Time for Picking Wild Vegetables

The spring breeze has awoken the wild vegetables growing in the fields,along the roadsides and the riverbanks.I notice that these days youngsters and old people in twos or threes are busy in picking edible wild veggies here and there .One of the commonly-seen is called the 'shepherd's purses'.People here gather the veggie to make dumpling in-stuff,or simply make into a sort of salad by boiling in the water.It is said that the veggie is not only delicious to eat ,but also good for health,especially for old people who suffer from heart and mental troubles.If you are interested,why not throw your trowel and bag on your back,and go into the fields?

You have a wonderful gift for writing, Jianhua! Is this the same plant that you speak of?

http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Shepherd's%20Purse.html

Yes,that is it!

The time is just about here too. We gather wild plants and cook them in early spring. The Shepherd's Purse is growing here along with wild mustards, Goosefoot and Sweet Violets. I love wild plant foods.

The blooms of the Redbud tree are edible too. They can be cooked, or eaten in fresh salads.

Not as many folks gather the wild plants any more...but there aren't many folks who would even know how to prepare them.

I grew up with many elder relatives on a farm...it has really helped with my understanding of making use of everything.

My mother used to gather stinging nettles and cook them like spinach. They were very tasty.

Jianhua, my wife and I will be in Taiwan for a few days about the middle of next month. Maybe next year we will make it to China.

The earliest dock is beginning to show signs of awakening but so far that is the only wild veggie I have seen this spring. It is about a month or so too early for most here in central MO.

John we only have SNOW here but it is 40degrees today and its melting back a tad!
only about 12 or more inches to go

This is very interesting never heard of anyone harvesting these things!

Fast tempo of modern life is making us go astray the mother nature farther and farther.We even barely have time to enjoy the great pleasure of going out into the wild to gather wild mushrooms and wild vegetables.Whenever spring came around my region,I remembered,as a teenager,I used to go to the brook beyond the village together with my playboys to gather a kind of water celery for food,or climb up in the lofty elms to harvest the edible 'coins'.Gentle wind blew over our shoulders and lively rhymes could be heard singing on the air.

George,next month after you get there,do remember to have a good taste of the native tropical fruits:loquat (Chinese name Pipa),Liulian,shaddock (youzi),litchi (lizi),etc.I know this because I once taught school in Fuzhou,which is only separated from the island by the strait.I still miss the seasonal fresh fruits.

Loquats grow in Southern California. I eat them and have made jelly. Litchi is available in the oriental markets and I used to put it in fruit salad.

Liulian and shaddock are new to me. I will have to learn about it.

Here are two links:the first is about durian(liulian),
and the second ,shaddock.
http://www.durianpalace.com/
http://www.chinaetr.com/Article_Show.asp?ArticleID=1031

Aaaaaah, I know shaddock as pomelo. It is availlable in Asian markets here. Quite good, but expensive.

When I was in Singapore a couple of years ago I had fresh durian. They also sell it frozen here. Again quite expensive. I thought it was good but not as good as some make it out to be.

It will be interesting to try loquats there. Here they are grown mostly as an ornamental tree and may not have been selected for their fruit. Although I guess that the canned ones are quite similar to the fresh.

Ohhh my...how I miss loquats and also litchi, two of my favorite fruits! As kids we'd just stand at the trees and pig out on them! Yummy!

Dandelions are beginning to bloom (sporadically) here. My daugher is already asking when we will fry the flowers! (Also, locally, when people see a profusion of dandelion flowers blooming it tells us it is time to plant potatoes.)

I've never tried shepherds purse but will definitely give that a go this year! (Hmmm...might be good cooked up with a little bacon in the pan?)

Mel, thanks for the redbud info...we have them all over the place here. Will also put that on our early season menu!

Anyone here ever gather ramps? Almost time here :)

And Mel - had no idea about the redbuds - thanks !