Spring will officially begin on March 19, 2024, bringing with it warmer temperatures, additional sunshine, and new possibilities for a richer and happier life.
As the winter months wind down, the possibilities for finding new plants that provide health benefits increase. The closer we get to spring, the more plant life that springs up, making both the late winter and spring seasons a delight for foragers.
Here are five plants to look for as the days get longer and roots start springing up anew.
1. Pine Needles-
Pine needles are a source of fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K.
They support healthy bone development, aid eye functioning and reduce the risk of blood clotting.
They also contain large amounts of Vitamin C, and steeping them in hot water to make a pine needle tea leads to the release of this key vitamin into your tea cup.
Use filtered water whenever possible and forage for pine needles or other items in pristine areas whenever possible.
2. Old Man’s Beard (Usnea)-
Also known as Methuselah’s Beard, Old Man’s Beard is a kind of lichen, a class of moss-like plants that are rich in natural Vitamin D.
It is incredibly common in the Pacific Northwest and it also can be found in the northeast parts of the United States and Canada ranging from Michigan to New York State to Quebec and Newfoundland.
According to the website GrowForageCookFerment.com, Old Man’s Beard takes a long time to grow relative to other plants.
It has medicinal properties and is often made into health tinctures.
Its appearance is similar to Irish Sea Moss but it can be found growing on land instead of in the oceans.
More info in the video below:
3. Chaga Mushroom-
Known by names like Nature’s Gold, King of the Mushrooms, and Diamond of the Forest, Chaga is an excellent counterpart to other medicinal mushrooms like Reishi Mushroom, which is known as the Queen of the Mushrooms.
Chaga is prized medicinally in countries with northern, snowy regions like Russia, China, Korea, and Canada and the northern parts of the United States.
The Chaga mushroom looks like a large, burnt amber and black chunk of petrified wood.
The ideal way to make it is by steeping chunks of it in hot water to make a medicinal tea.
Chaga capsules and tinctures are also beneficial.
The best time to forage for Chaga is in the winter, because it is much easier to spot when juxtaposed against the white backdrop of snowy trees in the forest:
Chaga mushroom helps to reduce inflammation in various parts of the body and it is mostly tasteless.
This ‘King of the Mushrooms’ is also one of if not the highest sources of potassium on Earth according to David ‘Avocado’ Wolfe, a well known health researcher and foraging specialist.
It may help to slow cancer growth, support immune function and reduce blood pressure.
Find it growing high on trees; bring a large stick with you to knock it out of the trees.
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4. Uva Ursi-
A type of berry known for assisting in the healing of urinary tract infections (UTIs), the Uva Ursi berry is found throughout the Pacific Northwest, extending down into Colorado and up into ‘The Land of 1,000 Lakes’ and the Great Lakes.
It’s also found from New York State up to Delaware, New Hampshire and Maine.
In the winter, it may be found underneath the snow, so you may have to dig for it.
The berries aren’t known for their taste but they are eaten and used medicinally along with the leaves.
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