Foraging For Southern Bounty
On a recent walk about with the cutest dog in the world, we noticed all the Southern Bounty that is just waiting for who ever is luckiest to get their hands on it.
First, we came to a tell-tell sign of a wild muscadine vine looming overhead, a lot of its ripe, black wild grapes lay in the road. They are a sure sign it’s picking time. Vitis rotundifolia comes in at least 154 varieties that grow in the Southeastern hot, humid climate. Filling my pockets with the grapes, we continued on.
Next, we went by an old persimmon tree with limbs that hang close to the ground, just the right height for a real fan of the persimmon, deer. But luckily they can’t reach them all and leave me a few to savor each Fall. The secret is to wait until they are golden brown before eating.
Unripe persimmons I am told will give you a real big belly ache that you won’t soon forget. Maybe years of warning from my parents taught me that at least.
A neighbor, fortunately for us, has a pear tree, possibly a Bartlett variety, that has limbs that hang over the side of the street. And according to the rules of the foragers, fruit that hangs over the road, sidewalk or fence is free for the picking. These pears are different than the variety at the super market. They have a sweet sweet taste, but are grainy and best used for pear preserves or maybe a snack.
A famous song was written about a wild plant that grows in the woods and looks like a turnip green, they call it polk salad or as we say it here, polk sallet. Sallet is a word originating from the French which means salad. Lots of this grows around here. Very important to remember that it is only eatable when the plant has just sprouted and has tender green leaves and way before it puts out the purple stems and berries in the Fall, then it is deadly.
My aunt in Arkansas always cooked me, as they say, a mess of it when I visited. She boiled the leaves until tender and just as the water was almost gone, she would crack a couple of eggs in the pan and stir. That delicacy and a pan of cornbread is some good eating.
Times ‘awasting get out there for a walk and see if you can find some Southern Bounty.