| |||
| Back to Blogs | FAQ | Search | Today's Posts | Mark Forums Read |
| Frugal Living Dollar-stretching tips, green/simple living, DIY, budgeting and general home economics. | ||||||
![]() |
| | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
| | #1 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New Zealand
Posts: 353
Reputation: | I've just started a series of blog posts about food you can get for free. I've started with the humble dandelion which apparently has more 'beta-carotene than carrots. The iron and calcium content is phenomenal, greater than spinach. You also get vitamins B-1, B-2, B-5, B-6, B-12, C, E, P, and D, biotin, inositol, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc by using a tasty, free vegetable that grows on virtually every lawn.' Common Dandelion ![]() Also we are lucky here in NZ to have papaya trees growing wild, I have one in my garden that I found yesterday and there's lots just around the corner in the nearby bush. I'll be writing about those tomorrow. I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts about plants that come under the free category where you live? I'm on the look out for ideas :0) Thanks!
__________________ frugal life blog tips, tricks, ideas and recipes Observations Uni Photography and Video |
| | |
|
We share ad revenue with members. Learn more. | |
| | #2 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Originally from New York City, now in Florida since 2002.
Posts: 131
Reputation: | What a great idea! I'll be reading your series with interest. |
| | |
| | #3 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 116
Reputation: | We have a variety of edible weeds that grow just about everywhere in the US - purslane, clover, dock. Also lots of fruit trees - my last house had a pear tree in the backyard, orange trees, apple trees, peach trees (depending on what part of the country you are in) I have some foraging books that I love to look through! |
| | |
| | #4 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 375
Reputation: | Morel mushrooms and asparagus grow wild out here in SD. But you have to know where and when to look for both. When I lived in California many places had fruit trees as part of their landscaping. Employees were welcome to pick a few lemons or peaches and take them home. We had a peach tree in our back yard at one of our homes in California. We ate plenty of them, made pies, gave away quite a few. We used to get venison for free from the GFP warden. If they had to shoot a deer or answer a deer collision call they would field dress it and give it away to someone on their list. Of course they usually called me about 11pm on a weeknight asking if I wanted it and I had to haul a deer in my station wagon to the meat locker the next morning. One year we got one that had been living in a cattle feed lot. It had been living on the ground corn feed put out for the cattle. That was some amazing meat. |
| | |
| | #5 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 396
Reputation: | Wow!! Wild asparagus!!!! Awesome!!! The only thing I get for free are the raspberry bushes that came with the house. They are so sweet and yummy! Oh yeah, I am rather embarassed to say this (about the squirrels and such--haha!) but my grandfather (and me--when I was at their house) ate all kinds of crazy things that he got off his farm--deer, squirrels, rabbits, froglegs, fish, crawfish, sassafras (sp?) tea, doves, mushrooms, ginger, ramps, prickly pears, strawberries, blackberries, poke greens, crabapples, and hickory nuts. And then he planted a huge garden and everything, but these were just the things that he didn't raise. |
| | |
| | #6 | |
| Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 375
Reputation: | Quote:
| |
| | |
| | #7 | |
| Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 396
Reputation: | Quote:
| |
| | |
| | #8 | ||
| Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New Zealand
Posts: 353
Reputation: | Thanks Joanne Quote:
Wild asparagus, wow lucille - asparagus is my favorite vegetable, if only they grew wild here. That meat sounds lovely too I am on the lookout for blackberries here this year, I used to have so much fun picking them with my Mum and Dad when I was little, I want to pass this on to my son, I'm sure he will enjoy it. Quote:
kav122 - Raspberries, yumm, but good grief, that cheek of some people
__________________ frugal life blog tips, tricks, ideas and recipes Observations Uni Photography and Video | ||
| | |
| | #9 |
| Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 10
Reputation: | When I was growing up we had bushes and bushes of blackberries- SO good. We used to have so much blackberry pie/jam/other treats....mmmm. |
| | |
| | #10 | |
| Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New Zealand
Posts: 353
Reputation: | Quote:
__________________ frugal life blog tips, tricks, ideas and recipes Observations Uni Photography and Video | |
| | |
|
We share ad revenue with members. Learn more. | |
![]() |
| Thread Tools | |
| Display Modes | |
| |
Similar Threads | ||||
| Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
| H: Food rebates:meat/ cheese/ soda..... | savensmile | Deals & Coupons | 0 | 01-07-2008 08:56 AM |
| Speciality Food Shops | amandajane | Frugal Living | 2 | 01-03-2008 03:30 PM |
| Free 6 oz pouch of Purina Natural Cat Food | Linsey Knerl | Deals & Coupons | 3 | 01-02-2008 11:50 AM |