka.

    Yucca, Matchhead, Oaxaca Lemon Verbena, Doveweed, Ficus Racemosa, American Nightshade, Foraging Classes, DVDs, Green Deane Forum, Eastern Hemlock 

    305 

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-22-may-2018/

    The Orlando Mushroom Group (OMG!) met Sunday for their first fungal foray of the year. 

    Orlando Mushroom Group, Pawpaws, Foraging Classes, Pregnancy and Plants,  Green Deane Forum, Foraging DVDs, Go Fund Me, and Chanterelles. 

    304

    Spiderworts got me in trouble once

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-15-may-2018/

    Spiderworts, Pond Apples, Sea Oxeye, Foraging Classes, OMG mushroom hunt, Go Fund Me, Green Deane Forum, Foraging DVDs, Botany Builder 26,   

    303

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-08-may-2018/

    Not all of botany is settled.

    Grapes, Ivy Gourd, Eastern Gamagrass, Foraging Classes, DVDs, Green Deane Forum, Go Fund Me, the Orlando Mushroom Group, 

    302 

    Sea Purslane and Purslane are not the same species

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-01-may-2018/

    Sea Purslane, Sargassum, Morning Glories, Foraging Classes,  Foraging DVDs, Green Deane Forum, Orlando Mushroom Group, Go Fund Me, Jack in the Pulpits, 

    301

    The American Nightshade is poised to fruit heavily.

    https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-24-april-2018/

    American Nightshade, Blackberries, Orlando Mushroom Group, Common Fungi of South Florida, Foraging Classes, Ivy Gourd, Green Deane Forum, Foraging DVDs, Go Fund Me, 

    Newsletters in chronological order

  •  29 November2016:  https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-6-december-2016/ Issue 235: What do you see #25, Beautyberries, Simpson Stoppers, Wild Pineapples, Where To Find Wild Edibles. Foraging Classes, A possible edible shrub? Bananas, Foraging DVDs and the Green Deane Forum
  • 22 November 2016:  Issue 234 Dandelions, Goji Berries, Wapato, Foraging Classes, Foraging DVDs, the Green Deane Forum
  • 15 November 2016: Issue 233: Chinese Elm, Wild Lettuce, Horsemint, Smartweed, Beautyberry, Brazilian Pepper, Winged Sumac, Foraging Classes, DVDs, the Green Deane Forum,
  • 08 November 2016:  Issue 232. Cucumber Weed, Honey Mushrooms, Creeping Cucumber, Tallow Plum, Christmasberry, Foraging Classes, Green Deane DVD, and the Green Deane Forum.
  • 01 November 2016: Issue 231: Edible Wild Radish, Deadly Water Hemlock, Peppery Smartweed, Crushed Acorns, Foraging Classes, DVDs and the Green Deane Forum
  • 25 October   2016: Issue 230: Tropical Almond, How Kids Learn, Foraging Classes, Dove Plums, the Green Deane Forum and foraging DVDs.
  • 18 October 2016: Issue 229: Do you need to know the botanical names? Morning Glories, Persimmons, Yam A, Foraging Classes, Green Deane Forum, DVDs, Acorn Bread.
  • 11 October 2016: Issue 228: Harvesting windfall, is the ground polluted? the Green Deane Forum and foraging DVDs
  • 04 October 2016: Issue 227: Carpetweed, foraging and bacteria, foraging classes, the Green Deane Forum, and foraging DVDs.
  • 27 September 2016: Issue 226: Acorns, Creeping Fig, Jewels of Opar, Foraging Classes, Ft. Desoto, Chaya, Green Deane Forum, foraging DVDs.
  •  20 September 2016: Issue 225: Hackberry – Sugarberry, Kudzu, Skunk Vine, Foraging Classes, Persimmons, Green Deane DVDs and the Green Deane Forum.
  • 13 September 2016: Issue 224: Water Hyacinth, Panic Grass, Foraging Classes, DVDs, Pindo Wine, the Green Deane Forum
  • 06 September 2016: Issue 223: Learning how to forage, what’s in season now, foraging classes, Green Deane DVDs, the Green Deane Forum.
  • 30 August 2016 was a fifth Tuesday. No newsletter was published.
  • 23 August 2016: Issue 222: Beautyberries, grapes, Pindo Palm, Simpson Stopper, Horsemint, Saw Palmetto, Persimmons, Maine Blueberries, milkweed pods, foraging classes., DVDs, the Green Deane Forum, medicinal and edible mushrooms.
  • 16 August 2016: Issue 221: Horsemint, Pindo Wine, Begonias, Goldenrod, Foraging Classes, Green Deane Forum, Foraging DVDs, Beautyberries,
  • 09 August 2016: Issue 220: Black Cherry, Black Gum, Black Pepper Vine Fruit, the North American Ebony, persimmon, foraging classes, DVDs, and the Green Deane Forum.
  • 02 August 2016: Issue 219: Pindo Palms, White Boerhavia, Water Hyssop and memory, Hackberries, Foraging Classes, DVDs, the Green Deane Forum, and Wild Grpaes
  • 26 July 2016: Issue 218: The Jambul Tree, Norfolk Pine, Hairy Cow Pea, Magnifying Glass, Foraging classes, DVDs, the Green Deane Forum, and Simpson Stoppers.
  • All data on site between April 16 and June 8th were lost because of Hostgator’s incompetence. That included many newsletters.
  • 12 April 2016: Issue 203: Finding Pawpaws, blossoming Eastern Coral Bean, fruiting Mulberries, the Mahoe, Partridgeberries in Florida! Upcoming foraging classes and ForageFest, the Green Deane Forum and DVDs.
  • 5 April 2016: No newsletter because of hacking attempt.
  • 29 March 2016: Issue 202: Ivy Gourd or Tindora, Bidens alba, Fermenting, Loquats, Foraging Classes and DVDs.
  • 22 March 2016:  Issue 201: Linden Tree, Fermenting Spiderwort, Avocado Seeds, Foraging Classes, DVDs
  • 15 March 2016: Issue 200: Identifying Garden Weeds, Loquats, Butterweed, New Class Location, Upcoming Foraging Classes, the Green Deane Forum, Foraging DVDs, 200th Newsletter!
  • 8 March 2016: Issue 199: Garden weeds, finding edible weeds, Western Tansy Mustard, Foraging Classes, Sow thistles, Green Deane Forum and  DVDs.
  • 1 March 2016: Issue 198: Florida Herbal Conference 2016, Poor Man’s Pepper Grass and Maca, Foraging Classes, Seaweed, Free Mustard Seeds, Green Deane DVDs, and the Green Deane Forum.
  • 23 February 2016: Issue 197: The Eastern Redbud and Chickasaw Plum, Wild Radishes and Mustards, Earthskills and Florida Herbal Conference 2016, Upcoming Foraging Classes, Free Mustard Seeds, Green Deane DVDs, and the Green Deane Forum.
  • 16 February 2016: Issue 196: Sow Thistles, Thorns, Spines and Prickles, the Green Deane Forum, Foraging Classes. Florida Herbal Conference, Free Mustard Seeds, Green Deane’s DVDs.
  • 9 February 2016: Issue 195: Silverthorns, Plantagos, Foraging Classes, Florida Herbal Conference, Foraging DVDs, free Red Mustard seeds.
  • 2 February 2016: Issue 194: Tulips, Mustards, Dandelions, Doveweed, Florida Herbal Conference, Foraging Classes, Green Deane Videos, Free Mustard seeds, and the Green Deane Forum: Did you ever eat a larch?”
  • 26 January 2016: Issue 193: Eastern Gamagrass, Florida Herbal Conference, Sea Blite, Queen and Pindo Palms, Opuntia and Nopales, Foraging Classes, Green Deane DVDs.
  • 19 January 2016: Issue 192: Silverthorn, Sheep’s Sorrel, Free Red Mustard Seeds, Stinging Nettles, Henbit, Chickweed, Foraging Classes, DVDs, and the Green Deane Forum
  • 12 January 2016: Issue 191: Roots revisited: Ivy Gourd. Wild Teas. Foraging Classes, DVDs, the Green Deane Forum.
  • 5 January 2016: Issue 190:Stinging nettles, Purslane, Oxalis, Mystery Root, Foraging classes, DVDs, Green Deane Forum.
  • 29 December 2015: Issue 189:Goosegrass, Christmasberry, Natal Plum, Yaupon Holly, Bananas, Nicker Bean, Ground Cherry, Sea Purslane, Sea Blite, Coral Berry, Gracilaria, CLasses, DVDs, and the Green Deane Forum
  • 22 December 2015: Issue 188: Ringless Honey mushrooms, Deer Mushrooms, Tamarind, Mahoe, Tropical Almond, Fifth Urban Crawl, Foraging Classes, DVDs, Green Deane Forum,
  • 15 December 2015: Issue 187: Silverthorn, Peppergrass, Chickweed, Foraging Classes Green Deane Videos, the Green Deane Forum, fifth annual Urban Crawl.
  • 8 December 2015: Issue 186: Wild lettuce, Osage Orange, Ginkgos, Cashew Trees, Pineapple Guava, Turk’s Cap, Foraging Classes, DVDs, and the Green Deane Forum.
  • 1 December 2015: Issue 185: Tropical Soda Apple aka Horse Nettle, Henbit,  Stork’s Bill and Cranesbill,
  • 24 November 2015: Issue 184; Chickweed, pomegranate peelings, pines, homemade mustard, foraging classes, the Green Deane Forum, and DVDs
  • 17 November 2015: Issue 183; Seaweed and Lichen, where to forage, Foraging Classes, DVDs, Green Deane Forum.
  • 10 November 2015: Issue 182:Wild Drinks, a book review; Wax Myrtle Berries, Wild Radish, Foraging Classes, the Green Deane Forum, and DVDs
  • 3 November 2015: Issue 181:Black gum, Seagrapes, Doveweed, Foraging near Roads, Classes, Green Deane Forum, and Videos.
  • 27 October 2015: Issue 180:Foot fruit: Podocarpus and Cashews, Sandspurs, Pony Foot, Foraging Classes, the Green Deane Forum and Videos
  • 20 October 2015: Issue 179:What is a Ceiba and how do you say it? Partridgeberry, Ringless Honey Mushrooms, Red Bays and Magnolias, Laurel Wilt, Pellitory aka Cucumberweed, Foraging Classes, and the Green Deane Forum
  • 7 October 2015 no  newsletter published because site had to be backed up because of hackers.
  • 6 October 2015: Issue 178:Tallow plum, White Beautyberries, Sumac, Sea and Wood Oats, Cactus and Nopales, Foraging Classes, Green Deane Forum,
  • 29 September was a fifth Tuesday, no news letter published then.
  • 22 September 2015: Issue 177: Frost, and ripening vegetables and fruit, Foraging Classes, the Green Deane Forum
  • 15 September 2015: Issue 176:Purslane and a look-alike, Pepper Vine, Upcoming Foraging Classes, Heartwing Sorrel, Green Deane Forum,
  • 8 September 2015: Issue 175: 18 edibles along the Seminole-Wekiva Trial, Foraging Class Schedule, and the Green Deane Forum.
  • 1 September 2015: Issue 174: Kudzu, wild apples, mountain foraging, upcoming classes, the Green Deane Forum
  • 18 and 25 August, no newsletters as Green Deane was on vacation hiking in the Carolinas.
  • 11 August 2015: Issue 173:Horsemint, Foraging along railroad tracks, Goldenrod, Swamp Rose Mallow, Foraging Classes, Green Deane Forum.
  • 4 August 2015:   Issue 172:Ripening grapes, saw palmetto fruit, Yellow Anise, Green Maypops, Large Boletes, Foraging Classes, Green Deane Forum.
  • 28 July 2015: Issue 171:Citron Melons, three edible mushrooms; Blue Lactarius, the Old Man of the Woods, and Chanterelles. Lone Star Ticks and Armadillos in the news, Foraging Classes and the Green Deane Forum
  • 21 July 2015: Issue 170:Tasty Tamarind, Tropical Almonds, the lesser-known Silk Bay, Foraging Classes, The Green Deane Forum, Are the Seasons Changing?
  • 14 July 2015: Issue 169: Are all Portulacas edible? Which yam is it? Elderberries. Foraging Classes. Taking a Bee Hive Home, and The Green Deane Forum.
  • 7 July 2015:  Issue 168: Paper Mulberries, Pindo Palm, Yaupon Holly, The Timucua, Pawpaws, plant books, upcoming foraging classes, the Green Deane Forum.
  • 30 June 2015: Fifth Tuesday, no newsletter.
  • 23 June 2015: Issue 167: Sea Blite, Glasswort, Creeping Fig, Foraging Classes, Green Deane Forum.
  • 16 June 2105: Issue 166:Laco-fermenting, toxic Atamasco Lily, Smilax, Sword Ferns, Foraging Classes, Green Deane Forum,
  • 9 June 2015: Issue 165: Latex Strangler Vine, American Lotus, Dock Seeds, foraging mistakes, early season Podocarpus, Reishi mushrooms, foraging classes, Green Deane Forum
  • 2 June 2015: Issue 164: Ivy gourd, Honey Mushrooms, Wild Food Plants of Hawaii, Classes, Green Deane Forum.
  •  26 May 2015, no newsletter because of hackers. 
  • 19 May 2015: Issue 163:Gopher Apples are blossoming as are Groundnuts. Candyroot is getting showy, Blueberries are ripening. The Simpson Stopper has three kinds of leaves. Wild Coffee and Coralberry Confusion, Upcoming Classes, and the Green Deane Forum,
  • 12 May 2015: Issue 162: Watercress, Wild Garlic, Upcoming Foraging Classes, Green Deane Forum, Botany Builder 28, Does anyone want to guess?
  • 5 May 2015: Issue 161:Wild Pineapple, Ground Cherries, Horsemint, Three kinds of wild grapes, upcoming foraging classes, Botany Builder 27, edible Pluteus petasatus, the Green Deane Forum
  • 28 April 2015: Issue 160:Blackberries, Pickling Betony roots, Elderberry, Smilax, Juniper Berries, Upcoming Classes, Green Deane Forum, What Do You See #24.
  • 21 April 2015: Issue 159: Distance and Elevation, Paper Mulberry, Red Mulberry, Basswood, False Hawk’s Beard, Upcoming Foraging Classes, Green Deane Forum, Botany Builder #26,
  • 14 April, 2015: Issue 158: Pineapple Guava, the Tallow Plum, where to look for edible plants, upcoming foraging classes. the Green Deane Forum, and What Do You See #23
  • 7 April 2015: Issue 157: ForageFest 2015, Lantanas, Weeds of Southern Turfgrasses, A Beginner’s Guide of Edible Florida, foraging in Port Charlotte, non-edible Nicker Beans, foraging classes, the Green Deane Forum, and What Do You See #22
  • 31 March 2015: Issue 156: Is it time to reassess Nuphar roots? Identifying the Simpson Stopper. Foraging Instructors. What ’s in Season, Foraging Class Schedule, Green Deane Forum, What do you see #21.
  • 24 March 2015: Issue 155: Mulberries, Wild Cucumbers, Edible Palms, Sea Rocket, Which Blueberry? Green Deane Forum. Upcoming Foraging Classes, What Do You See #20.
  • 17 March 2015: There was no newsletter.
  • 10 March 2015: Issue 154:Paw paws, Pennyroyal, Dandelions, Green Deane Forum, Foraging Classes, Daylight Saving time, What Do You See #19
  • 3 March 2015, Issue 153: Florida Herbal Conference 2015, Turpentine Pines, Banning Mulberries, Foraging Classes, the Green Deane Forums, Bird Peppers, and What Do You See #18
  • 24 February 2015: Issue 152: Eastern Redbud, Plums, Limequat, Foraging Classes, Seasonal changes and Mulberries, Florida Herbal Conference, Green Deane Forum, and What Do You See #17.
  • 17 February 2015: Issue 151: Pepper Grass, Wild Geraniums, Paper Mulberry, Foraging Classes, Guest article: Bees, Butterflies, and Moths, Florida Herbal Conference 2015, the Green Deane Forum, and Winter Buds10 February 2015: Mystery diced root,  Florida Earthskills 2015 is history, Florida Herbal Conference 2015 is next,  foraging classes, Green Deane Forum, the 150th newsletter.
  • 27 January 2015: The Wax Myrtle, Mustards & Radishes, Hairy Cowpea, Green Deane Forum, Earthskills 2015, Florida Herbal Conferece 2015, How Ungreen of Us.
  •  20 January 2015: Goji berries, Plantagos, Black Medic, Green Deane Forum, Earthskills 2015, Florida Herbal Conference 2015, and Chain of Contamination
  • 13 January 2015: Poorman’s Pepper Grass, Creeping Cucumber, Bulrush, Green Deane Forum, Earthskills 2015, Florida Herbal Conference 2015, classes, Wild Pineapple, Creeping Indigo warning, Calliandra haematocephala, What Do You See #16. 
  • 6 January 2015: False Hawk’s Beard, Roses, Earthskills gathering, 2015 Florida Herbal Conference, Foraging Classes, Pellitory, Goosegrass, Less Money More Weeds
  • 30 December 2014: New Year Leaves, Bauhinias, Pansies, Classes, DVDs, Green Deane Forum, Earthskills Conference, Florida Herbal Conference, Janus, the Roman God who looks both ways, 4th Annual Urban Crawl.
  • 23 December 2014: Are cattails really that good? Is the Moss Rose edible? FORAGER! Classes, DVDS and the Green Deane Forum.
  • 16 December 2014: Sycamores, Wild Mustards, When a Description Doesn’t Fit, Upcoming Classes, Green Deane DVDs, The Green Deane Forum, Florida Herbal Conference
  • 9 December 2014: Wild edibles in downtown Savannah, Georgia, Pyracanthas, Ginkgop, Swinecress, Henbit, herbalism vs foraging, upcoming foraging classes, Green Deane DVDs, and the Florida Herbal Conference.
  • 2 December 2014: The Cabbage Palm, Sow Thistle, Weeds vs. Cultivated Crops, DVDs, Green Deane Forum, and the Florida Herbal Conference.
  • 25 November 2014: Pellitory, Usnea, Thanksgiving, foraging classes, DVDs, the Green Deane Forum and the herbal conference.
  • 18 November 2014: Persimmons, Indian Pipes, Cactus fruit, Lantana, foraging classes, DVDs, the Green Deane Forum and the herbal conference.
  • 11 November 2014, no newsletter as Green Deane had dental surgery.
  • 4 November 2014:    Making Vinegar, Marlberries, Wintercress, Florida Herbal Conference, Upcoming Classes, DVDs, and the Green Deane Forum, all in this week’s newsletter From The Village Green.
  • 28 October 2014: Ground Cherries, Cocoplums, Simpson Stopper, Elderberries, Lemon Bacopa, Bananas, Lactarius Indigo, Upcoming Classes, DVDs, The fourth Florida Herbal Conference, and Florida Gulf Coast University.
  • 21 October 2014: Roses, Book Review: The Wild Wisdom of the Weeds, upcoming foraging season, classes, DVDs, and the Green Deane forum.
  • Oct 7and 14 no newsletter because Green Deane attended an out-of-state memorial service.
  • 30 September 2014: Date Palms, Mushroom Season, Red Tide, Foraging Classes, DVDs, Green Deane Forum.
  • 23 September 2014: Is Portulaca pilosa edible? Gopher Apples, What’s in Season, Class Schedule, DVDs, the Green Deane Forum.
  • 16 September 2014: The Tallow Plum, a neat way to clean tunas, looking for yams, the beautyberry is happy, upcoming classes, DVDs, and the Green Deane Forum
  • 9 September 2014: The passion fruit, where is it safe to forage, the Jambul Fruit, Puss Moth Caterpillar, Classes, DVD, and the Green Deane Forum.
  • 2 September 2014: Sumac, Bananas, Cana, Old Man of The Woods, Podocarpus, Answer to What Do You See #16, Green Deane Forum, DVDs.
  • 26 August 2014: Pine nuts, wild cucumbers, hiking in North Carolina, foraging classes, What Do You See #16, Green Deane Forum and DVDs.
  • 19 August 2014: No newsletter, Green Deane hiking in the Carolinas.
  • 12 August 2014: No newsletter, Green Deane hiking in the Carolinas.
  • 5 August 2014: No newsletter, Green Deane hiking in the Carolinas.
  • 29 July 2014: Bunya Bunya, Ganoderma mushrooms, upcoming classes, where to find the strangler latex vine, the Green Deane Forum and DVDs.
  • 22 July 2014, American lotus, Fifth Annual Mushroom Intensive, Portulacas, Foraging Classes, The Green Deane Forum, and Podocarpus
  • 15 July 2014, Black Cherries, Strawberry Guava, Horsemint, Basswood, Mushroom Workshop, White Indigoberry
  • July 1st and 8th, no newsletter as Green Deane was on vacation.
  • 24 June 2014: Drehear Park, Jambul, Purslane, Classes, DVDs, changing servers.
  • 17 June 2014: Chickasaw Plums, the deadly Water Hemlock, a Monsoon of Mushrooms, the answer the What Do You See #15, upcoming classes, the Green Deane Forum and DVDs.
  • 10 June 2014: Jack In The Pulpits, Seasonal Changed, Podocarpus, Junipers, What Do You See 15, Answer to What Do You See 14, Foraging Classes, the Green Deane Forum, and DVDs.
  • 3 June 2014: No newsletter because of attempted hacking.
  • 27 May 2014: Memorial Day and the Corn Poppy. Where do you forage? What Do You See #14.
  •  2o May 2014: Discovering Chaya; a new loop; Florida’s Wild Edibles, a book review; classes and DVDs.
  • 13 May 2014: Caloric staples: Cattails, Kudzu, Acorns; Seasonal Changes; “Giant Hog Weed” on the Green Deane Forum; Upcoming Foraging Classes; DVDs; What Do You See 13 Answers, all in this week’s newsletter From The Village Green.
  • 6 May 2014: Blackberries, the Water Hyacinth, Of Butterflies and Bees, What Do You See #12 and 13, Green Deane Forum and DVDS.
  • 29 April 2014: Fifth Tuesday of the month. No newsletter published that date.
  • 22 April 2014: Wild Garlic and Onions, Fleabane, Surinam Cherries and Mulberries, What Do You See 12, the answer to What Do You See 11, the Green Deane Forum, Classes and DVDs.
  • 15 April 2014:  Florida pennyroyal, Pawpaws, A new edible Redvein Abutilon, Birds and Loquats, What Do You See #11, answer to What Do You See #10, upcoming classes, DVDs
  • 8 April 2014: Mulberries, Magnolia Vinegar, Surinam Cherries, What Do You See 10, answer to What Do You See 09, Upcoming Foraging classes, Book Review: Foraging With Kids, DVDs.
  • 1 April 2014: The Tropical Chestnut, the Eastern Redbud, Miner’s Lettuce, Upcoming Foraging Classes, What do You See #09, answers to What Do You See 08, Book Review: Guide To Wild Foods And Useful Plants, DVDs, Barbie…
  • 25 March 2014: Finding “wild” edibles, Wild Cucumber, Basswood, Black Medic and Hop Clover, Upcoming Classes,  Brevard Botanical Garden Plant sale, What Do You See 08, answer for What Do You See 07, and DVDs.
  • 18 March 2014:  Golf courses revisited, rain brings the mushrooms, spring greens are putting on, got an article for the newsletter? Classes, DVDs, What Do You See #07, answers to #06,  Birmingham Plant Sale, Book Review: Foraging & Feasting.
  • 11 March 2014:  Finding wild edibles, Dandelions, False Dandelions, Time Change, What Do You See #06, Spring is Here, Upcoming Classes, DVDs, Guest Articles Request.
  • 4 March, 2014: Winging it with maple seeds, Turk’s Caps, Florida Herbal Conference 2014 is history, how to avoid the toxic Cherry Laurel, What Do You See? #05 and the answers to #04, looking for a travel trailer and holding classes in west Florida and beyond.
  • 25 February, 2014: Sheep Sorrel, mystery mushroom, upcoming classes, Botany Builder 39, What Do You See? #04, Answer to What Do You See 03,  DVDs and close encounters of the slithering kind.
  • 18 February 2014: Nettle season, the evergreen Water Hyssop, White Clover, Boletes, our guest article: Plant Nutrition, upcoming classes, the Florida Herbal Conference nears, What Do You See #3 and the answer to What Do You See #2,
  • 11 February 2014: Blewit Mushroom, Wild Garlic, Botany Builder #38, Plantago Power, Guest Article: Is it really Global Warming?  What Do You See #2 and last week’s answer and more all in this week’s newsletter From The Village Green.
  • 4 February 2014: What is White Snow? The Silverthorns are fruiting. Which Ganoderma is it? Botany Builder #37. What Do You See #1, and new feature. EarthSkills gathering Florida is this week, Florida Herbal Conference is this month, all in this week’s newsletter From The Village Green.
  • 28 January, 2014: Cooking up mustard roots, Botany Builder #36, why doesn’t epazote freeze? Class Schedule, EarthSkills 2014, Florida Herbal Conference, DVDs, looking for Mr. Good Transportation, and guest writers.
  • 21 January 2014: Tansy Mustard, Swine Cress, Botany Builder #35, Part II of  guest writer Dewayne Allday’s To Shroom or not to Shroom, EarthSkills 2014 gathering, Florida Herbal Conference 2014, and upcoming foraging classes.
  • 14 January 2014: Start looking for Silverthorn fruit, Henbit, Amaranth and Bitter Cress in local garden, Botany Builder #34, guest writer Dewayne Allday, To Shroom or not to Shroom, EarthSkills 2014 gathering, Florida Herbal Conference 2014, and upcoming foraging classes,
  • 7 January 2014:   Plantagos are ready for harvesting, Chickweed by Heather Pierce with recipes, Botany Builder 33, How safe is foraging? Class schedule, the Florida Herbal Conference, and Green Deane’s DVDs.
  • 31 December 2013: No newsletter published that date.
  • 24 December 2013: Vibrant chickweed, abundant pellitory, eat your Christmas tree? The Third Annual Urban Crawl with violet recipe, the common sow thistle, Botany Builder #32, Bottled scallions and the Green Deane Forum, what is foraging? upcoming classes and DVDs,
  • 17 December 2013: The Green Deane Forum, the Tropical Almond, Botany Builder 31, Over Foraging, ETWs Archive, Mushrooms to be found, three thefts, Green Deane DVDs.
  • 10 December 2013: Wild Radishes and Mustards, Juniper Berries, Amelia Island, Egan Creek Greenway, The Blue Heron Inn, and Botany Builder #30: Peltate. From the Archive: Is this Plant Edible?
  • 3 December 2013: Sow thistles are sprouting, the wild lettuce is up. How many raw elderberries should you eat? The Silverthorn is in blossom, swinecress will soon be here, and Botany Builder #29.
  • 26 November 2013: Strangler Latex Vine still fruiting, seasonal Little Mustards, Stinging Nettles, Forest Kindergarten, a dear visitor, Florida Herbal Conference, Foraging DVDs, and Botany Builder #28: Lianas.
  • 19 November 2013: Chickweed is back! Along with stinkhorns, train wreckers, making dandelion wine, walnuts in the news, Florida Herbal Conference, DVDs, and foraging instructor updates.
  • 12 November 2013: Sargassum, other sea veteables, eating jellyfish, cooking with sea purslane, the wood oats alternative, classes, DVDs, Florida Herbal Conference and an insect invasion.
  • 5 November 2013: The seasonal change is upon us and winter foraging should be picking up. There’s acorns to be collected, a yam blossom to see, and a luffa surprise. The Florida Herbal Conference is coming up, and shoveling snow all in this week’s newsletter From The Village Green.
  • 29 October 2013: No newsletter published that date.
  • 22 October 2013: The Tropical Almond, Smartweed, Dudaim Melon, Polyporus Tenuiculus, Florida Herbal Conference, and Green Deane’s DVDs.
  • 15 October 2013: A new edible, Perennial Pea; early-season cucumber weed; going out of season sea-grapes, persimmons, coco-plums, simpson stopper; begonias-hemlock, honey mushrooms, a calculating cat, Florida Herbal Conference, and DVDs.
  • 8 October 2013: Black Gum, eating Anoles, the Green Deane Forum, Chestnut Bolete, 2014 Florida herbal conference, Green Deane’s DVDs, and 2000-year old seed sprouts.
  • 1 October 2013: Sumac’s in season, persimmons, saw palmettos, creeping cucumbers, three iffy edibles, trust, the genus Lactarius, language and grazing.
    24 Septemner 2013: Ever eat a Norfolk Pine? Snacking on Hairy Cowpeas blossoms. Dare you eat a Saw Palmetto berry? Persimmons are coming into season. Sign up early for the Florida Herbal Conference. Recent rains will stimulate mushroom sightings. Change in the newsletter policy. DVDs as selling.
  • 17 September 2013: Cereus fruit, ground nuts, 5,000 questions, upcoming classes, herbal conference, my mystery mushroom, DVDS.
  • 10 September 2013: Remembering wild apples, the aroma of wild plants, coming to terms with botanical names, a purslane recipe, the Florida Herbal Conference and DVDs,
  • 3 September 2013: Blooming horsemint, Kudzu, classes, Ganoderma curtisii, make a berry picking bucket, upcoming conferences and DVDs.
  • 27 August, 2013: Blossoming Coral Vine, Eastern Gamagrass, Grapes, Foraging Classes, Rattlesnakes, Poison Sumac, and Puffballs
  • 20 August 2013: Podocarpus and fruit wines, thank you cards, class schedule, DVDs, and for what it’s worth.
  • 13 August 2013: Fireweed is gourmet?  Pindo Palms, Bitter Gourd, native grapes, Mt. Washington, Blueberries, persimmons, upcoming foraging classes and a common toxic mushroom the Green Parasol.
  • 6 August 2013: Osage Orange, Saw Palmettos, foraging teachers, upcoming foraging classes, seasonal mushrooms, and how we love our pets.
  • 30 July 2013: Getting Cereus about blooming cactus, the Monadas for medicine and spice, DVDs, our native Anise trees and remembering Dick Deuerling.
  • 23 July 2013, Where to look for weeds, Pineapple weed, Toe Biters, 2 million views, DVDs, and a tribute to mom, Mae Lydia Putney Jordan.
  • 9 July and 16 July 2013 no newsletter due to a death in the family.
  • 2 July 2013: The tasty Bunya Pine Cone, natal plums, willows, botany builder, classes and your pick for a new vegetable.
  • 25 June 2013: The orange Paper Mulberry, the orange Hackberry, Green Deane’s DVDs, Environmentalism, upcoming classes, and the Tree of Heaven all in this week’s newsletter From The Village Green
  • 18 June 2013: Chickasaw plums, ivy gourd, the false roselle, toxic daturas, hand lenses, classes, and who’s manipulating whom?
  • 11 June 2013:  Getting food out of the Chinese Tallow Tree, harvesting young wild yams, pickled Betony root, the deer are raining what? And upcoming classes.
  • 4 June 2013: The maypops and pawpaws are putting on fruit, yucca are blossoming, black cherries are ripe and the black nightshade berries are ripening. That and a new class location, Seminole-Wekiva.
  • 28 May 2013: Sea purslane, sea oats and wood oats, a profusion of coco-plums,  easterngammagrass and how to eat cicadas
  • 21 May 2013: The Prunus are a fruiting, the winged yam, where to find sea blite, should you eat Black Medic, Smilax are in blossom, and new video about Wild garlic/Onions.
  • 14 May 2013: No newsletter that week
  • 7 May 2013: Blackberries, Lemon Bacopa, Surinam Cherries, Basswood, Linden Tree, recent articles and the city of Winter Park spraying cattails because they are not aestheticallypleasing in the park.
  • 30 April 2013: How to tell sow thistles apart, creeping fig, lawns, and why can’t I eat this?
  • 23 April 2013: The sweet aroma of the candyroot, the surprising relative of the Hairy Cowpea, Barnyard Grass, the Rose Apple and releasing bio-controls.
  • 16 April 2013: St. Nicholas Monastery and Tropical Almonds, Pellitory Itch, Vacant Lots, Bamboo Cove, Botany Builder #26, and the calming effects of nature.
  • 9 April 2013:  Pawpaws are blossoming, are there any poisonous look alikes, the bugs are coming, cold weather, and $1.6 million for a frog phobia.
  • 2 April 2013: The wild onions/garlic are fruiting, how to tell the edible Black Cherry from the toxic Laurel Cherry, toxicity in Elderberries, and more Grass is God rebellion.
  • 26 March 2013: Finding fireweed, digging up betony roots, drying loquats, Botany Builder #25, Coppicing, Road Kill, and spreading seeds.
  • 19 March 2013:  The Queen Palm, changing weeds from edible to noxious, velvet leaf, crabgrass, Botany Builder #24, Samaras, New Articles, House Calls, Suriname Cherries, Nopales, and The Drunken Botanist all in this week’s newsletter From The Village Green.
  • 12 March 2013: Mulberries, Creeping Cucumber, Coco-plums, Smartgrass, Botany Builder 23, pinna, winter plant facts, time change, GD videos coming.
  • 5 March 2013:    Goosegrass, pawpaws, Christmasberry, Botany Builder 22 stipules, cultivating wild plants, Apps, Scrub jays.
  • 26 February 2013: Sheep’s Sorrel, White Snow, new articles, shocking news about bees, the Australian Pine, hydrilla, and worms
  • 19 February 2013: Loquats, poison hemlock, turkey berries, toxic tomatoes, conferences, Lake Woodruff, osage orange and turtle travails.
  • 12 February 2013: The ever elusive chickweed, solar oven and nut sheller, the tale of two nettles, wild lettuce, more hard-headed government, new mushroom book, the Maslin technique, ragweed, upcoming classes and loss of habitat
  • 5 February 2013: A close up of usnea, a likeable lichen. The silverthorn is in full fruit, find aromatic wild garlic, identify watercress. There’s also the Thistle Epistle, Frostbites, Mulberries, the herbal conference and up coming classes, all in this week’s newsletter From The Village Green.
  • 29 January 2013: Smilax, non-edible nicker beans, seasonal eating, naughty knotweed, front yard gardening and decapitated grass, pool fish pond, and upcoming class schedule in this week’s newsletter From The Village Green
  • 22 January 2013:  What you can do with a wild wing yam, Florida Pennyroyal, a special Hawthorn you should know about, my latest videos and articles, is eating nutrition good for you? Don’t eat the rattlebox. Sugar Cane and winning environmental bar bets.
  • 15 January 2013:  Haulover Canal, Seablite, classifing plants, clovers, thistles, sow thistles, wild lettuce, Florida Herbal Conference, rising wheat prices.
  • 8 January 2013: Maples are beginning to seed, find local Goosefoots, where the wild food is, the taste test, Florida Herbal Conference, microscopes, and Eugene Handsacker’s shell game
  • 1 January 2013: Chickweed, sublimed sulfur, herbal conference, Green Deane’s DVDs, Weeds of Southern Turfgrasses, Turks Cap, Oxalis, Violets, Plantagos, and the prime mistake foragers make.
  • 25 December 2012: Christmas in Florida, identifying chestnuts, what about ground cherries, winter vines, the toxic Mexican Poppy, the annual urban crawl and natal plums, Canada’s maple syrup much-to-do,
  • 18 December, 2012: How to tell a mustard from a radish. Which cactus pad should you pick? The February Florida Herbal Conference, a traditional urban crawl
  • 11 December 2012: Finding sumacs, magnolia blossoms as spice, the Florida Herbal Conference, follow ups on pollination and Featherstonehaugh, fertilizer, Maygyver and Nefertiti.
  • 4 December  2012: Finding Winged Yams, our little winter mustards, pollenating creatures, Florida Herbal Conference, the Green Deane Forum, Mushrooms a la David Spahr and Dr. Kimbrough, Alligators with marijuana and Featherstonehaugh, all in this week’s newsletter From The Village Green.
  • 27 November 2012: The mustards of wintertime, how to sort out hollies, learning about mushrooms, growing weeds from seeds, dandelions, and the fate of Edward Archboldall all in this week’s newsletter From The Village Green.
  • 20 November 2012:  It’s holly season, and wild mustard time along with seasonal little mustards. Also in the newsletter: The Pond Apple, Florida’s Herbal Conference, Thanksgiving lore, wild pumpkins, Botany Builder 21 and faded underwear, all From The Village Green.
  • 13 November 2012: Going nuts with hickories and acorns;, Spanish Needle tea, good for some of what ails you, why bumble bees can’t fly, and the Florida Herbal Conference,
  • 6 November 2012: Hackberries (Sugarberries) Fireweed, “bad” landscape trees, weighty issues, bikes, time and the 2013 Florida Herbal Conference, all in this week’s newsletter From The Village Green.
  • 30 October 2012:   Which came first, grains or tubers? Groundnuts, wild rice, armadillos, clouds, a follow up on snails and Oh Deer, all in this week’s newsletter From The Village Green.
  • 23 October 2012 Oak trees are masting (dropping acorns) new articles, mushrooms, snails, turtles, False Hawk’s Beard, and more in this week’s newsletter From The Village Green.
  • 16 October 2012:  The winter greens of chickweed, bittercress and poor man’s pepper grass; Solanum americanum, when not to eat; solar oven update, Halloween rant, the impact of weeds, updated articles, the Untouchables, and ginkgo gastronomics.
  • 9 October 2012:    A new crop of sandspurs, confusing Poke berries and Elderberries, nettles for clothes, blue honey, new article about Pandanus, preserving fall foliage, cooking with pine needles and a cockroach eating contest.
  • 2 October 2012:  Pandanus and Ivy Gourd, digging sticks, growing zones and recording setting pumpkin.
  • 25 September 2012:  Chaya, confusing nettles, winter weeds, new articles, yams, the dangers of foraging, tales of a city lot.
  • 18 September 2012: Fuzzy marbles, sweet and sour maypops, food and medicine, recently added articles, sumac hiar, vultures and belladona.
  • 11 September 2012:  Finding tart food, a look at sumac and the false roselle, a new herbalism book and resource, the Green Deane Forum, Sea-Grapes, and scorpions
  • 4 September 2012:   Get Gopher Apples while you can, Getting High, the effect of elevation on plant seasons, a yam for colder weather, a bike with no pedals, and is you cat making you ill?
  • 14 August 2012: Maypops are coming into season; what do you know about cyanide; how to get rid of chiggers; Man of the Earth big root deep down; sorting out wild grapes, and earthworms.
  • 7 August 2012: Eastern Gamagrass, Asian Clams, new articles posted, Creeping Cucumbers, Upcoming classes, Chinese Tallow Tree, Green Dean Forum, What’s the Buzz.
  • 31 July 2012:    Sea Purslane on the grill, when is a clover not a clover? What to do about spices. Archiving newsletters. Class schedule. Growing Patio Potatoes and yams. Fined for growing food and holding birthday party
    all in this week’s newsletter From The Village Green.
  • 24 July 2012 : The Podocarpus is coming into season, grapes are early this year, where to hold a foraging class. my class schedule, making friction fire, is that really a strawberry and sonar sex… all in this week’s newsletter, From The Village Green by Green Deane
  • 17 July 2012 :  Coco-plums are in season, as is Silverhead. Why is Black Point in Maine called that and where does Bidens grow in Brazil? American Holly, scorpions, armadillos and how to make your own sourdough bread, all in this week’s newsletter From The Village Green.
  • 10 July 2012:  A flower that tastes like a mushroom, fear of foraging, nutrition, what is a pirogue, and my class schedule, all in this week’s newsletter From The Village Green.
  • 3 July 2012: Sorting out ground cherries, hairs on plants and why we need to know them, Class Schedule, an upcoming road trip, a great garden party, and Lichen In Space, all in this week’s Green Deane’s Newsletter, From The  Village Green.
  • 26 June 2012: Sorting out blueberries, or, how to figure out what the plant is. Is This Plant Edible and changing views on edibility. And upcoming classes all in this week’s newsletter From The Village Green.
  • 19 June 2012:   What to eat strawberry guavas, which wild edibles should pregnant women avoid, are you collecting seaweed for supper? Lawn grass and code enforcement. Upcoming classes all in this week’s newsletter From The Village Green.
  • 29 May 2012:  Surinam Cherries are ripening but they aren’t cherries. Firethorn berries are green but wait a few weeks. Botany builder #20. What’s barnyard grass? Visit the Green Deane Forum. Bicycles in the news. How to tattoo a banana, all in this week’s Green Deane newsletter From The Village Green.
  • 21 May 2012:  Pineapples that don’t exist, Guerrilla Gardening, upcoming classes and exactly what is the meristem stage? All in this week’s newsletter “From The Village Green” by Green Deane.
  • 7 May 2012:  Can Rescuegrass rescue you? Why forage and what are “naked” seeds? This an more in this week’s newsletter From The Village Green by Green Deane.
  • 23 April 2012: Wild Garlic is heading, spurge nettles are rooting, sea blite is ready for picking, and eastern coral beans are showing you where they are. Did Green Deane actually get poison sumac and what did the spam filter catch? That and more in this weeks newsletter From The Village Green.
  • 9 April 2012: Peppery smartweed, the “yuck” factor, kudzu, the winged yam, pennyroyal, budget cut benefits, and more in this week’s From The Village Green, Green Deane’s Newsletter.
  • 2 April 2012: Where the weeds are. Going to a gym. Compound leaves. Rumex, Topi mambo, Water Lettuce, Duckweed, Edible Flowers Part 19, Classes, Green Deane Forum and “For What It’s worth” all in this week’s newsletter From The Village Green.
  • 26 March 2012:  What’s in and out of season? The Florida Herbal Conference. How do you find edible plants? Pictures or drawings? Upcoming Classes, and more in From the Village Green, Green Deane’s newsletter.
  • 19 March 2012: Where to find papaws. Can you eat grass? Four new articles: Sida, False Roselle, Edible Flowers Part 18, Gout Weed. Can you eat tropical sage? Botany Builder #14, that and more in this week’s newsletter From The Village Green.
  • 5 March 2012: The Eastern Redbuds are confused. A 30,000 year old flower? What might you do if you catch the flu. Sorting out the Perseas. Five new articles.  Arrest made in burning down the world’s oldest Cypress. Class schedule. Green Deane Forum update, all in From the Village Green, Green Deane’s Newsletter
  • 20 February 2012: Wild Radish is turning fields yellow, harvesting nopales, milkweed vine and the evolution of the garden, two new articles, a forum update, this week’s classes, and ducks, all in “From the Village Green” this week’s Green Deane Newsletter.
  • 6 February 2012: The Green Deane Forum, a place to meet other foragers and share questions and successes,  Brazilian Pepper, a staple that grows in teh shade, Botany Builder 14, Herbal Conferencem, Cliamate change. All in this Green Deane’s newsletter this week, From The Village Green.
  • 23 January 2012:  What to do with Brazilian Pepper. Tapping Trees a new way. What’s the difference between a tree and a shrub? Herbal Conference, and I didn’t know that all in this weeks newsletter From The Village Green.
  • 16 January 2012:  Persimmons and frost, saving weed seeds, Botany Builder #12, an herbal invitation, African bees and more in this weeks newsletter from Green Deane.
  • 9 January 2012: The stinging dwarf is back, who is Sunny Savage? Passiflora, epiphany and manatees; new articles, what’s the difference between roots and rhizomes? Wild cucumbers, upcoming classes and the newsletter.
  • 2 January 2012: Pigging out on swinecress. A prescription for walnuts? Snow. New articles on reeds, dahlias, nutrias and edible flowers part nine; Botany builder #10, classes, and how many wild edibles should you know, in Green Deane’s newsletter this week From The Village Green
  • 26 December 2011:   A yam what am a yam; peppergrass; Janus the god of gates; Did you know? New articles; Urban Crawl and upcoming classes; Botany Builder; a Christmas memory and more in Green Deane’s newsletter this week, From The Village Green.
  • 19 December 2011: Chickweed is up locally. Here’s another good reason to forage. What does -ifera mean? Turtle Mound. Canna Island update. Wild Radishes, and more in Green Deane’s newsletter this week, From The Village Green
  • 12 December 2011: Pellitory’s in season. How many apple seeds can you really eat? Botany Builder #7, monocots and dicots. Classes this week. Why are two wheels not part of the green movement? All in Green Deane’s newsletter this week From The Village Green.
  • 6 December 2011:  The controversy over Palmer Amaranth, Tools of the Trail, Poison Plant Handbook, Botany Builder, Did You Know, and upcoming classes, in this week’s newsletter From The Village Green
  • 28 November 2011:  Crowfoot Grass, A grass dictionary, Botany Builder: blade and margin; Thanksgiving.
  • 21 November 2011:  The Chinese Elms are fruiting, what about what the animals eat, a chickweed relative, what is a pappus, a look at a yellow passion flower and a bit of reminiscing in Green Deane’s latest newsletter, From The Village Green.
  • 14 November 2011:  Telling the difference between a wild radish and a wild mustard. How many wild edibles are there? What do you need to know to get started? Why cook bamboo shoots? Botany Builder and this week’s classes, all in Green Deane’s latest newsletter.
  • 8 November 2011:  Look alikes, tell the difference between edible elderberry and toxic water hemlock, discoveries found during this week’s class, what’s peltate?
  • 31 October 2011:  The Halloween and foraging connection…. Seedlings… I.T.E.M.-izing. Battery Acid and pokeweed. Rev7, the Botany Builder and more in Green Deane’s newsletter this week, From The Village Green.
  • 24 October 2011:   Fresh this week:  The new website is up. Are you harvesting sumac berries now or young sow thistles? A “new” edible was found during our foraging class. What about genetically modified foods?  What every runner or    bicyclist should hear about. And did Green Deane really get poison ivy and how you can avoid it. All in Green Deane’s latest newsletter.
  • 1 August 2010 Watervine, Smilax, Does’t Grow Here, Pomegranates
  • 1 July 2010  Jelly Palm, Cactus, Clockwise, Birch Allergies
  • 1 June 2010  Why forage, How safe is foraging, Sea Blite, Ilex vomitoria
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