It’s cold outside and a fresh layer of snow has just been dumped on Chicago. But underneath all that snow and below the frozen, crusted earth lies a whole city full of dormant seeds and hibernating roots. Just like all the people huddled in their apartments, they will bust out of their slumber in a few months and the city will come alive once again.
Winter 2009
I am looking forward to the arrival of spring this year moreso than any during any other year. I have become so excited about foraging that I want to take advantage of an entire year of it–spring, summer, and fall. Last summer I met food writer Michael Gebert of Skyfull of Bacon and he expressed his interest in taking some footage of me foraging for things around my neighborhood, and I happily obliged. After quite a few rain-outs we were finally able to arrange a day late in the summer to meet. Of course, by that time, just as I anticipated, the had city cut down most of the stuff I was hoping to show Mike. But as I, and later on in the film, expert forager Nance Klehm proved, as long as there is not snow on the ground there is plenty to forage.
That was a nice escape from the winter doldrums. Feel free to peruse the Pleasant House for other foraging posts and recipes, and don’t let those winter blues get you down.
urban prairie
[...] eat this city video podcast [...]