WARNING:NEVER eat any wild plant until you have 1000% positively identified it as safe for human consumption.
One of my coworkers and I have discussed several times that I was really born in the wrong century. One of my odd habits is collecting and (after carefully and correctly identifying), eating wild foods. One of my hobbies of late has been reading up and researching various wild and edible plants.
Some of my favorites are chickweed, dandelions, mulberries, and as the title of the post indicates, Lamb’s Quarters or “goose foot”. Earlier in the spring, I had tons of chickweed growing around the edges of my fence row. I was out randomly looking for some more when I ran across a very small specimen of Lamb’s Quarters. Thrilled to death, I immediately transplanted the poor thing over by my green bean patch to see if I could get it to thrive. Alas, the first few days, I was worried. It got all withered up and was drooping to the ground. However, today (see picture below), it has come back to life and has brand new leaf sprouts on it. Can you say salad? I’ve seen lamb’s quarters all over Tulsa. In fact, there was one growing out of a crack in the parking lot where I work. There are also two mulberry trees very close to where I work. And on the way home I noticed an elderberry bush growing next to a creek.
Anyway.. here’s my poor little goose foot:
I suspect it will really take off in a couple of days. It’ll probably get to around 2 to 3 foot tall and will provide great leaves for a delicious salad. (Tastes like spinach).
One of my favorite resources online for wild foods is a fellow who calls himself Green Dean. He also has a youtube page with a large collection of videos showing you many of the wild foods nature has to offer. He offers identification tips, cooking methods, etc. Here’s his video footage on goose foot.
While I am in the unique position of being a city employee, I have tried to write this post from a citizen’s standpoint in the hopes it will create some useful and positive discussion.
I’ve watched two mayors come and go (yes, Taylor is going…or not) the last 8 years. When LaFortune took office he brought with him his own agenda, applied said agenda, wrecked some long-standing processes, and then he was gone. In come Taylor who brings her own agenda, applies said agenda, and now she will soon be gone. Guess who is left behind to clean up the mess? We citeewurkors who have committed ourselves to the citizens of Tulsa as a long-standing career. Read more…
So i get home from work today around 5:45pm. I lay down on the couch thinking I’m going to take a nap.
I wake up again at 7:30. I get up, make some coffee, take a shower and sit down to read the “morning” news.
Eventually I notice that it keeps getting darker instead of lighter outside. I look at my computer’s date and time. It’s Friday?? That can’t be right! I panic thinking I’m late for work, but I remember specifically that “yesterday” was Friday, because boss-man brought donuts. He does that every Friday. Hmm… Read more…
A buddy of mine gave me some tobacco seeds he got from an “old indian feller o’er yonder”. Said it smoked like Marlboro.
So, I took some and started them in little styrofoam cups.
In about a week, these sprouts will be large enough to transplant outside in my large planters. Then I will transfer them to a larger, tilled area. I hear they get very large and have beautiful flowers.
I’ll keep you guys updated all the way until I roll my first one in celebration of not paying taxes on tobacco.
In the mean time… bite me federal government. Raise my taxes on a consumer good? Guess what, I’ll just make it myself and you will get nothing now. It is my choice to smoke. I like to smoke. Smoking is bad for me, yes. It is my choice. Not yours.
For about a week, I’ve been hearing a frog croaking from either inside my house or maybe underneath it.
I think I found the suspect today. (see video below). If I’m not mistaken this little fellow is a gray tree frog.
With a white spot under both eyes, a white belly and yellowish-orange markings on the inside of its hind legs, the gray tree frog is a handsome and exotic-looking amphibian. Closer examination reveals large adhesive pads on the end of its toes, which allow it to cling to vertical surfaces. But, certainly, this amphibian’s most curious feature is its ability to change colors much like the more-famous lizard with the same trait, the chameleon.
I think the description is dead on for this guy. He’s still out there hanging on to the side of my house. Don’t know what he’s up to, but I hope he eats some mosquitoes tonight! Video after the jump. Read more…
Old school mcw readers will know and anticipate with enthusiasm yearly posts about my lawn mower escapades. This spring appears to not be any different. There is a major difference now, though. I use a push mower. I thought surely this would minimize the usual adventures, but alas. It was not to be.
Today, I am proud to announce that I cut my own phone line. Yes. The front left wheel of my mower somehow got itself tangled up in the phone cord going along the side of my house.
I got a new digital memory video camera the other day and was out in the front yard playing around with it. That’s when I randomly saw out of the corner of my eye these ants dragging a spider around. Check it out: Read more…
