What’s for supper? How about some stinging nettles?
Ronda Mobley Kendall, who lives west of Jefferson, will give a program on how she fixes those nettles at the St. Columkille Catholic Church hall, 807 Head St., in Churdan, on Friday, May 3.
Mobley’s presentation, “How Our Ancestors Ate: Foraging for Food,” is sponsored by the Greene County Historical Society. The free 12:45 pm program will follow a noon lunch prepared by St. Columkille parishioners.
Kendall has been foraging meadows, pastures and timbers for 15 years, carefully identifying and picking edible plants such as the nettles, plus milkweed, dandelions and spruce tips. “I eat weeds,” she declares.
She’ll bring some of her favorite finds for the crowd to nibble on.
A friend got Kendall into foraging. She did some research, and became intrigued with finding foods that most people think aren’t edible, “but really are,” she said.
Those stinging nettles are super foods, according to Kendall. “They’re absolutely delicious, better than kale.”
Dandelion heads can be frittered— or made into wine. Milkweed pods can be blanched and fried, or pickled. And tiny walnuts can be made into a liqueur. Kendal has more recipes to share.
Native people and pioneers foraged, she says. “There were no grocery stores, you know.”
Lunch, which costs $12, begins at noon. Please call a Historical Society community contact or 515-386-4408 by Tuesday, April 30, to reserve a seat at the table, and afterwards get a bite of healthful food you can find in your own backyard.
