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Foraging can be a fun family activity

As men, women, boys and girls are shaken out of their wintry haze to blossom outdoors, nature is also transitioning into warmer-day activities.

The plant world changes in amazing ways during spring and summer. This is the absolute best time to head outside for a closer look as plants and trees produce seeds, flowers, leaves, fruits, nuts and berries. And, there is never a better opportunity to learn foraging skills and teach them to your kids. It’s much easier than you think, plus … it’s absolutely free. There’s truly no better way to destroy those annoying spring weeds than to serve some with dinner!

You can make foraging a fun family activity and avoid frustration by starting out slow and sticking with the easy stuff first. Edibles like dandelion, common plantain, blue violets, chickweed and yellow wood sorrel should all be growing well by this time of year; easy to find and easy to identify. Just focus on these five easy spring plants now and by summer you can easily expand the list of plants and trees as new fruits and berries begin to appear and ripen.

Dandelion has the coolest name in all the weed jungle. It means “Teeth of the Lion” because of those jagged-looking lobes on the leaves. The biggest leaves also have a bitter “bite” because of the tannic acid found it most plants but, the smallest leaves are a mild, healthy addition to a salad. Many edible weeds are packed with vitamins. The small flower buds (before they open) are also edible. Peel off the outer green layer and saute in olive oil.

Common plantain comes from the Spanish name for the “sole” of your foot and this plentiful weed grows everywhere we go: gravel roads, trails, backyards and playgrounds. Plantain has rounded or elliptical shaped leaves, without lobes, and the leaf’s veins run parallel to the main vein down the center. Remember this easy rhyme: No parallel veins — it isn’t Plantain. The most tender and tasty part of the leaf is the pale colored portion nearest the base of the plant. You can also crush plantain leaves into a juicy pulp (poultice) to stop bleeding and heal a cut.

Marsh blue violets (really purple) are those vivid flowers in the yard that stand out against the dark green grass. Before you go spraying all that weed killer try the flowers as a nibble or in a salad. By the way, all plants can absorb chemical run off, so remind the kids to never eat plants growing by a road. Also always rinse off any plants before eating. You might also want to avoid foraging along trails and sidewalks where people walk their dogs … just saying.

Chickweed has to be the best tasting salad weed around. Just ask a chicken. They love it and who could blame them. Chickweed has small pointed leaves and delicate white flowers that appear to have 10 tiny petals, but actually are five petals and each one is split down the middle. This weed spreads out low to the ground like a mat so when you pull it up you get a whole bowl full all at once. Just rinse it off, tear off the small roots and chop the whole thing stems and all into a great tasting salad. Many folks find the taste even better than store-bought salad greens.

Shamrocks are another tasty weed that people generally think of as lucky clover. But, clover leaves are elliptical-shaped. Shamrock is actually a wood sorrel and is usually a late spring, early summer bloomer. The most common variety found along the edges of yards and playgrounds has yellow flowers and three heart-shaped leaves. Legend has it that Saint Patrick referred to shamrocks as the “Trinity Plant,” using it to illustrate Christianity. This amazing little plant has more surprises as well. The seed pods grow upright looking like tiny candles that explode when disturbed, blasting seeds out 10 feet or more. The leaves fold up at night and then reopen to welcome the morning sun. The flowers, stems and leaves are all edible as a nibble or in a salad. What kids will always remember is that the leaves taste like lemon.

Did you know that even those little “helicopter” wings that spin down during spring from the red and silver maples have edible seeds inside? There’s plenty more to learn from Mother Nature as she offers up this unique and free family activity. For me it’s an easy choice to go outside for some fun with the kids instead of watching television.

For more information on edible plants and wilderness skills go to www.mountaineerwilderness.com.

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