92867 Wed Nov 23 07:29:37 -0800 2005 9 5 Texas 0 509992 Any other fans of foraging wild foods (mushrooms, wild onions, greens, etc) who live in Central TX? Would be great to have a group to pick mushrooms and other things with. Dave Wed Nov 23 07:29:37 -0800 2005 0 Dave Westerberg 1 509994 Dave, You should hook up with one of the mycological associations in Texas. I know they mount foraging expeditions from time to time. You might try to get in touch with the University Mycological Society at the link below. Scott Link: http://www.geocities.com/mushroomers/ Wed Nov 23 10:01:29 -0800 2005 509992 0 Scott 2 509999 Thanks Scott. The last time I looked tehy were defunct, but it looks like they are coming around again. Glad I posted my request and thanks for responding. Wed Nov 23 11:22:54 -0800 2005 509994 0 Dave Westerberg 1 510001 I do native pecans, dewberries, chiltecpins, and wild onions. Fish and hunt (small game), too. Jim Wed Nov 23 13:18:43 -0800 2005 509992 0 Jim Washburn 2 510012 Jim: Thanks! I have harvested wild pecans and wild onions and chili pequin. What are dew berries? Thu Nov 24 10:04:53 -0800 2005 510001 0 David Westerberg 3 510014 Dewberry is similar to blackberry. The dewberry grows a trailing vine and the fruit is a little smaller and somewhat tastier than most blackberries. I neglected to mention earlier that I also usually do wild grapes when I find them in the spring. I make jelly out of them, which, in the final analysis, is just plain grape jelly, so it's not something I get very excited about. Jim Thu Nov 24 11:09:32 -0800 2005 510012 0 Jim Washburn 4 510015 I like wild grape jellly. I get excited about all this stuff. What do you do with dewberries? Thu Nov 24 20:53:57 -0800 2005 510014 0 Dave Westerberg 5 510032 And the crowning glory of Central Texas Wild Foods? Wild hog that's been eating all of those other things barbecued Mon Nov 28 11:43:23 -0800 2005 510015 0 Seamus Mitwurst 6 510138 You make dewberry cobbler with dewberries of course! ;) It is soooo good. It's worth getting scratched by the small-thorny vines that the dewberries grow on. They are usually ripe about early-mid April, after they bloom their white blooms in Feb-March, along railroad tracks and open roadsides where there hasn't been mowing since the prior fall. Usually you will see people foraging for berries with jeans on, a proper stick (to poke around and scare off any critters undercover) since the berries usually are heavy enough to drupe down below the leaves, and a non-breakable bucket or bowl for the berries. And eating them right off the bush with a quick blow on the berry to dislodge any sand or grit will enable you to partake in a yummy Central Texas nature treat right there in the field. There are plenty of websites that can give you good recipes for dewberry (or blackberry) cobblers...and pies, and jams.......ooohh...now I can't wait for Spring! good luck, RJ Fri Dec 09 15:03:14 -0800 2005 510032 0 RJ 2 510016 Jim: Did you hear this story? it's great. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4199694 Thu Nov 24 21:36:04 -0800 2005 510001 0 david Westerberg