<div dir="ltr"><div><b>PASS THE RAMPS, PLEASE</b><br></div><div> (feel free to forward to friends and journals and or post on FB)<br></div><div><br>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Tahoma">Though this writings focus is on Ramps, its purpose really is
a heads up for all plants. So join me in cultivating a
daily awareness for all plants longevity, be they deemed invasive, noxious
weeds, endangered or not endangered. They all matter - for our future. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Tahoma"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other"><b style><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Tahoma">About Ramps:</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Tahoma">
also known as Wild Leeks (Allium tricoccum) are a Lily family plant perennial
in the same family as Onions and Garlic. Wild Leeks are known as an ephemeral –
meaning, here for a short time and they surely demonstrate this. Locally and depending
on the weather, they may begin growth some time in March or April lasting 4
weeks to maybe 6 weeks max then the leaves become tough, yellowing, (the bulbs
are still tasty and edible though) and the plant puts out flower heads with the
leaves becoming inedible by end of May and may not easily be found come end of
June except for the experienced eye. <br>
<br>
Petersons Field Guides on Eastern / Central Medicinal Plants says Wild Leek
leaves were used for colds, croup and as a spring tonic by the Cherokee, and a
warmed juice of the leaves and bulbs for ear aches.<span style> </span>How they applied this it does not say but this
will be a topic I’ll write more on this and other onion family plants this July. <br>
<br>
Wild Leeks are now sought after by people and in the market place, at roadside
farm-stands, restaurants, small eateries, health food stores, farmers markets,
etc. In recent years horror stories have been exchanged telling of unethical
foraging practices (meaning leaving stands completely devoid of any Wild Leeks)
and truck loads of Wild Leeks being shipped to far away places for sale. This
onion family plant may just not be so abundant in short order. <br>
<br>
Over the years my curiousity has peaked. I’ve had so many questions. Thus I
posted them on Facebook and email.<br>
- Are you seeing any changes in Leek populations over the years? <br>
- Do you harvest for yourself? <br>
- Do you buy them? <br>
- Do you see them sold at restaurants, farmers markets, etc. <br>
- </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Tahoma">And to all of the above, are the bulbs in place or just the above ground
leaves?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Tahoma"> </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Tahoma"><br>
I personally connected with 15 people, most live in Delaware County. Of all I interviewed,
3 of them were natives, going back at least 4 generations, if not more. <br>
The others interviewed were non-natives and living here for the last 20 to 30
yrs. <br>
<br>
<b style>Of the non-native group:</b> 4 were business
owners: a health foods store, a retreat center and 2 restaurants: the health
foods store wouldn’t buy or sell any Leeks because they couldn’t confirm if the
harvester had ethical and sustainable foraging practices; the retreat center
harvested their own, and used only the greens, leaving the bulbs in the ground;
one restaurant did the same; the other restaurant did harvest the bulbs and
added they harvest only enough in the Leek growing season, and only from their
land, and only in small amounts. The whole of this group didn’t think they saw
any decline in Leek populations. Interestingly a few of these non-natives had
dedicated time, money or both to yearly Leek transplantings onto ideal
locations on their land. One couple has been doing this for the last 10 yrs.
All had not harvested any of the plants yet. They wanted to give the plants a
chance to acclimate to the area and were waiting until they saw the plants
blossoming. This they felt was a good indication the plants had adapted to
their new location. <br>
<b style><br>
Of the native group:</b> one person saw at least one stand completely wiped out
from what they had seen years ago; another said the same yet added they knew of
huge stands that were still untouched and attributed this to the great distance
one would have had to walk to get to them. The last person a woodsperson said
this and I quote: “<span class="">don't think many leeks around, if you tell
anybody they come in and dig them out”, adding, “’Ginshang (Ginseng) around is
about dug out people hunt it all. See if you can do something, somebody got to
or its going to be gone.”</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Tahoma"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:ideograph-other"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Tahoma">Diane
Greenberg of Catskill Native Nursery who propagates and sells wild foods and
medicinals, had a lot to say about wild foods harvesting practices. Here are
some of her thoughts and suggestions: “</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Tahoma">people think they are harvesting
sustainably by only taking a portion of a patch. What they don’t consider is 4
or 5 other people are doing the same thing to the same patch and soon an area
that was covered in leeks is reduced to a very small population. Over the
years, I have seen a few areas in Ulster that were once abundant in leeks
disappear completely. Mostly these were patches along public trails or easily
seen while driving along a back road. People have bragged to me about filling
up the back of a truck with leeks and selling them …” and “People do not
understand how long it takes for these plants to grow and that by harvesting
mature bulbs they are destroying what is needed to insure future generations of
ramps … I hope in time people will see the big picture of the damage they are
doing in the name of “free food”.<br>
What Diane speaks of here, of harvesting sustainably is one of the practices I
speak of in my plant walks, but even more so, how about bringing them in to your
gardens by transplanting some, seeding some, supporting those already in your
garden or purchasing wild cultivated plants from nurseries like Diane’s. <br>
<br>
If you’re interested in checking out what Diane Greenberg is doing, go to </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Times"><a href="mailto:greenwitch@catskillnativenursery.com" target="_blank">greenwitch@catskillnativenursery.com</a><span style> </span><br>
</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Tahoma">Find
Wild Foods Foraging Suggestions on my facebook page at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/herbsandwildplants">https://www.facebook.com/herbsandwildplants</a>
or <br>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/marguerite.uhlmannbower">https://www.facebook.com/marguerite.uhlmannbower</a><br>
<br>
The act of sustainability is for us to essentially be the care givers and
stewards of the land that feeds us.<span style> </span><br>
Spread the word ... <br>
- those of us who harvest Leeks<br>
- those of us who purchase Leeks from harvesters<br>
- those of us who dine on Leeks at restaurants<br>
- those of us who know wild foods foragers not speaking out about sustainability,
ask <br>
<span style> </span>them to consider the following …<span style> </span><span style> <br><br></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(0,51,0)">Consider this:
Invest in Leeks</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Tahoma">Leave
at least 80% to 90% of the plants for adequate self propagation. For instance,
for every group cluster of plants, remove only one or two single plant. <br>
Why? It takes 2 to 3 years for a Leek seed to germinate and up to 6 years to
fully mature! <br><br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(0,51,0)">Consider this:
Keep their life force in the ground. </span></b><span style="font-size:11pt"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Tahoma">Leave
their bulb root in the earth. Cut only the green leaves at ABOVE soil level. </span><span style="font-size:11pt"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Tahoma">It
has been observed that by keeping the bulb root in the ground, it will allow
the plant to continue to grow for future seasons. Supportive studies show that
when harvesting a stand of Leeks, if one picks as little as 5% - 15% (including
the root bulb), this action cause’s the stand to go below ‘an equilibrium
level’. This means that the stand is then functioning at a substandard level
and can take several additional years to return to normal. So long as it is
untouched for the next few years (3 to 5 yrs.) this then gives Leeks a chance
to self propagate. Avoid at all costs taking the bulb. This will benefit you by
providing you with many harvesting years to come.<br><br></span><span style="font-size:11pt"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(0,51,0)">Consider this:
Rotate harvesting stands. </span></b><span style="font-size:11pt"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Tahoma">Have
at least 3 or 4 sources (or more) to harvest Leeks from, and visit only one of
them each year. It takes 2.5 years for a stand to fully recover from a single
harvest. <br>
FYI: In Quebec Canada, permits are given for Leek harvesting. Only 5 Leeks per
person are allowed ! <br><br></span><span style="font-size:11pt"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(0,51,0)">Lastly and as
importantly consider: Think Sustainability. </span></b><span style="font-size:11pt"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Tahoma">1)
Share sustainability ideas with our children … ‘ethical wild crafting way’</span><span style="font-size:11pt"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Tahoma">2)
Ask wholesalers of leeks, local merchants and restaurants who sell Leeks to buy
bulb-<br>
<span style> </span>less plants from their wild
harvesters. <br>
3) Lastly, this is the right thing to do all the time, for all of Nature … for
us. <br>
<br>
So please, pass (up) the Ramps this year. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other"><span style="font-family:Tahoma"><br>
<br>
</span><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Tahoma">This
report is donated by Marguerite Uhlmann-Bower, Herbal Educator, RN and Wild
Foods Enthusiast & Forager. She offers individual educational wellness
consultations and leads the plant identification class: Weeds,
Leaves, Seeds, & Shoots : Balance your Budget – Steward the Land. She is also
author of Healing the Injured Brain. Source of Ramp Stats and for further
reading: “Having Your Ramps and Eating Them Too” by Glen Facemire, Jr. 2009. She
can be contacted at <a href="mailto:3moonsisters@gmail.com">3moonsisters@gmail.com</a>,
607-278-9635. She resides in East Meredith, New York.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Times"><span style> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other">
<br><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Times"><span style></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other"><br><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Times"><span style></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other"><br><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Times"><span style></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other">
<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Times"><span style><br></span></span></p>
<br><br></div><b>RESPONSIBLE WILD CRAFTING: </b><br><br><div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style><span style="font-family:Tahoma">Wild Crafting Is:</span></b><span style="font-family:Tahoma"> to harvest a plant that is not cultivated. <br>
<br>
As we do this traditional and timeless act, we remember the impact we have on plant
populations, in any given region, at any given time, in how we change the environment,
the soil micro-organisms and over all plant species as we harvest and walk the
forest floor.<br style>
<br style>
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style><span style="font-family:Tahoma">Consider an Abenaki Native American Tradition:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma">If you have never wild
crafted before, take ‘time out’ before jumping into it. Explore plants for a
while. One on one. Walk and observe their beauty. Read about them. Learn as
much as you can about them. Then after a while, after even maybe a few years,
you can start harvesting them. This, in the tradition of just one native tribe
that was told to me.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style><span style="font-family:Tahoma">1) Treat Earth, Land, Soil, Plants and wild life
organisms with respect.<span style>
</span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma">2) Do not harvest or use
plants that are endangered. <br>
3) Harvest only what you need and or not more than 30 %.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma">4) Harvest in such a way
that another could not tell you were there. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma">5) Identify with 100%
certainty. Use an identification book <u>and</u> a knowledgeable person. <br>
6) Start with just a few plants and get to know them well.<br>
7) Harvest the right plant part in the right season. <br>
8) Know where your township is spraying herbicides, etc and don’t harvest from
them. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma">9) Potential Contaminants:
Avoid collecting near busy road sides, plants can be contaminated <br>
<span style> </span>with brake dust, road salt,
pollution, etc; avoid old farm garbage dumps, especially downhill <br>
<span style> </span>from these sites; down stream of
these sites as well. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma">10) Pay attention ! Watch
what you are picking. There are not many poisonous plants but they<span style> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma"><span style> </span>can & do get entangled & may look
very similar. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma">11) If you know someone has
harvested from the area you are to visit, go to another area. <br>
12) If it is your first time ever eating a wild food, start slowly.
Intolerances are certain <br>
<span style> </span>with some. Eat in small quantities
or nibbles at first.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma">14) Whether you are an
experienced or novice wild crafter, wait for more defining plant </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma"><span style> </span>signatures, such as when the plant is in
full bloom. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma">15) Think long term, keep
sustainability in mind. If it is the root you are picking, leave <br>
<span style> </span>enough for a stand to regenerate.
Take 30% or less. If it’s an endangered, leave it be.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma">16) Know which plants are
on the UpS endangered list. (<a href="http://www.unitedplantsavers.org/">www.unitedplantsavers.org</a>);
don’t harvest them.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma">17) Leave some flowers for
the bees; fruits & seeds for deer, turkey & birds.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma">18) Listen to the plants by
smelling, feeling, tasting. This is your combined harvesting <br>
<span style> </span>experience. <br>
19) Know which parts are the edible parts, for what season and, if you have to
cook them and <br>
<span style> </span>exactly how to cook them. <br>
20) Lastly and as importantly, know poisonous plant look-a-likes. Most books
talk about them.<b style><br style>
<br style>
</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b style><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Tahoma"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma"><span style> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Times"><span style> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Times"> </span></p>
<br><br><br><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div><br><br>The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical
substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed. - Carl Jung<br><br>
<p style="margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Tahoma">Marguerite
Uhlmann-Bower <br>
Registered Nurse, Herbal Educator, Wild Foods Forager<br>
Herbal Educational Services</span><br>Weeds, Leaves, Seeds & Shoots :
Balance Your Budget – Steward the Land ™<br><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Tahoma">226 Kelso Rd. / Sanders Lane <br>
East Meredith, (Upstate) NY 13757<br>
<u><span style="color:blue">(607) 278-9635</span></u></span></p>
<br><br><br></div>
</div></div>