I live in the city (SF) so I consider everywhere to kind of be my "backyard"
Anyway, there is fennel growing everywhere in the city and I want to eat it (roasted with carrots especially) but I am afraid to eat anything because I have no idea what toxic yuckiness lurks in the ground.
I did, however find a hill with fennel and figured that might be a good bet because nothing has been built on that ground.
Any urban dwellers here know how to pick good urban fennel?
Anyway, there is fennel growing everywhere in the city and I want to eat it (roasted with carrots especially) but I am afraid to eat anything because I have no idea what toxic yuckiness lurks in the ground.
I did, however find a hill with fennel and figured that might be a good bet because nothing has been built on that ground.
Any urban dwellers here know how to pick good urban fennel?
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SF Bay Area
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Re: Wild Fennel
Wed, May 14, 2008 - 12:58 PMpick non-urban fennel instead
;)
no really, I've seen the city and east bay parks people just driving down the road spraying god-knows what kind of chemicals from about 5' down to the ground - on everything, weeds,plants, trees, etc. even in huckleberry park (a botanical preserve) they regularly post signs saying this ---plant such and such---- has been sprayed with ---chemicalX----- and those signs decompose pretty rapidly as they are outside and made of paper... -
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Re: Wild Fennel
Wed, May 14, 2008 - 3:21 PMI'd be more concerned with homeless man piss or drunkard vomit in SF. but yeah, the chemicals they spray on the ground is probably not gonna help your bones grow strong either. -
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Re: Wild Fennel
Wed, May 14, 2008 - 4:22 PMI would not discourage you from harvesting in the city. I used to live in Seattle, Wa and harvested all over the city. Just use common sense. Be sure not one has pissed on the plant and look around, are other plants brown and dyring, does it appear to have been sprayed? You can also call your local parks and tell them you are taking a dog or child to the park and want to know if and when they spray that area. Some stay a certain numbe rof feet fromt he road, again just use common sense. There is a good book titled the City Herbal, I really like how the author encourages city foraging.
Blessings
Linda -
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Re: Wild Fennel
Wed, May 14, 2008 - 4:41 PMI've harvested urbanly. I tend to look for higher areas like hills that are lush with weeds. I harvest as far from roadsides as possible. A physician researcher friend of mine tested my fennel based cough syrups and found no toxins or heavy metals. -
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Re: Wild Fennel
Wed, May 14, 2008 - 7:46 PMYum! Fennel based cough syrup. Is it a secret recipe or can you share?
Blessings
Linda -
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Re: Wild Fennel...
Wed, May 14, 2008 - 9:22 PM3-5 ounces fennel
1 quart water
3-5 sticks of hard stick cinnamon
Simmer on low. Keep the pot covered. Or use crock pot.
When liquid is simmered down to 1/3 original volume add 16 - 24 ounces of dark honey.
Add either 2-3 ounces of fresh California Poppy finely chopped, or 1/4 cup of Ca. Poppy tincture. Stir and continue simmering.
When liquid has simmered down to 2/3 original volume strain out material and quickly bottle. Keep in fridge on the off chance you turn it into mead.
Variation...add fresh Sweet Basil...3-4 ounces for deep spasmatic cough
Variation...add 1/4 cup of marijuana tincture for asthmatic cough
Variation....add 1/4 cup Wild Ginger tincture for cough with impacted phlegm
Variation....add 1-3 ounces of thyme and prunella for coughs with infections
With the exception of the marijuana...I would use these children and adults
A syrup with all these herbs is called a Shotgun Syrup. I make Shotgun Syrup for my homeless clients.
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