More Related Content
Similar to Gourmet seasonings 2009 (20)
Gourmet seasonings 2009
- 1. Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden
Gardening with Western L.A. County Native Plants
Project SOUND - 2009
© Project SOUND
- 2. Gourmet Seasonings
and Condiments
C.M. Vadheim and T. Drake
CSUDH & Madrona Marsh Preserve
Madrona Marsh Preserve
April 4 & 7, 2009
© Project SOUND
- 3. Growing your own food: on the upswing?
Fun
Educational
Good exercise
Interesting looking
plants
Saves money
Tasty, fresh
ingredients
Chance to grow &
use ‘exotic’
ingredients –
http://bloomtown.typepad.com/bloomtown/bloomtown_my_garden/ including CA native
plants
© Project SOUND
- 5. Advantages of including native edible
plants in your garden
Often easy to grow
Attract native pollinators as
well as honey bees
Attract other beneficial
insects (predators)
Many are water-wise; spend
you ‘water allowance’ on other
vegetables
Add wonderful ‘exotic’ &
healthy flavors to your diet
© Project SOUND
- 6. Sand Fringepod – Thysanocarpus curvipes
http://syrpa.lindberglce.com/flowersBig/B106.htm
© Project SOUND
- 7. Sand Fringepod – Thysanocarpus curvipes
Western N. America:
Mexico to British Columbia
Most of CA, including
western L.A. County
Common to an elevation of
about 5000'
Slopes, washes, moist
meadows
Valley grasslands, coastal
sage scrub, chaparral and
foothill woodland
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?2240,2683,2685
Thysanocarpus: from the
Greek words thusanos,
"fringe," and karpos, "fruit,"
hence "fringed fruit"
© Project SOUND
- 8. In nature, Sand Fringepod is usually found
with other wildflowers, grasses
Lindley’s
Silverpuffs
Goldenrods
Bicolor Lupine
CA Poppy
Creamcups
Many others…
http://edgehill.net/nature/sierra/pg1pc2 http://tchester.org/srp/plants/pix/fringe_pod.html
© Project SOUND
- 9. Sand Fringepod – a delicate spring annual
Size:
1-2 ft tall
1-2 ft wide
Growth form:
Delicate and upright habit
May be a single stem or
branched; more branches
with more water
Generally disappears quickly
with drought
© 2004, Ben Legler Foliage: larger leaves mostly at
base
© Project SOUND
- 10. Flowers are tiny
‘mustard’ flowers
Blooms:
Spring; usually Mar-May in
W. L.A. Co
Depends on timing of rains
Flowers:
Really tiny - < ¼ inch across
White tinged with purple
Flowers open sequentially
‘up the stalk’
Typical shape for Mustard
family – parts of 4
http://www.researchlearningcenter.com/bloom/species/Thysanocarpus_curvipes.htm © Project SOUND
http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/fringepod.html
- 11. …but the real show
is in the seeds
Flat round pods; each
contains a single seed
Each seed fringed with a
lacey edging – hence
‘Fringepod’ or ‘Spectaclepod’
Ripe seeds are golden tan;
easy to strip from the stalk
into a bowl
Remember: annual
wildflowers need a drought
period to set & mature their
seeds – the drying period is
key to healthy seeds
© Project SOUND
http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/fringepod.html
- 12. Cleaning seeds
Collect only fully ripe seeds;
usually brown, and often easy
to strip of shake from plant
Rub seeds over a rough
surface (like a screen) or roll
between your hands in a cloth
bag
Separate seeds from chaff:
heavier seeds will fall to
bottom – will have to
experiment
Then seeds are ready to
store or prepare as a
condiment!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3062/2416699089_94dab9fd1e.jpg?v=0
© Project SOUND
- 13. Sand Fringepod: a welcome addition to
the native prairie palette
Mix with other native
annuals and bunchgrasses
Great in pots & planters
Treat them like any other
native annual wildflower:
Full sun to light shade
Any local soil is fine
Need plenty of
winter/spring water;
supplement if needed
Withhold water after
flowering ceases; can taper
off in mid/late spring
© Project SOUND
- 14. Can I plant native
wildflowers in my regular
vegetable garden?
But of course!
In pots & planters
In out-of-the way corners
Amongst winter/spring
vegetables
In their own place of honor
(Zone 1 in summer)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3062/2416699089_94dab9fd1e.jpg?v=0
© Project SOUND
- 15. * Blue Flax –Linum lewisii var. lewisii
© Project SOUND
- 16. Blue Flax –Linum lewisii var. lewisii
Found in most of CA
north to OR
Grows on dry open slopes
and ridges
The genus Linum contains
all the flax plants
(including the European
one used for commercial
fibers)
Species name lewisii for
Meriwether Lewis of the
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?4965,4980,4983,4985 Lewis and Clark
expeditions
© Project SOUND
- 18. Blue Flax is a nice addition to the spring-
summer garden
Size:
1½ to 2 ft tall; flowering stalks to
3 ft
1-2 ft wide
Growth form:
Short-lived perennial; sometimes
more like an annual
Mounded clump with upright,
arching branches
Foliage:
Gray-green to blue-green
Leaves are ‘feathery’, delicate
looking
Looks ‘woodsy’
Roots: longish tap-root; use a
taller pot
© Project SOUND
- 19. The flowers are just enchanting….
Blooms:
Usually May-Sept. in S. Bay
Will bloom in second year after starting
from seed
Long boom period – about 6 weeks
Flowers:
Electric blue – difficult to photograph
Typical flax flower; parts in 5’s
Dozens of blooms on drooping branches
Flowers open in sunlight, close at night
Pollinated by bees and flies
Nice butterfly plant
Seeds:
Small, in papery capsule
Poisonous eaten raw; cooked seeds add a
delicious taste to baked & cooked dishes
Our native flax is just as pretty as the Birds eat the seeds
non-native flaxes that most gardeners
plant Vegetative reproduction:
Plant sends up more branches each year –
slightly spreading
© Project SOUND
- 20. Treat Blue Flax like most
of our native annuals
Soils:
Texture: light, well-drained soils are best
pH: any local, including alkali
Light:
Usually found in full sun in nature
Does fine with part-shade
Water:
Winter: regular winter water
Summer:
Good cold and drought tolerance
Tolerates anything from no summer water to
regular water; best to withhold water in late
summer for good seed-set
Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils
Other:
Weed control and removal of very competitive
species may improve chance of establishment
Good self-seeder in most gardens; To maintain tidy appearance, cut plants back
easy to remove unwanted plants after bloom
© Project SOUND
- 21. Every garden needs a little Blue Flax
Lovely specimen plant in a pot;
will trail over edges
Massed in a mixed bed with
other wildflowers & grasses
In rock gardens
For erosion control or in a
greenbelt for fire suppression
In a habitat garden – for bees,
butterflies & seed-eating birds
Flax provided food, medicines
and fiber for native
Californians
© Project SOUND
- 22. Parching seeds
Use a heavy skillet (cast iron is
great)
http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/granado/images/basket.html Heat a little oil in the skillet
over low heat; no oil needed for
well-seasoned skillets
Wipe out all but a thin layer of
the oil
Pour in a thin layer of fully dry
seeds
Keep seeds moving so they
http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/troufs/Buffalo/images/pf021841.jpg don’t burn
Remove from skillet when
golden brown – some may pop
You can also parch seeds in
the oven
© Project SOUND
- 24. Using parched seeds: limited only by your
imagination
To add flavor to baked or
cooked items
Topping for bread
On bland cooked vegetables
On casseroles
As a salad topper
Etc.
Ground (alone or with other
http://plants.usda.gov/culturalinfo.html
seeds/spices)
Pinole
Mush
Beverages
Biscuits & pancakes
Etc.
http://www.allgauhotel.com/wiki/wiki_turkish_cuisine.html
© Project SOUND
- 25. Clustered Tarplant – Hemizonia (Deinandra) fasciculata
Gary A. Monroe @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
© Project SOUND
- 26. Clustered Tarplant – Hemizonia (Deinandra) fasciculata
CA and Baja
Dry coastal plains below
1000', coastal grasslands,
vernal pools, disturbed
areas, sage scrub,
southern oak woodland
Often in sandy or clayey
soils
Taxonomy –still evolving
http://www.timetotrack.com/jay/dudleyl2.htm
© Project SOUND
- 27. Characteristics of Clustered Tarplant
Size:
1-3 ft tall
1-3 ft wide
Growth form:
Herbaceous annual
Shrubby habit; many branched
Foliage:
Sparse, toothed leaves with
bristly hairs
Upper leaves narrow, in
bundles
Aromatic
© 2006 Steven Thorsted
Produces a tarry substance
© Project SOUND
- 28. Flowers are a spot of gold in summer/fall
Blooms:
Summer/early fall
Usually May-Sept. in local
lowland areas
Flowers:
Yellow sunflower heads
Few ray & disk flowers –
Southern Tarplant (H. parryi
ssp. australis) has more
Seem to float above the
twiggy foliage
Seeds:
Little ‘sunflower seeds’
Edible; parched or boiled – but
very small
http://www.sdnhm.org/fieldguide/plants/dein-fas.html
Re-seed nicely on Project SOUND
©
bare ground
- 29. Encouraging native wildflowers: Native
California Wisdom
Many native annuals were
valued as food plants (seed;
greens)
Native annuals usually
require light, spring
moisture – little competition
Native practices:
Scattering seed during
http://www.hazmac.biz/080109/080109DeinandraFasciculata.html
harvest (seed-beating)
Burning in fall after harvest
Clearing a ‘garden spot’ near
dwellings to raise commonly
eaten plants
Weeding
© Project SOUND
- 30. Flavored vinegars are still quite popular…
http://i.pbase.com/g6/41/768841/2/83826488.7gqVevyu.jpg © Project SOUND
- 31. You can make your own with native CA plants
© Project SOUND
- 32. Seasoning marinades & vinegars
Artemisia californica
Artemisia dracunculus
Bladderpod
Native onions (Allium)
Peppergrasses
Salvias
Even some of the berries/
fruits
Experiment to find the best
combinations. In general, stronger
flavors are best with red wine or rice
vinegars
© Project SOUND
- 33. California Boxthorn – Lycium californicum
http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/plants/sdpls/plants/Lycium_californicum.html
© Project SOUND
- 34. California Boxthorn – Lycium californicum
A local endemic:
S. CA coast, Channel
Islands into Baja CA
Western L.A. Co. and south
Washes and hillsides,
coastal bluffs, coastal
sage scrub, below 1500‘
In the nightshade family
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?7625,7636,7642 (with the Nightshades,
tomatoes, etc.)
© Project SOUND
- 35. Right at home on
the bluffs…
Fine with salty soils,
salt-spray, high winds
& blowing sand
Habitat is disappearing
– on CNPS ‘rare’ watch
list
© 2004 Michael Charters
© Project SOUND
- 36. CA Boxthorn:
interesting or homely?
Size:
3-6 ft tall (occasionally to
10 or 12 ft tall)
http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/plants/sdpls/plants/Lycium_californicum.html
4-8 ft wide (occasionally
wider)
Growth form:
Dense, woody shrub
Drought-deciduous
Ends of branches have
thorns (hence ‘boxthorn’)
Foliage:
Small, very succulent leaves
http://www.newportbay.org/plants/califboxthorn.html
© Project SOUND
- 37. Flowers are slightly
tomato-like
Blooms: Spring - usually
Mar-June in S. Bay
Flowers:
Small; < ½ inch
Green-white to somewhat
purple tinged
Look like members of the
nightshade family – yet
unique
http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/californiaboxthorn.html
© 2004 Michael Charters © Project SOUND
- 38. Using the fruit…think
‘tomato’
Fruits are firm and red when
ripe – usually in summer
Birds will eat the fruits
Fruits are not sweet – more
tart
Fruits can be dried for later
use
Can be used to make a sauce
that’s somewhat like a
tomato sauce – see recipes
Gerald and Buff Corsi © California Academy of Sciences
http://www.newportbay.org/plants/califboxthorn.html
© Project SOUND
- 39. Plant Requirements Soils:
Texture: any well-drained,
sand to clay, rocky
pH: any local
Light:
Full sun to light shade
Water:
Winter: needs winter rains
Summer:
http://www.newportbay.org/plants/califboxthorn.html
Very drought tolerant –
but loses leaves
Best Water Zone 2
CA Boxthorn thrives on seaside
conditions; excellent for sea
Fertilizer: none; likes poor
bluffs
soils
© Project SOUND
- 40. CA Boxthorn has a place in some CA
gardens…..
On seaside slopes
As a barrier plant or
hedge
As an unusual – and
rare – specimen plant
? as an interesting pot
plant? – I’ll let you
know
© 2004 Michael Charters
© Project SOUND
- 42. Make nice, sweet/tart sauces & jellies
*Amelanchier alnifolia –
Western Serviceberry
*Berberis/Mahonia species –
Oregon Grapes
Opuntia littoralis – Coastal
Pricklypear
Prunus ilicifolia – Catalina &
Holly-leaf Cherries
*Prunus virginiana – Western
Chokecherry
Rosa californica – CA Wild Rose
Sambuccus cerulea - Blue
(Mexican) Elderberry
Vitis species – Native Grapes
© Project SOUND
- 43. Oregon Grape – Mahonia (Berberis) aquifolium
© 2006 Louis-M. Landry
© Project SOUND
- 44. Oregon Grape – Mahonia (Berberis) aquifolium
Much of western N.
America: Mexico to
British Columbia
In CA:
Mostly N. CA
Also mountains &
foothills throughout Ca –
locally in San Gabriels
Slopes, canyons,
coniferous forest, oak
woodland, chaparral
In the Barberry family
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Berberis+aquifolium
State flower of OR
© Project SOUND
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233500223
- 45. Oregon Grape: sized for the garden
Size:
3-8 ft tall
3-6 ft wide
Growth form:
Evergreen shrub; medium-slow
growth
Stiff, upright branches; overall
irregular or mounded form
Foliage:
Very attractive – leaves ‘holly-like’
Shiny dark green above; may give
red color in fall/winter
Overall – coarse texture
Roots: spreads via rhizomes
© Project SOUND
- 46. Oregon Grape: not
Soils:
demanding at all
Texture: pretty much any
pH: any local
Light:
Best in part-shade; can
take full sun to very shady
Water:
Winter: likes water; can
take some flooding
Summer: best with some
supplemental water – Zone
2 to 2-3 (even 3)
Fertilizer: likes a good
organic mulch; renew yearly
© Project SOUND
- 47. Flowers are a cheerful sight
during rainy season
Blooms: winter/spring
Usually Feb-Apr in S. Bay
Blooms for 3-4 weeks
Flowers:
Bell-shaped & buttery
yellow
In dense clusters – very
showy against the darker
leaves
Honey-like fragrance
Seeds:
Relatively large
© Project SOUND
- 48. Berries are tart but delicious
Can be eaten directly for
a tasty zing!
Can be fermented with
sugar to wine
Make nice, tart jellies –
good with meats
Boil berries in soup to
add flavor
Use to make sauces and
marinades for ham, pork,
chicken
© Project SOUND
- 49. Oregon Grape is a
popular home shrub
foundation plant
mass plantings
shrub border
mixes well with other broadleaf
evergreens
useful in shady spots
desirable for spring bloom, high
quality summer foliage and blue
fruit in fall
Yellow natural dye from roots &
bark; also dye from berries
Medicinal uses: roots for
various infectious conditions
© Project SOUND
- 50. Cultivar ‘Compactum’ (sometimes ‘Compacta’)
Smaller – 3’ by 3’
More mounded- bushy
http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/maaqc1.htm
© Project SOUND
http://www.intermountainnursery.com/demonstration_garden_list.htm
- 51. You may know that CA Wild Rose hips make a
nice jelly or syrup…
….but there are other members of the Rose family
that are even better known for their tasty fruits
© Project SOUND
- 53. * Western Serviceberry – Amelanchier alnifolia
Mainly a plant of the Pacific
Northwest, the midwest and
western Canada – up to AK
In CA, mainly in the
http://www.cnr.vt.edu/DENDRO/DENDROL
northwest, but…
OGY/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=193
Also, in the western San
Gabriel mountains
Found on forested slopes,
open rocky woods, cliff edges,
prairies, or along side streams
or lakes; also bogs and wet
sites.
‘Serviceberry’ and ‘Juneberry’
refer to the time of bloom
© Project SOUND
- 54. In the wilds, a shrub
or small tree
Size and shape very
greatly depending on:
Available water
Available light
Snow pack
Growth season
http://www.malag.aes.oregonstate.edu/wildflowers/species.php/id-103
© Project SOUND
- 55. In the local mountains, Western
Serviceberry is an understory to pines
Often grows in the
shade of the shade of
larger trees
http://biology.csusb.edu/PlantGuideFolder/SanGabriels.htm
In Western San Gabriels
© Project SOUND
- 56. Western Serviceberry: very adaptable
Size:
6-15+ ft tall
6-10 ft wide
Growth form:
Erect shrub/single or multi-
trunk small tree
Branches smooth with gray or
red bark
Dense, but winter-deciduous
Medium/slow growing
Foliage:
Medium to dark green
Leaves oval, toothed
Roots: spreads via rhizomes; also
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=amal2
deep taproots
© Project SOUND
- 57. Serviceberry is showy in bloom
Blooms:
Spring: usually Apr-May
in Western L.A. Co.
Bloom period up to 1 mo.
Flowers:
White; rose-like
In dense clusters; very
showy
Fragrant (sweet)
Seeds:
Like rose; propagate
similar to roses
© 2004, Ben Legler
© Project SOUND
- 58. But most folks like
the berries best
Ripen in summer
Dark blue-purple when ripe
with white bloom – look
like blueberries
Loved by berry-eating
birds – you’ll probably have
to outwit them!
Use just like a blueberry:
Eat fresh or dry
Used in baked goods
Use for sauces, syrups,
jellies, beverages, etc.
© Project SOUND
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=amal2 http://www.malag.aes.oregonstate.edu/wildflowers/species.php/id-103
- 59. Serviceberry does well in the home garden
Soils:
Texture: just about any
moderately or well-drained soil
pH: likes pH between 5.0-7.5
Light:
Adaptable: part-sun best, but
can take full sun to quite shady
Water:
Winter: like good soil moisture
Summer: best in Zone 2 to 2-3
Fertilizer: likes a good organic
mulch like leaf litter
© Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College
© Project SOUND
- 60. Serviceberry: a
garden favorite
Makes a great small tree
for front yard or patio
Fine as a large shrub;
dormant Dec.-Feb/Mar
http://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com/White%20Enlarged%20Photo%20Pages/amelanchier.htm Good choice for hedge,
hedgerow or screen
Espalier along a wall
Can even trim to a medium
groundcover
http://www.denverwater.org/cons_x
eriscape/xeriscape/garden2002.htm
l Leave some of previous year’s
growth as fruiting wood
http://www.colostate.edu/Dept/CoopExt/4dmg/Trees/Shrubs/junebrry.htm © Project SOUND
- 61. Serviceberry makes
great habitat
Cover & nesting
Nectar:
Bess & other pollinators
Butterflies: orange tip, CA
Hairstreak, western tiger
swallowtail, spring Azure and
elfin butterflies
Foliage: (note: poisonous if
eaten in large quantities)
Swallowtail, Elfin and other
butterfly larvae.
Deer will browse
Fruit:
Just about everyone loves it!
http://loriaull.wordpress.com/2008/07/12/western-serviceberry-amelanchier-alnifolia/
Lazuli Bunting in Serviceberry Bush © Project SOUND
- 62. Uses for sweet/tart
jellies, syrups, sauces
On toast or muffins
On pancakes & waffles
http://cache0.bigcartel.com/product_images/1630485/300.jpg
On ice cream or cake
As a flavoring for hot & cold
beverages
As a glaze or marinade for
meats
As a condiment with ethnic
dishes: Thai, Middle
Eastern, Asian Indian
© Project SOUND
- 63. * Western Chokecherry – Prunus virginiana var. demissa
http://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=23962
© Project SOUND
- 64. * Western Chokecherry – Prunus virginiana var. demissa
Western N. America from
Mexico & TX to British
Columbia
In CA, generally a plant of
higher elevation foothills &
mountains
Locally: San Gabriel Mtns –
generally > 5000 ft.
Rocky slopes, canyons, scrub,
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Prunus+virginiana+var.+demissa
oak/pine woodland, coniferous
forest – generally as an
occasional plant on N-facing
slopes
© Project SOUND
- 65. Chokecherry in
nature
Widely varied
habitats that share:
Often soils are a little
© Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College
richer in terms of
nutrients
A little extra moisture
in winter
Some shade in summer:
N-facing slopes
Under trees
© 2005 Steve Matson
© Project SOUND
- 66. Chokecherry: another shrub in the Rose family
Size:
6-18 ft tall; variable –
depends on local conditions
15-20 ft wide; spreads via
rhizomes
Growth form:
Upright, multi-trunk large
shrub to small tree
Branches somewhat
horizontal
Smooth red-gray bark
Often fairly open growth
Foliage:
Leaves simple, medium green
Typical for Rose family;
winter-deciduous
© Project SOUND
- 67. Flowers are fantastic!
Blooms:
Spring: usually Apr-May
in S. CA
Flowers:
Small, buff to white
rose-like flowers
In dense, drooping
flowering stalks – very
showy & distinctive
Sweet scent –
reminiscent of almonds
Attract many pollinators,
http://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=23962 including butterflies
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/prunus-virginiana-demissa © Project SOUND
- 68. Fruits are prized…
Wonderful sweet-tart
flavor for:
Jelly
Syrups & sauces
Fruit leather
Juice
Note: pits (seeds) are
toxic if eaten raw;
poison neutralized by
cooking or drying
http://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=23962
© Project SOUND
- 69. Plant Requirements Soils:
Texture: all but very heavy
clays
pH: not highly alkali (> 8.0)
Light:
Full sun to fairly shady
Probably best with some shade
Water:
Winter: needs good winter
rains; supplement if necessary
Summer: best with
supplemental water (Zone 2 to
2-3; will sucker in Zone 3)
Fertilizer: likes an organic mulch
(leaf mulch best)
Other: prune as needed; often
best with little pruning
© Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College
© Project SOUND
- 70. Managing fruiting shrubs
in the Rose family
Pest management:
Susceptible to Fire Blight & fungal
diseases
Practice good preventive measures
(see last lecture handouts)
Pruning:
http://www.stevenspoint.com/forestry/right_tree/11.html
Flowers/fruits on last year’s wood –
leave some if you want fruits
In general, best with minimum of
pruning once general shape is
established
Suckering:
Will happen with watering
Plant accordingly; good candidates for
mowed lawn area or someplace where
they can just fill in
http://www.kansasforests.org/conservation/shrubs/chokecherry.shtml © Project SOUND
- 71. Garden uses for
Chokecherry
Trimmed as a small tree
For hedgerows &
screens
As a large accent shrub
– pretty most of the
year
For erosion control –
good on slopes
Note: recommended only
for colder gardens
http://www.landscapedia.info/images/plant_images/Prunus_virginiana_Canada_Red_.jpg
© Project SOUND
- 72. Make nice, sweet/tart sauces & jellies
*Amelanchier alnifolia –
Western Serviceberry
*Berberis/Mahonia species –
Oregon Grapes
Opuntia littoralis – Coastal
Pricklypear
Prunus ilicifolia – Catalina &
Holly-leaf Cherries
*Prunus virginiana – Western
Chokecherry
Rosa californica – CA Wild Rose
Sambuccus cerulea - Blue
(Mexican) Elderberry
Vitis species – Native Grapes
© Project SOUND
- 73. Picking and cleaning the fruits can be messy
Pick only ripe fruits
Either strip fruits off
branches or:
Cut off individual clumps
(grapes; elderberries)
Use a pair of tongs
(Pricklypear cactus)
Remove stems, flowers,
other ‘non-fruit’ material
Wash fruit thoroughly –
several changes of water is
best
Remember: many of these
fruits can stain
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3255/2875487011_70d4797e99.jpg?v=0
© Project SOUND
- 74. Simmer the fruits on low heat until they split
Use a deep, heavy pot
Barely cover fruit with clean
water
Bring fruits to boil, then
turn down heat
Simmer about ½ hour (varies
with type/size of fruit)
Stir occasionally; fruit will
split
Be sure to enjoy the
wonderful aroma!!!
© Project SOUND
- 75. Strain the juice…then use it for jelly/syrup
Strain hot juice through a
jelly bag or layers of
cheesecloth
Best it you don’t squeeze bag
(or only do so lightly); some
jellies will become cloudy it
squeeze small particles
through
Use juice right away, or can
refrigerate for several days
before making jelly/syrup
© Project SOUND
- 76. Making jellies & sauces: really very easy
Use a good basic recipe – in
handout.
If you’ve never canned, be sure
you have all the needed
equipment – and read in general
about canning
Add sugar & lemon juice (to
help it jell better)
Suggest use purchased pectin –
may need to experiment with
amount needed
Have fun: you can mix flavors,
add to conserves, etc.
Enter your creation in the
County Fair or other contest –
you might just have a winner!
© Project SOUND
- 77. We hope you’ll consider including some
native food plants in your yard
Blue Elderberry - Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea
© Project SOUND