It’s that time of the year again in the Hudson Valley!! I’ve been seeing buzz about ramps and fiddleheads in my social media newsfeeds. Not so gentle reminder, just because something appears to be in abundance, doesn’t mean it is. In fact, ramps, or “wild leeks,” or “wild onions” are listed as a threatened species in Quebec and a species of concern in the northeastern United States. Fiddleheads are not fairing much better. Also, these plants are host to bacteria and not only require thoroughly cleaning and cooking but when you do forage these plants you are altering the ecosystem in very real ways. Chasing dopamine highs with hedonic palette-pleasing has serious consequences for our environment. Plant. Cultivate. But don’t steal from our wild, natural landscapes.
(Picture of cultivated ostrich ferns at the Vanderbilt Mansion.)
#ramps #fiddleheads #ostrichferns #hudsonvalley #catskills#upstateny #escapebrooklyn #newengland #maine #quebec #foraging #foodie #wildedibles #wildmushrooms #ecosystems#environment
Good reads on this subject: