Queens County
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The Queens County Farm Museum is one of the best places for foragers to search for wild foods in mid-spring. Weedy plants, a.k.a. the best mid-spring greens, love the sunny, fertile soil of farmlands, and that's just what we have here. And the farmers are more than happy to have us remove them. Here are a few of the most despised (for farmers) and most delicious (for us) species we may find.
Most roots are out of season, but burdock, an expensive detoxifying herb sold in health food stores, is an exception, and it abounds in human-disturbed areas throughout the farm. Instead of brewing it as a tea, it's so abundant, you cook the root like a potato. And at this time of year, you can peel and parboil the immature flower stalk, and add it to any savory recipe. It tastes like the heart of the artichoke, a related species. |
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Burdock with Immature Flower Stalk Peel and parboil the rod-shaped flower stalk in the center of second-year burdock, and you'll be in for a treat! |
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There are plenty of mid-spring herbs and greens in season. We'll find mugwort, a tonics for the female reproductive system. Since I've learned these herbs, I've never suffered a monthly cramp! We'll also be finding Asiatic dayflower, common mallow, lady's thumb, lamb's-quarters, and goutweed, all great for salads, sandwiches, and soups. Pokeweed is another seasonal potherb. It's superb boiled in 2 changes of water (it's poisonous raw!). Flavor it with tamari soy sauce and garlic lightly browned in olive oil, as in Basic Pokeweed. Common milkweed also needs to be boiled, but only once. It has a flavor all its own, and we'll it loves agricultural fields. Sassafras root, the original source of root beer, stays in season all year. You use it for tea, for making root beer, and as a cinnamon-like seasoning. It grows in the woods, and in thickets. Another tree we'll look for in the woods is the black birch tree. You can steep the twigs in hot water to make a fabulous tea, with anti-inflammatory properties similar to aspirin. Or thicken the tea with agar, season and sweeten it, and make black birch Jello! We'll also hunt for the flowers and tops of garlic mustard, which taste like garlic, and jewelweed, a panacea for skin irritations that cures mosquito bites and prevents poison ivy rash. With lots of rain and a bit of luck, gourmet spring mushrooms, such as oyster mushrooms, chicken mushrooms, fairy ring miushrooms, and wine-cap stropharias may be emerging. Don't miss a fantastic tour of this little-known venue. |
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The 2-hour walking tour begins at 11:45 AM, Saturday, May 7, at the Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park.
Call (914) 835-2153 at least 24 hours in advance to reserve a place. |
