New video & info from Adam Haritan
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Dandelion, right?
Not quite.
The flower pictured above is actually coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) — a member of the sunflower family, and a species whose flowers precede its leaves. Dandelion, another member of the sunflower family, produces flowers after its leaves have already developed.
Pretty neat, huh?
As Earth would have it, coltsfoot is edible, and the flowers make a great trail-side nibble. You probably wouldn't want to eat copious amounts of these flowers during any single hike, as the wild food chemists will tell you that coltsfoot contains certain chemicals known as pyrrolizidine alkaloids, and these hard-to-pronounce compounds may negatively impact the liver.
Rats livers, for sure. And maybe yours too.
Overall, then, this species is probably best treated as a medicinal plant (one that may be useful as an expectorant, by the way).
How did I learn some of this information?
That's a great question, and it's the reason I'm writing you a letter today. You see, I've always felt that reading books (remember those?) on any one topic can seriously lead to profound results. Think about it. What better way to learn than to study from the masters? (Often for less than $15!)
Learning how to forage for wild food is no different. Reading various books and building your personal foraging library can exponentially increase your skills in this field. Not overnight, of course, but in time.
How do we get started? Where do we get started? With which books do we get started? Again, these are all great questions, and I'd like to answer them for you as best I can. In this brand new video, I briefly review 6 of the most influential foraging books I've ever read.
Enjoy!
And last but certainly not least, if you live near Pennsylvania, don't forget to check out the great list of early spring events below!
As always, thanks for your support!
-Adam Haritan
Upcoming Events
Retreat To Wellness at the Gateway Lodge in Cook Forest with Adam Haritan & Others - 3/17-3/19 (W PA)
Join the Gateway Lodge in Cook Forest for a weekend of hiking among ancient growth trees, learning about the medicinal properties of local fungi, and lifting your intentions with performance coaching and meditation!
Eagle Watch at Cook Forest - 3/18 (W PA)
Drive along the National Wild & Scenic Clarion River to discover eagle hotspots. This is the prime time of the year to view bald eagles on their nests and to find new nesting sites!
March Mushroom Walk at South Park with the WPMC - 3/18 (SW PA)
Join the Western PA Mushroom Club for a free walk through South Park in search of Pennsylvania's early spring fungi!
Bird Outing with the 3 Rivers Birding Club at Moraine State Park - 3/19 (W PA)
Explore the shores of Lake Arthur and witness a good (sometimes spectacular!) variety of waterfowl in migration.
2017 Foraging Intensive with Horn Farm Center - 3/25 (C PA)
Over the course of nine months, participants will go from learning foraging basics to incorporating wild plants into everyday life, all while gaining the knowledge to confidently share these skills with others!
Owl Prowl at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary - 3/31 (E PA)
Learn more about common resident owls of Pennsylvania! This event will begin with a brief presentation featuring a live owl, followed by a walk to call and listen for resident owls at the Sanctuary.
Save the date! Spring Migration Excursion with Westmoreland Conservancy - 5/12-5/13 (NE OH)
Spring migration is almost here. Magee Marsh Wildlife Refuge, along Lake Erie in Ohio, is one of the top migratory observation locations in the country. Join the Conservancy for an outing to view an amazing variety of migratory birds before their long flight over the Great Lakes.
More events can be found at Learn Your Land.