WriterByNature.com

Happy Mother’s Day: Give Mom Flowers – to Eat

JJ Murphy — Sun, 13 May 2012 14:45:05 +0000

Happy Mother’s Day! I’ve had fun reaping the benefits of this extended early spring. Despite my concerns for the long term effects of our unusual weather, violets, one of my favorite...

[[Go to my website to read the entire article.]]

Urban Foraging: Nettles, Fiddleheads, Redbuds and More

JJ Murphy — Sat, 05 May 2012 12:01:07 +0000

Part of my itinerant life includes house and pet sitting. This month brings me to Toronto, Ontario, one of my favorite places on the planet. I’ve never been here in spring, so this has been a...

[[Go to my website to read the entire article.]]

Earth Day 2012 Harvest

JJ Murphy — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 23:20:21 +0000

In past blogs I’ve reminisced about the first Earth Day, my part in local and national celebrations and the fact that for me, every day is Earth Day. I am deeply distressed about the mess...

[[Go to my website to read the entire article.]]

Wild Food Recipe: Forsythia Blossoms

JJ Murphy — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:08:14 +0000

I owe fellow forager George S. Harris credit for this wonderful discovery. I substitute maple syrup for cane sugar almost every recipe I try. If I need something with a thicker texture, I’ll...

[[Go to my website to read the entire article.]]

Resident Cooper’s Hawk Pays a Visit

JJ Murphy — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 23:10:47 +0000

When I first moved to this place, I heard strange calls in the woods. I shared a recording with my mentor and friend “Birdlady” Charlene Miller, who told me that the call was an immature...

[[Go to my website to read the entire article.]]

Wild Edible Recipe: Japanese Knotweed

JJ Murphy — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:15:43 +0000

I have very mixed feelings about invasive plants which choke out native species. But when I get to thinking about it, there are only six plants, (cranberry is one, I don’t recall the others as...

[[Go to my website to read the entire article.]]

Dandelion Root Tea: Foraging While Farming

JJ Murphy — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:17:19 +0000

I’m really delighted that our CSA has a new farmer. As it turns out, farmer Julie Vanderlee and I met at a COMA event. It is a very small world. Walking into the greenhouse, I could see that...

[[Go to my website to read the entire article.]]

Wild Food Recipe: Stuffed Skunk Cabbage Leaves

JJ Murphy — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:18:32 +0000

Gary Lincoff gave me this idea and I did check with him every step of the way. I also got feedback from Steve Brill. Here is young skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus): I looked for inside curled...

[[Go to my website to read the entire article.]]

A Forager’s Lunch: Turkey Tail Tea and Acorn Burgers

JJ Murphy — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 11:04:02 +0000

I’m unable to attend Mushroom University this year, but my classmate and neighbor Robin has gone back. Last year we studied polypores, so when Robin invited me to share Turkey Tail (Trametes...

[[Go to my website to read the entire article.]]

Spring Peepers in Early March

JJ Murphy — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:21:27 +0000

As I set out on my hike in late afternoon, I expected to enjoy the changing light as day gave way to night. The moon was full and the air had the smell of spring. The warm wind felt good, but I knew...

[[Go to my website to read the entire article.]]