As I was driving across the eastern part of Texas last week, man, I’m tellin’ you, the wind and rain were comin’ down like the End of Days, with thunder and lightening making their presence known in full measure. Now, for those of you who don’t know what East Texas is like, well, there are some nice little towns to see. But there are also big stretches of nothing but green meadows of countryside – beautiful to see.
But I got to thinking, what if I had to survive out here? What if I had to live off the land? Could I do it? What would I eat?
So for this month, I’m gonna give you some very common weeds, grasses and flowers that you can eat safely and that are chock full of vitamins and minerals. They won’t be as satisfying as a steak meal, but they would certainly get you through a rough spot. These aren’t all of them, mind you; but it’s a good list to start with, since the ones listed below are fairly common.
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Dandelion
You know what a dandelion looks like, right? They are packed with Vitamin A and Vitamin C, and beta carotene. In the springtime, these very common weeds bloom with bright yellow buds. You can eat them whole; either raw or cook them to take away the bitterness. In the spring they are usually less bitter.
Elderberry
Elderberry bushes are found all over the place. They blossom in the spring with white clustered flowers that look like an umbrella. Their leaves usually have 7 main leaves on a long stretched out stem with jagged edges. Elderberries are known for their flu and cold healing properties, you can make jelly from them and are very sweet and delicious. You can harvest the berries when they’re ripe, ‘round about September.
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Pine
Pine trees are all over the country. There are over a hundred different kind of pine, and they’re all edible. One easy thing to do is add some pine needles to hot water to make tea. You can also eat the soft part of the pinecone. Not only can pine be used as a supply of nourishment, it can also be used for medicinal purposes. Native Americans used to ground up pine to cure scurvy because it’s rich in Vitamin C.
Cattails
Cattails, also known as bulrushes, reedmace and by other names, this nutritious plant is normally found near the edges of freshwater wetlands. Cattails were a major part of the diet of many Native American tribes. You can boil the rootstock, which is usually found underground, or just eat it raw. Make sure to wash off all the mud before eating. The best part of the stem is near the bottom. The plant is mainly white there and you can either boil or eat the stem raw. You can also eat the leaves; just boil them like you would spinach.
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Plantain
You will find plantain right around the edges of gardens, roads and driveways. It’s very common and very edible. Just pick the green, rippled leaves and leave the tall flower stems. Boil the leaves and then cook in a pan with some butter and garlic, just you would do with kale or any other tough green.
Goose Tongue
Goosetongue is best eaten in spring and early summer, before the flowers show up. You can eat the young leaves raw in salads or put them in soups or in mixed cooked greens. Goosetongue is also known as Seashore Plantain. A word of warning: Goosetongue can be confused with poisonous Arrowgrass, so careful identification is essential.
