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Edible Fungus

Ken — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 01:16:54 +0000

My sons and I canoed down a portion of the Yadkin River. En-route we saw an older gent at the river’s edge asleep in a lawn chair. Behind him was a tent where he lived. Some months later I met him in a store and struck up a conversation. It turns out that he prefers living outdoors and considers himself “houseless” not “homeless”. I figured that I could learn a lot from him and so we began to spend some time together and have developed a friendship.

One of the things that he showed me is the bracket fungus known in the U.S. as “Turkey Tail”. In Japan it called “Riverbank Mushroom” which was appropriate in this case. It’s technical name is Trametes Versicolor. Some folks consider it non edible because it can be too corky & tough, but they are not toxic and my friend has boiled them on many occasions for dinner.

They generally attach to decaying logs along the back edge of the fan and have no discernible stem. It is an annual rather than perennial and can been seen throughout the year, but my friend says that they are most fresh in the Spring. Like many other fungi, they are also said to have medicinal benefit in reducing tumors.

So, if you get stranded in moist woodlands or along their rivers, you can find an edible fungus to stave off your hunger.

Charcoal Soup, Anyone??

Ken — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 11:00:09 +0000

Ingesting a slurry of charcoal doesn’t sound appealing, but, if your digestive system is turned upside-down while stranded, without access to a store, pharmacy or medical facility, it may just be the solution. Charcoal is often used for filtering air and water because of it’s microscopic porous structure. It absorbs organic chemicals, nitrates and toxins. Charcoal is composed of carbon which is the central element of organic matter such as plants, and when combusted, can be collected and ground into a fine powder for use.

Scientific techniques have led industry to enhance the porosity of charcoal in a variety of ways using gases, chemicals, and extreme heat and/or steam to create “activated” charcoal. In terms of collective surface area, it is said that one gram of activated charcoal would be able to cover several football fields if it were rolled flat. Activated charcoal is used in hospitals worldwide for patients who ingest drugs or chemicals and have saved countless lives.

I recommend that you visit a local pharmacy and purchase some activated charcoal for your emergency kit or bug-out-bag (BOB). In lieu of activated charcoal, many military survival instructors teach soldiers to grind up the charcoal from their campfire and make a slurry with water to ingest. It works in both the stomach and the intestines while being eliminated through the digestive tract. Some home remedies also suggest burning your toast to create charcoal, then scraping into a small pile to grind. In the end, don’t be alarmed when your stool is dark, it just shows that the charcoal has finished it’s course, and be thankful for the task that it has accomplished.

Juniper Berries

Ken — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:41:40 +0000

A juniper berry is not a true berry but rather a fleshy female seed cone with merged scales with an approximate size of a 1/4 inch in diameter. All juniper species grow berries, but a few are toxic and some are considered too bitter to eat and are not recommended for eating in volume. Most folks describe the taste as piney or resinous but the taste varies within the over 40 species. While photographing the adjacent photo, I sampled some berries and found them to be slightly sweet. They are ripe for harvest when dark in appearance and they are often covered with a whitish wax. They can be eaten raw or brewed to make a tea. It is a good source of vitamin C. Historically, juniper berries have been used as cooking spices and are used in some alcoholic beverages. Medicinally, juniper berries are used as a diuretic and is effective for dissolving kidney stones. A note of caution: juniper berries may be harmful to people with kidney problems, or for those who are pregnant.

Jewel Weed – A Medicinal Gem

Ken — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 13:03:42 +0000

Jewel Weed is found in the Southern Appalachians and in much of the eastern U.S., usually growing in cool shaded moist areas and on creek banks. The interesting thing about Jewel Weed is that it often grows in the same areas as Poison Ivy and can be used for it’s antidote. By crushing the stalks of the plant to release the juice, you can rub the material on the skin that has been exposed to the Poison Ivy or other irritants like stinging nettle, mosquito bites and insect stings. It’s a virtual panacea for skin irritation. It’s reported to contain two methoxy-1, four napthoquinineóan anti-inflammatory and fungicide that is the active ingredient of Preparation H. In my area Jewel Weed is blooming. Take a look at the photo and see if you can spot some Jewel Weed in your area.