Soapstone Mountain
State Forest
Sunday, June 22

Here's a mountainous park that "Wildman" is exploring in conjunction with the Somers Recreation Dept. Because so many plants grow along the edges of trails, there will be plenty of renewable edible and medicinal wild plants for foragers to collect.

Some of the wild edible weeds we could find anywhere include violets, chickweed, lady's thumb, Asiatic dayflower, field garlic, sheep sorrel, and wood sorrel. You can combine these to make a terrific salad.

Along the edges of trails and in thickets, we can expect mullein, used to treat coughs since the days of the ancient Greeks, and sweetfern, a wonderful herb tea.

We could also find juneberries, one of the world's best-tasting fruits.

There'll also be plenty of jewelweed, a native species that prevents poison ivy rash and relieves many forms of skin irritation, and common plantain, which also cures new mosquito bites.

Edible trees will include black birch, which tastes like Winterfresh gum, plus sassafras, the original source or root beer.

There could also be gigantic choice chicken mushrooms, as well as summer mushrooms that include chanterelles, boletes, and russulas.