They are getting to be more and more common. I purchased one of my honeyberries at Runnings (not sure if you have those but Runnings is like a fancy Tractor Supply around here).

Honeyberries are also called haskaps & they taste like a combination of blueberries & raspberry (but higher in both antioxidants and vitamin C than both). Slow growing but pretty much pest and disease free, and so far the deer have left them alone. I probably should cover them tonight. #ForestGarden

Close up of three honeyberry blossoms.

I had high hopes for these honeyberries (Lonicera caerulea) this year (I still do!). It’s an extremely cold hardy plant and the blossoms are frost-tolerant but it went well below freezing last night. This is the first year that they’ve flowered…I hope they still make fruit! #PlantOnceEatForever

A small patch of Garden Sorrel getting covered in snow.

Goodbye 2nd Spring, hello 3rd winter. Woke up to 28°f and snow this morning in Central NY. This Garden Sorrel (Rumex acetosa) is an heirloom French herb with a tangy, acidic, sour-lemony flavor. Comes back year after year. Free food. #WildFood #EdibleForestGarden #PlantOnceEatForever #EatTheWeeds

And yes, you only have to venture into a nettle patch once to learn to never do it again. 😂

I’ve tried purchasing cheap nettle seed from Etsy but the germination rates were terrible. My sources for best germination rates are Strictly Medicinal Seeds and Fedco Seeds…always great results. 😊

The “fiddleheads” from an Ostrich fern perfect for harvesting.

Fiddlehead season is now upon us! And it happened in the blink of eye. A couple of days ago they were just poking up through the mulch, but with all of the rain and the sunshine they are now well on their way to unfurling. Time for the yearly sauté. #SpringForaging #EdibleForestGarden

Edible perennial gardening is a revolutionary act. Break your reliance on industrial food systems and capitalist consumerism.

One cup of stinging nettles contains 24% of your daily dietary fiber, 2.4 grams of protein, 43% of your RDA of calcium, 35% of manganese, 8% of iron, 13% of magnesium, 6% of phosphorus, 6% of potassium and 2% of zinc. Your typical grocery store greens don’t even come close.

And for about $20 bucks, you can buy enough seed to grow a lifetime supply of healthy food that comes back year after year.

Young Stinging Nettle plants emerging in Spring.

Someday I hope to be surrounded by a Stinging Nettle forest. They’re one of the most nutrient-dense greens on the planet, packed with vitamins, minerals, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and chlorophyll. #PlantOnceEatForever #EatTheWeeds #WildFood #PerennialVegetables #UrticaDioica

Dozens of Lovage seedlings winter-sowed and sprouting in containers.

Six future Lovage patches in the works. Because then I’ll have enough to feed the entire neighborhood. #SolidarityPrepping #GardensNotGuns #WildFood #NoWarButaClassWar

Women are just better at EVERYTHING!

🤣

Yes! I got a deal on a smallish dehydrator late last fall and never got a chance to use it. I’m going to make the effort this year for winter use. I might chop and freeze some in olive oil, too.

This little patch will provide more wild perennial celery substitute than a family could possibly eat in a season. Subvert big-ag and capitalism and grow your own food. The revolution starts in your garden. #PlantOnceEatForever #PrepperFood #Lovage #WildFood #PerennialVegetables

It’s a nutritional powerhouse loaded with vitamin C, A, and K, as well as minerals like iron, calcium, and potassium. The leaves and stems can be used raw or cooked…throw a handful into every pot of soup or stew. I eat them right off the plant when they grow tall enough that the🐶can’t pee on them.😯

A nice little patch of young bright green Lovage plants popping up.

I love looking back at old posts and comparing when plants started popping up in the Spring in previous years. This Lovage (Levisticum officinale) patch is right on schedule. Lovage will grow to 6 feet tall and tastes just like celery (but way more flavorful and way more intense).

Hahaha, I’m not embarrassed to admit that I watched that a half-dozen times…that was great! #feelthebern

You’re the best, thank you, I might take you up on that! 🌱

I planted 30+ Sandbar Willow down by the shoreline last fall…I hope they make it after being underwater for two weeks!

Wowza! I’m lucky. Some folks across the lake have to kayak to their place. No water in the house for them, thank goodness, but they’re surrounded by it. Almost everybody’s place is up on piers around here so no basements to worry about.

Hahaha so far I’ve added a few bobbers to my fishing box, a bunch of railroad ties, a 24” diameter TREE, and about 10,000 water chestnuts. I thought I scored and found an extra dock tire but then I realized it was mine that came loose. 🫠 Next week it’ll be low enough to reveal the good stuff, lol.

I appreciate that you can empathize, thank you. 🙏☺️ Was there a particular event that made you decide to leave? I’m nearly 60 and the thought of starting over and planting 1000s of new seedlings in a new place makes my head spin. 🥴

Those trees are underwater about three feet. I think we hit 5’ feet over normal levels. I fear someday I’ll have to leave this place and it breaks my heart. It’s hard to know what to do.

Hi, K! Sorry for the delayed response. Between the flooding and worrying about a whole civilization getting genocided it was hard to focus on even the simplest of things last week. The floodwater is heading in the right direction, finally. So worrisome when it comes right up to the back step. 🙁

Need to go out and take some photos for record keeping!

Good morning!😃 Still about a 1/4 acre underwater but it’s going in the right direction. I was able to do some cleanup yesterday and it was nice to have my face in the sun and get a little exercise. Plants are starting to finally wake up and it’s giving me a much needed shot of hope. 💚🌱

#bloomscrolling

Ugh, I just read the @collapse2050.bsky.social article about that. I really didn’t know just how bad it was. 😞