Anyone have a favorite something or other that you do when in the wild? You know, a cool trick to make something, or a good plant to use for food or tea, maybe some tips on primative tool making, or quick first aid... whatever you can think of to add wisdom to the readers. Peace
The other day, I was walking on the property I live on, and came across a stand of Eastern Hemlock trees and some White Pine, so I picked a small handfull of needles from each, went inside, washed them, finely chopped them and put them into a tea ball. I steeped them for a few minutes in boiling water until it turned a light green, just barely, let cool a bit and drank a few sips. The tea was very strong, but also filled with an intense amount of Vitamin C so I got a rush of energy and a buzz along with it. No, not high, just a rush of energy that made me a bit lightheaded for a minute... good thing I was sitting down. The tea is bitter, but tasted better with some sugar added. This is a great pick me up in the wild when you need extra energy to do things...like survive. A few days later, I boiled some White Pine needles in a tea ball for like 15 minutes, then strained it through a cloth. The tea was a reddish brown, like Sassafrass tea, and added some sugar. I made about a quart to keep in the refridgerator to either drink a few sips, or add to some other kind of tea, for some extra energy... I think it's better than coffee...cheaper too.
A few important notes to those who want to try foraging wild plants... Always read up on the plants, and plants parts, research and cross reference each plant, and compare with the poisonous look a likes. You have to be 100 percent sure before you eat anything. Never go with the try a little and wait to see if your body agrees with you, this can surely kill you with certain plants. Only use this method if you're somewhat experienced and with plants you know to be safe and have no poisonous look a likes. Also consider the soil and water in the area you forage at, if its polluted or even questionable, then go elsewhere, or you'll get poisoned. Never collect alongside train tracks, which are sprayed with deadly chemicals to rid them of growth. Never collect along roads either, the plants absorb carbon monoxide for up to 50' away on either side, which will also poison you. Safety before Curiousity
if you live on the west coast, the best teas i have ever had are douglas fir teas made from the new spring growth tips of needles and manzanita berries ground and strained (drunk cold.). both are awesome. manzanita berries are ripe come septemberish in my area.
Ephedra is a good one to make tea from, with a little brown sugar. It's also known as Mormon Tea I believe. I think it mainly grows in the mountains though.
Be sure you're not making tea from the Ponderosa Pine out west, it's poisonous. There are no poisonous pines in the east though. But white pine is best I've had from them, less bitter, sugar always helps. Sasafrass is my favorite and is an all body detoxifer, but the pine sure gives a nice boost of energy.
In the Rocky Mts where I live now there are chives they are so good! They grow early spring through late fall. They are especially good in a fresh caught brookie trout cooked over a pine wood fire, that is fine dinning better then you can get in any restaurant. So good….
Yeah man, sounds good. Brings back memories when I was younger catching and eating right on the bank of the creek, down in Virginia. The crayfish were excellent too. Usually had me a side dish of raspberries. I miss those days when the water was much cleaner.
^The side dish of raspberries reminds me of a few times I went to the Oregon coast in late summer and there was blackberries everywhere more then a person can eat. So good
Well its finally warm here so I went for a hike in the forest behind me...off the trails ofcourse...and wandered to a swampy bog, actually followed the frogs singing. But I found some wild cranberries, what a treat that was. And they're actually not bitter, but somewhat sweet. Also from my other hikes and bike riding, I found that the woods have high bush blueberries everywhere, acres of them, huckleberries too, I'll prolly turn into one when they're in season...lol.
