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Cup of tea - PEP BB foraging.sand.tea

BB foraging - sand badge
posted 1 year ago
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This is a badge bit (BB) that is part of the PEP curriculum.  Completing this BB is part of getting the sand badge in Foraging.

Foraging is like gardening but without all the planting, weeding, nibbler protection or watering.  If you live in the country there are lots of road sides to search.  These must be wild foods - not gleaning or harvesting from an actively cultivated space.

Plant identification is the most important part of foraging.  Get one or two good books on the edibles of your region.  Be sure you know what you're picking!

To complete this BB, the minimum requirements are:
Make a cup of tea from one of:
- nettle
- rose hips
- mint
- pineapple weed
- raspberry leaves
- chaga mushrooms
- pine needle
- fir tip
- Ceanothus americanus/new jersey tea
- kinnikinnick
- sumac
- Linden flower
- wild strawberry leaf
- fireweed
- birch bark/leaves
- clover
- rose petals
- dandelion
- bullthistle

To document your completion of the BB, provide the following:
 - A picture of one of the plants in the wild
 - A picture of the harvested goods with the remaining plant in the background
 - A picture of the yummy tea in a cup

Clarifications:
 - This is "Foraging" so the plants can not be cultivated by you.
COMMENTS:
 
paul wheaton
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Mike Jay wrote:Make a cup of tea from one of:
- nettle
- rose hips
- mint
- pineapple weed



What might be added to this list?

My book, my movies, my videos, my podcasts, my events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!
Tis the season for wood heat

 
Mike Haasl
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Raspberry leaves and chaga mushrooms (grow on birch trees) are good ones from my bioregion.

"Hundreds of years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in or the type of car I drove... But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that it becomes a tourist destination"

 
Jan White
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Pine needle & fir tip
Ceanothus americanus/new jersey tea
Kinnikinnick
Sumac
Linden flower
Wild strawberry leaf
Fireweed
Birch bark/leaves
Clover
Sage
Rose petals

Birch is the only one I haven't had. I can affirm that none of the others are gross :)
 
Nicole Alderman
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Dandelion is also good, so is bullthistle. It's a lot tastier than cooking them, and easier, too!

I'll add everyone's suggestions to the list. Paul can always take the ones off that he doesn't want there.

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Nicole Alderman
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Approved BB submission
I made a cup of dandelion tea (I would have done mint, but I have acid reflux, and mint messes with that)
20190903_115145-1-.jpg
dandelions
dandelions
20190903_115414-1-.jpg
dandelions harvested for tea
dandelions harvested for tea
20190903_115941-1-.jpg
boiling up dandelion tea
boiling up dandelion tea
20190903_122254-1-.jpg
straining dandelion tea
straining dandelion tea

~ Dragons, Fairies and even a Mini-Paul! ~ You Know You're a Permie When...~ All About Permies, including tutorials ~Herbal Hugel Spiral of Randomness!~Tricks to Keep the Dirt from Sliding off a Hugel~List of Cascadia Bloggers and Facebook Pages!~

Staff note (Steve Thorn) :

I certify that this BB is complete!

 
Mike Haasl
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I made some chaga tea today.  The missus does it all the time but I figured I'd document doing it myself.  Chaga grows on birch trees.  If you see something similar on a cherry it is not chaga!

I broke off a small chunk (it almost fell off), ground it up with the mortar and pestle and used a tea ball clasper thingie to steep it in.  It doesn't have much taste (to me) but it's apparently good for you.

That's a huge 16 oz mug so that's why it's only half full.
100_0573.JPG
chaga on birch
chaga on birch
chaga-harvested-from-birch.jpg
chaga harvested from birch
chaga harvested from birch
100_0576.JPG
prepping chaga with mortor and pestle
prepping chaga with mortor and pestle
grinding-chaga.jpg
grinding chaga
grinding chaga
100_0579.JPG
steeped chaga tea
steeped chaga tea

"Hundreds of years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in or the type of car I drove... But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that it becomes a tourist destination"

Staff note (Steve Thorn) :

I certify this BB is complete!

 
Michael Cox
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On a bushcraft and foraging course I did a few years ago we made a pine needle tea (I didn't enjoy it!).

The instructors recounted the story of one participant who, after trying pine needle tea decided to make some for himself at a later date. I he misidentified the tree and made a cup of yew leaf tea. Yew is highly poisonous - active compounds in the leaves rapidly stop the hearts of mammals, and the leaves are harvested by pharmaceutical companies for making heart medication. This chap gave himself permanent heart damage and spent a week in hospital.

Make sure you positively ID anything you consume!

Moderator, Treatment Free Beekeepers group on Facebook.
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Penny McLoughlin
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posted 5 months ago
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Approved BB submission
Wild strawberry leaf tea.
20200802_175051.jpg
Strawberry plants
Strawberry plants
20200802_175102.jpg
Picking strawberry leaves
Picking strawberry leaves
20200802_175125.jpg
Strawberry plants after picking leaves
Strawberry plants after picking leaves
20200803_105558.jpg
Leaves in cup
Leaves in cup
20200803_110341.jpg
Adding hot water
Adding hot water
20200803_111905.jpg
Tea after straining leaves
Tea after straining leaves
Staff note (Mike Barkley) :

This BB is certified complete. Good job!

 
Rob Lineberger
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I recently learned that clover are in the pea family.  Huh.  Anyway, I made some clover-mint tea and it was delicious.  Kinda like Celestial Seasonings, but with a pulse.

20200805_180258.jpg
Red (purple?) clover in a field.
Red (purple?) clover in a field.
20200805_183431.jpg
Mint along the edge
Mint along the edge
20200805_192455.jpg
Harvested goods with plant in the background.
Harvested goods with plant in the background.
20200805_183851.jpg
Ingredients assembled!
Ingredients assembled!
20200805_192619.jpg
A cup of tea.
A cup of tea.

Please give me your thoughts on my Affordable, double-paned earthbag window concept

Staff note (Mike Barkley) :

I certify this BB is complete. Cool cup too.

 
Inge Leonora-den Ouden
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Michael Cox wrote:On a bushcraft and foraging course I did a few years ago we made a pine needle tea (I didn't enjoy it!).

The instructors recounted the story of one participant who, after trying pine needle tea decided to make some for himself at a later date. I he misidentified the tree and made a cup of yew leaf tea. Yew is highly poisonous - active compounds in the leaves rapidly stop the hearts of mammals, and the leaves are harvested by pharmaceutical companies for making heart medication. This chap gave himself permanent heart damage and spent a week in hospital.

Make sure you positively ID anything you consume!


If you don't know the difference between pine and yew after a foraging course ... it wasn't a good course!

"Also, just as you want men to do to you, do the same way to them" (Luke 6:31)

 
Inge Leonora-den Ouden
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A little morning walk alongside the water, before the sun became too hot. To pick some herbs for a cup of 'morning tea'.


Stinging nettles, plenty of them


Picked some tops of nettles for my tea


Yarrow grows at the other side of the path, higher and dryer


Mint grows very close to the water (when the water is higher it even grows in the water)


All herbs gathered


Give them a short boil. Then wait for a few minutes


Pour in the tea mug through a tea strainer


A nice cup of morning tea!

"Also, just as you want men to do to you, do the same way to them" (Luke 6:31)

Staff note (Ashley Cottonwood) :

I certify this BB complete!

 
Nicholas Molberg
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posted 4 months ago
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This is Colorado in early fall, so some of these plants aren't common on the prairie. But I found something just as nice.

Moonshine Yarrow and some common Milkweed. It looks like a Datura, and is a distant relative.




Here they are with the aromatics remove from the stalk, seeds removed from the pods, since it's mostly fluff to help the seeds spread.


The usual suspects. Distilled water and a nice, heavily used kettle.

And here they are steeping in the pot. I've got a cup in hand right now.

So, I added some sugar and a bit of apple cider vinegar. Milkweed is somewhat toxic, so I added a small amount of the seeds. Milkweed, like most datura relatives, can interfere with heart function in high doses. This takes the form of lower blood pressure, and potential arrhythmic heartbeat.

In smaller doses, it does help to calm and regulate the bowels. Supposedly.


Staff note :

Sorry, this one is rejected for to not being a plant from the list and also for not having the required pictures

 
Nicholas Molberg
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After having read the list of allowed plants, despairing that I couldn't find any in the local state park, I went out looking for Spruce.

Blue Spruce in particular, is very distinct from other spruces and pines, and very distinct from Yew and other toxic trees.

Nice thing about Blue Spruce is the entire tree is edible. Bark, cambium, 'fruit', and the boughs themselves.

It was even used by the US Army back in the 1800s, as part of their rations.

https://youtu.be/RgLC_DRd2cg
IMG_20200914_190940962.jpg
Closer up. Definitely blue spruce.
Closer up. Definitely blue spruce.
IMG_20200918_192129203.jpg
blue spruce tips
blue spruce tips
16006634135212818445496126805162.jpg
I could have gotten more by chewing the needles, but I'd rather let them sit.
I could have gotten more by chewing the needles, but I'd rather let them sit.
16006633666354581716533253584981.jpg
Blue spruce tip tea
Blue spruce tip tea
Staff note (Mike Haasl) :

The requirements do want a photo of the harvest with the plant in the background but I certify this BB complete. And your new air badge!

 
Nicholas Molberg
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posted 4 months ago
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Thanks, but I'm def gonna work on this further. Just cleaning the spruce tips wasn't enough. But boiling them will ruin the nutrition.

I think I might have to try and mash them in something, then put that in the water.
 
Leigh Tate
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Our rose hips are just starting to turn red. Today I was able to gather enough for a cup of tea.

Wild rose hips


Enough rose hips for a cup of tea.


Bruising the hips to release the flavor.


Small handful of hips to one pint water, simmered for 15 minutes.


Rose hip tea with a drizzle of honey.

Blog: https://www.5acresandadream.com/
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Staff note (Mike Barkley) :

I certify this BB is complete.

 
Kevin Harbin
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I collected some wild strawberry leaves for me tea. I would never have thought to try it.
wild-strawberries.jpg
wild strawberries
wild strawberries
collected-wild-strawberries.jpg
collected wild strawberries
collected wild strawberries
tea-w-leaves.jpg
tea with leaves
tea with leaves
tea.jpg
Wild strawberry tea
Wild strawberry tea

Children, Rabbits, Chickens, Bees

Staff note (Mike Haasl) :

I certify this BB complete along with your new air badge!

 
Zoe Ward
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Out for a swim at the quarry today and thought I would get some wild strawberry leaves for a cuppa once I got home.
forage.tea1.jpg
Wild strawberries
Wild strawberries
forage.tea2.jpg
Foraging wild strawberry leaves for tea.
Foraging wild strawberry leaves for tea.
forage.tea3.jpg
Wild strawberry tea with leaves steeping.
Wild strawberry tea with leaves steeping.
Staff note (Mike Haasl) :

I certify this BB complete!

 
Julie Harris
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I made dandelion tea.  I used the smaller leaves and cut off most of the spines.   It's okay, but milder than I expected; better with a spoonful of honey.   I'm going to try the dandelion root tea next.  
dandelion-01.jpg
[Thumbnail for dandelion-01.jpg]
dandelion-02.jpg
[Thumbnail for dandelion-02.jpg]
dandelion-03.jpg
[Thumbnail for dandelion-03.jpg]
dandelion-04.jpg
[Thumbnail for dandelion-04.jpg]

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing.

Staff note (Mike Barkley) :

I certify this BB is complete.

 
R Parian
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Licorice fern root tea. Foraged under moonlight tonight.
20201125_224317.jpg
Licorice fern growing on Big Leaf Maple tree.
Licorice fern growing on Big Leaf Maple tree.
20201125_224431.jpg
Harvesting the root.
Harvesting the root.
20201125_224811.jpg
Harvested root on ferns.
Harvested root on ferns.
20201125_230435.jpg
Steeping the root.
Steeping the root.
20201125_230703.jpg
The cup of hot licorice root tea.
The cup of hot licorice root tea.

R Parian

Staff note (gir bot) :

Mike Haasl flagged this submission as not complete.
BBV price: 1
Note: I don't believe that's a plant from the list

Staff note (Mike Haasl) :

Please ignore the BBV penalty, I removed it manually

 
R Parian
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paul wheaton wrote:

Mike Jay wrote:Make a cup of tea from one of:
- nettle
- rose hips
- mint
- pineapple weed



What might be added to this list?



Could licorice fern be added to the list?  It is very common in the PNW region, and the root makes a very tasty tea!

R Parian

 
Mike Haasl
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The general guidance is that if it can be foraged in Missoula we can put it on the list.  We've occasionally strayed from that guidance and then it opens up a huge can of worms with plants from all over the place being suggested.  

"Hundreds of years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in or the type of car I drove... But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that it becomes a tourist destination"

 
R Parian
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Approved BB submission
Stinging nettle tea.
20201127_104437.jpg
Nettle plants in the wild.
Nettle plants in the wild.
20201127_104705.jpg
Harvested nettle leaves.
Harvested nettle leaves.
20201126_194558.jpg
Cup of nettle tea.
Cup of nettle tea.

R Parian

Staff note (gir bot) :

Julia Winter approved this submission.
Note: Those nettle leaves aren't as pointy as the ones in my garden, but it seems that young nettle plants have rounder leaves.

 
Pierre Michael
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Tea made from a calendula plant I found.
7B4067F5-B798-48A1-AD7B-C249F3BF2C87.jpeg
[Thumbnail for 7B4067F5-B798-48A1-AD7B-C249F3BF2C87.jpeg]
FBC677F9-785E-4E30-9852-D8ADBC76DDA8.jpeg
[Thumbnail for FBC677F9-785E-4E30-9852-D8ADBC76DDA8.jpeg]
0C045106-82A0-44CC-834F-CD4EF62F1BE6.jpeg
[Thumbnail for 0C045106-82A0-44CC-834F-CD4EF62F1BE6.jpeg]
Staff note (gir bot) :

Someone flagged this submission as not complete.
BBV price: 1
Note: Not a plant from the list

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