This article is intended to help you unlock the springtime bounty of the forest and garden providing info on 23 Springtime foods to harvest in 2024 and beyond!
I'll drop by when I'm looking for uplift and inspiration. I'm trying a bit of that for myself too. My most recent article is on the rabble-rousing Irish MEPs, Clare Daly and Mick Wallace, who also inspire me.
Thanks for reading my article and taking the time to comment.
I believe that nurturing a direct relationship with God through prayer, meditation and embracing/learning from creation (nature) is one of the most important choices one can make in one's life on Earth.
I do not subscribe to any dogmatic religious belief systems but I do acknowledge the life changing, community healing potential and divine inspiration in the message that Jesus of Nazareth tried to share with this world. I also feel that much of what people say and do (which they either mistakenly think is related to Jesus' teachings or intentionally mispresent) at present day is skewed (and/or completely antithetical) from/to the original message he tried to share with humanity.
Thus, my view of the man that many call "the son of God" is that he was a man that was offered an opportunity to serve as a direct conduit for the voice and message of the Creator to move through... he accepted that invitation (and all that came with it) with courage, grace and honor. He was not God, but he was a very courageous and honorable man that we could all learn something from. The courage of the heart Jesus of Nazareth embodied in his actions offers us an a clear and unbreakable path to freedom, integrity, purpose, strength of the spirit and hope for tomorrow. He knew he would not see the seeds he planted in the hearts and minds of men grow onto their true potential in his lifetime, yet he planted them all the same. He chose to live with an unshakable faith and knowing that providence is as the dawn and the spring rain.. inviting the seeds we plant with love, selflessness, kindness, compassion and gentleness to germinate and grow onto their true potential.
Gavin, Thank you for responding to and answering my question in a thorough manner. I can tell from your writings that you are a patient and kind man. I enjoy reading the Bible(currently the Book of Hebrews) and answering people’s questions about it. In response to your statement that “He(Jesus) was not God”, I located what I believe is a very helpful article from GotQuestions.org. https://www.gotquestions.org/is-Jesus-God.html
Please let me know if this was helpful in any way. Scot
Thanks for the kind words and for sharing your perspectives on God and Jesus.
Based on my study of history and the humans that were involved in misinterpreting and/or intentionally distorting Jesus’s words after his death (people such as Paul aka “Saul of Tarsus”, and then the Roman Emperor Constantine I and then Henry the 8th and on and on..) it is clear to me that much of what is in books now and taught in churches is very far removed from what Jesus actually said or taught.
For those that want to unravel all the confusion regarding the prevalent modern day myth that Jesus said he was God, look into the Council of Nicaea. It was convened (and controlled) by the Roman Emperor Constantine I (who was an unbaptized Roman guy that lived hundreds of years after Jesus’s murder). Constantine cooked up that whole “holy trinity” deal as it is much easier for people to swallow (it is ego flattering to think of God in a human form and most humans love to have their ego stroked) and it also means that people could subsequently distort and/or completely fabricate what Jesus had said and then declare it as “coming strait from God’s mouth” to maintain their control over other human beings.
My hostas were eaten to the base, but they are springing back! I like to share. My stinging nettles are growing abundantly, as are my mugwort, violets, plantain, dandelion, bitter dock, wild garlic, fleabane, turkey tail, etc. Yarrow will start growing abundantly soon, and pokeweed. I picked a few ramps, garlic mustard, and cleavers this weekend at a park. We weren't sure about the fiddlehead ferns, although they were curled up. Also planted a couple of leatherleaf mahonias, red aronia, 3 more apple trees, another pear, another peach, etc. Then there are all the garden plants...
That is very unfortunate about your hostas (though also interesting and perhaps educational), this makes me wonder if I could fully harvest mine and then let them regenerate after. I think I shall test this with one plant.
I am so glad to hear your able to notice the abundance present in your garden and tap into the nutrition and beauty there effortlessly. You have obviously make a significant investment in the long term savings account that is plant knowledge ;)
How are your apple trees looking ? My wild Kazakh Apple Trees are about to bloom and I have several baby seedlings coming along nicely as well.
Thanks, Gavin. I just uploaded a video tour of my food forest and garden yesterday, so here it is, which shows the apple trees and hostas growing back: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckzUmi8GrHQ . The fuji looks the best of the three, and is still flowering. The honey crisp and pink lady stopped flowering. I would think your wild Kazakh apple is more hardy, so that's always nice. Since I wrote my comment, I've added ruda/rue, lamb's ears, wood sorrel/oxalis, thyme, and planted a bunch of garden plants. Yeah, it's only my second year on my land, but I'm learning every year! What herbalists or food foragers do you recommend, besides yourself!? Thanks.
Just to scroll and skim through this newsletter brimming with knowledge with its luxurious, scrumptious photos was so very, very inspiring!
Regarding your blessing passed down by your ancestors, it so happens that just an hour or so ago, I had taken my shoes off and sat myself down in the spring sun and relished the warmth of its radiance. Walking back to the house, barefoot, the grounding of the earth and grass upon the soles of my feet felt heavenly.
I thank you for sharing your knowledge, and as importantly, if not more, your spiritual understanding.
I am so glad you appreciated the article and it makes my heart glad that you found it to be inspiring.
What a beautiful synchronicity regarding the blessing and your relishing of the spring sunshine, thanks for sharing that <3
You are most welcome and I look forward to hearing what you think of my past and future posts in the comment section.
May the spring rains provide a soothing rhythm to your mind and life giving sustenance to your garden crops and may the sunshine after the rain illuminate many blossoms gleaming with potential and poetry for the senses.
Mother Nature sure provides for us, and you honor her by sharing your plant wisdom so generously, Gavin. I'm blessed to have many of these amazing "weeds" growing all around me. I'm just starting to meander out there looking for them. I still have some snow but every day it's less and less. I can see Queen Yarrow sending her little fern-ey leaves up through the ground. Makes my heart so happy to see. :) Happy Spring nibbling! 🌿💚
Agreed! <3 And thank you for saying I honor our Great Mother with my writing. I do try to offer invitations for others to appreciate and reciprocate her many gifts to humanity but it is hard to find time to write when planting trees 7 days a week (so your comment means a lot).
I am so glad you are able to recognize so many of the healing and nourishing (opportunistic and self sowing) plants around you (aka "weeds") which I covered in the article above. I am seeing our yarrow push out leaves now as well.
Thank you for the lovely comment my friend, I wish you bountiful spring nibbling and plentiful blossoms as well as other poetry for the senses to nourish your spirit on your walks.
Ahh yes, sometimes our four legged friends can teach us something about what is good to eat in the forest and in the garden ;) I will be harvesting some hosta shoots for combining with ramps and dried garden peppers, herbs and spices for making spring kimchi :)
It is said that First Nation people's learned how to make maple syrup from watching the squirrels.
In what is now called Minnesota, Michigan and Ontario, sugar camps have long been an important tradition for Dakota and Ojibwe communities to celebrate the return of the spring and work side by side at the long task of cooking the sap down into maple syrup and sugar. One story shared by writer and scientist Robin Wall Kimmerer explains how indigenous peoples learned to harvest syrup by watching squirrels lap up sweet sap that welled up on injured trees.
Just to clarify that my original comment was a question wrt the map of the native range of the Ostrich Fern... further reading answered my question so I deleted my comment... btw, this is a Great article... Delightfully informative.... and again I am in great anticipation of the hard print copy of your book.
This is an excellent post👏 I love this information and the pictures are great! I'm definitely going to be going back and rereading this frequently, thank you!
It takes approximately 4 months to write a 100 page book without any research time. So when a non-fiction book is about 450 pages long filled with research, it takes between 1.5 - 2.5 years to write and then between another 18 months- 2 years for editing, proof reading, layout and text design because publishers have many books they are working on at a time not just one. And that is if the writer is just writing a book, not holding down a day job as they write. So from my point of view, while i am looking forward to a copy to hold in my hands, i believe he is right on time. :)
Beautifully written, illustrated and referenced. A work of love.
Thanks for taking the time to read my very long character count article ;) and a big thank you for the kind words, means a lot. :)
I hope to see more of you in the comments section of my future posts.
Hope you have a prosperous, peaceful and inspired remainder of spring time.
I'll drop by when I'm looking for uplift and inspiration. I'm trying a bit of that for myself too. My most recent article is on the rabble-rousing Irish MEPs, Clare Daly and Mick Wallace, who also inspire me.
https://yesxorno.substack.com/p/trouble-making-irish-meps-clare-daly
This is WONDERFUL!!!!!!! Thank you so much! ^_^
xo xo xo
You are most welcome :) I appreciate the kind comment.
❤ 🐾
As a Christian I see many parallels between your ways and God’s ways. What are your thoughts and beliefs about the Great Spirit and the Creator’s Son?
Greetings Scot
Thanks for reading my article and taking the time to comment.
I believe that nurturing a direct relationship with God through prayer, meditation and embracing/learning from creation (nature) is one of the most important choices one can make in one's life on Earth.
I do not subscribe to any dogmatic religious belief systems but I do acknowledge the life changing, community healing potential and divine inspiration in the message that Jesus of Nazareth tried to share with this world. I also feel that much of what people say and do (which they either mistakenly think is related to Jesus' teachings or intentionally mispresent) at present day is skewed (and/or completely antithetical) from/to the original message he tried to share with humanity.
Thus, my view of the man that many call "the son of God" is that he was a man that was offered an opportunity to serve as a direct conduit for the voice and message of the Creator to move through... he accepted that invitation (and all that came with it) with courage, grace and honor. He was not God, but he was a very courageous and honorable man that we could all learn something from. The courage of the heart Jesus of Nazareth embodied in his actions offers us an a clear and unbreakable path to freedom, integrity, purpose, strength of the spirit and hope for tomorrow. He knew he would not see the seeds he planted in the hearts and minds of men grow onto their true potential in his lifetime, yet he planted them all the same. He chose to live with an unshakable faith and knowing that providence is as the dawn and the spring rain.. inviting the seeds we plant with love, selflessness, kindness, compassion and gentleness to germinate and grow onto their true potential.
Gavin, Thank you for responding to and answering my question in a thorough manner. I can tell from your writings that you are a patient and kind man. I enjoy reading the Bible(currently the Book of Hebrews) and answering people’s questions about it. In response to your statement that “He(Jesus) was not God”, I located what I believe is a very helpful article from GotQuestions.org. https://www.gotquestions.org/is-Jesus-God.html
Please let me know if this was helpful in any way. Scot
Scot,
Thanks for the kind words and for sharing your perspectives on God and Jesus.
Based on my study of history and the humans that were involved in misinterpreting and/or intentionally distorting Jesus’s words after his death (people such as Paul aka “Saul of Tarsus”, and then the Roman Emperor Constantine I and then Henry the 8th and on and on..) it is clear to me that much of what is in books now and taught in churches is very far removed from what Jesus actually said or taught.
For those that want to unravel all the confusion regarding the prevalent modern day myth that Jesus said he was God, look into the Council of Nicaea. It was convened (and controlled) by the Roman Emperor Constantine I (who was an unbaptized Roman guy that lived hundreds of years after Jesus’s murder). Constantine cooked up that whole “holy trinity” deal as it is much easier for people to swallow (it is ego flattering to think of God in a human form and most humans love to have their ego stroked) and it also means that people could subsequently distort and/or completely fabricate what Jesus had said and then declare it as “coming strait from God’s mouth” to maintain their control over other human beings.
My hostas were eaten to the base, but they are springing back! I like to share. My stinging nettles are growing abundantly, as are my mugwort, violets, plantain, dandelion, bitter dock, wild garlic, fleabane, turkey tail, etc. Yarrow will start growing abundantly soon, and pokeweed. I picked a few ramps, garlic mustard, and cleavers this weekend at a park. We weren't sure about the fiddlehead ferns, although they were curled up. Also planted a couple of leatherleaf mahonias, red aronia, 3 more apple trees, another pear, another peach, etc. Then there are all the garden plants...
That is very unfortunate about your hostas (though also interesting and perhaps educational), this makes me wonder if I could fully harvest mine and then let them regenerate after. I think I shall test this with one plant.
I am so glad to hear your able to notice the abundance present in your garden and tap into the nutrition and beauty there effortlessly. You have obviously make a significant investment in the long term savings account that is plant knowledge ;)
How are your apple trees looking ? My wild Kazakh Apple Trees are about to bloom and I have several baby seedlings coming along nicely as well.
Thanks for the lovely comment :)
Thanks, Gavin. I just uploaded a video tour of my food forest and garden yesterday, so here it is, which shows the apple trees and hostas growing back: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckzUmi8GrHQ . The fuji looks the best of the three, and is still flowering. The honey crisp and pink lady stopped flowering. I would think your wild Kazakh apple is more hardy, so that's always nice. Since I wrote my comment, I've added ruda/rue, lamb's ears, wood sorrel/oxalis, thyme, and planted a bunch of garden plants. Yeah, it's only my second year on my land, but I'm learning every year! What herbalists or food foragers do you recommend, besides yourself!? Thanks.
Just to scroll and skim through this newsletter brimming with knowledge with its luxurious, scrumptious photos was so very, very inspiring!
Regarding your blessing passed down by your ancestors, it so happens that just an hour or so ago, I had taken my shoes off and sat myself down in the spring sun and relished the warmth of its radiance. Walking back to the house, barefoot, the grounding of the earth and grass upon the soles of my feet felt heavenly.
I thank you for sharing your knowledge, and as importantly, if not more, your spiritual understanding.
Greetings Basil :)
I am so glad you appreciated the article and it makes my heart glad that you found it to be inspiring.
What a beautiful synchronicity regarding the blessing and your relishing of the spring sunshine, thanks for sharing that <3
You are most welcome and I look forward to hearing what you think of my past and future posts in the comment section.
May the spring rains provide a soothing rhythm to your mind and life giving sustenance to your garden crops and may the sunshine after the rain illuminate many blossoms gleaming with potential and poetry for the senses.
Mother Nature sure provides for us, and you honor her by sharing your plant wisdom so generously, Gavin. I'm blessed to have many of these amazing "weeds" growing all around me. I'm just starting to meander out there looking for them. I still have some snow but every day it's less and less. I can see Queen Yarrow sending her little fern-ey leaves up through the ground. Makes my heart so happy to see. :) Happy Spring nibbling! 🌿💚
Agreed! <3 And thank you for saying I honor our Great Mother with my writing. I do try to offer invitations for others to appreciate and reciprocate her many gifts to humanity but it is hard to find time to write when planting trees 7 days a week (so your comment means a lot).
I am so glad you are able to recognize so many of the healing and nourishing (opportunistic and self sowing) plants around you (aka "weeds") which I covered in the article above. I am seeing our yarrow push out leaves now as well.
Thank you for the lovely comment my friend, I wish you bountiful spring nibbling and plentiful blossoms as well as other poetry for the senses to nourish your spirit on your walks.
Love your note on the hostas! So much abundance out there.
Thanks for reading and for the comment my friend.
How are things looking in your garden so far this year?
Our service berry trees are about to bloom and our wild apple trees will be close behind them.
I am excited to see how many apples we get this year (we grew our trees from seed).
Deer do love hosta, I had noticed. I didn't realize they are human food too.
Ahh yes, sometimes our four legged friends can teach us something about what is good to eat in the forest and in the garden ;) I will be harvesting some hosta shoots for combining with ramps and dried garden peppers, herbs and spices for making spring kimchi :)
It is said that First Nation people's learned how to make maple syrup from watching the squirrels.
In what is now called Minnesota, Michigan and Ontario, sugar camps have long been an important tradition for Dakota and Ojibwe communities to celebrate the return of the spring and work side by side at the long task of cooking the sap down into maple syrup and sugar. One story shared by writer and scientist Robin Wall Kimmerer explains how indigenous peoples learned to harvest syrup by watching squirrels lap up sweet sap that welled up on injured trees.
"Braiding Sweetgrass" Chapter 7: Maple Sugar Moon - Robin Wall Kimmerer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNl8cGVVbHs
Very interesting
Me too! I've been craving asparagus lately, but may have to battle it out with the deer now.
I have more deer than hosta. I need a fenced area.
Just to clarify that my original comment was a question wrt the map of the native range of the Ostrich Fern... further reading answered my question so I deleted my comment... btw, this is a Great article... Delightfully informative.... and again I am in great anticipation of the hard print copy of your book.
Thanks for clarifying, I am glad you appreciated the article and I am getting closer to having hard copies available. I will let you know. :)
Please let me know when your book is available in hard copy... I'm looking forward to it!!!
This is an excellent post👏 I love this information and the pictures are great! I'm definitely going to be going back and rereading this frequently, thank you!
Thanks Elke, I am glad to hear this information will be put to good use! :)
Never mind... I understand now. Still waiting for that printed version of your book... :-)
It takes approximately 4 months to write a 100 page book without any research time. So when a non-fiction book is about 450 pages long filled with research, it takes between 1.5 - 2.5 years to write and then between another 18 months- 2 years for editing, proof reading, layout and text design because publishers have many books they are working on at a time not just one. And that is if the writer is just writing a book, not holding down a day job as they write. So from my point of view, while i am looking forward to a copy to hold in my hands, i believe he is right on time. :)